Tamil Movie Reviews

renigunta tamil movie

How a storyline that we are already tired of having seen time and again has been transformed into an enthralling thriller with a low profile cast and a matching low budget is quite remarkable. The strength of the film is the well assorted fresh young cast with limited acting skills adequate for this low budget flick.  This team reminds one of that was seen in the movie Vennila Kabadi Kulu, yet another that boasted of an assortment of odd characters who prove to be effective in their role. No doubt that in Renigunta we see an immature team but they do complement well, and the one that proves far ahead in all abilities is the shortest and funniest character. This character (Duppa, in the movie), provides much needed humour and excitment through his indomitable style and steals the show. The mastery of telling story based on a saturated plot, by adding elements of surprise and well created characters saves the film from becoming another third grade movie.

As the story unfolds we see an innocent person’s life is shattered with the cold blooded murder of his parents, and then slowly destroyed even though he teams up with a gang of good hearted criminals (!), fighting his own battle in the meantime against the non-violent nature of self before he acquiries some of the blood thirsty qualities of a mafia. There is something eerie about the movie as the hero narrates parts of the film, and when this drama eventually reaches a tragic climax, we cannot help the feeling having seen an inevitable ending. The title of the movie, which raised my eyebrows till I saw the movie, Renigunda being the name of the place in Andra where the gang seeks to seek new lease of life in their own ‘business’, and where the tragedies shatter them slowly, eventually destroying one by one, is a masterstroke of a title. Just proves how well the film revolves around events where Renigunta is the centerstage. The downside is that the film is that hinges on violence and one could get sick of the traumatic nature of the movie with excessive violence, at times, and parts of the plot being dramatised in the same old fashion. The romantic interludes impress mainly beacuse of the pleasant looking girl who can only speak via signs, who does her role very well.

Despite its shortcomings, the film is able to captivate the audience for most of its duration and Panneerselvam who has written and directed the film deserves credit.

My rating  ** 1/2

Watch the trailer

Aadhavan Surya

Vadivelu overshadows Surya in this comedy hit. To be put more factually, comedy is the only saving grace, but on the positive side the comedy  was prevalent for most of the movie. This may well become a trendsetter where comedians playing a pivotal role to leave the protagonist second, bringing back memories of yesteryear where the legendary Nagesh outshone many of his contemporaries. No doubt, this is a masala movie with a nonsense storyline, but KS Ravikumar, who has a penchant for delivering entertainment to masses, doesn’t disappoint this time either.  Worth watching simply for some of the most brilliant comedy scenes of recent times.  Ramesh Khanna who deserves credit as the writer also plays a minor role. The surprise package is Saroja Devi , who doesn’t seem to weaken nor go out of shape like of other stalwarts of the MGR and Sivaji era.  Surya and Nayanthara play their part well, but the one who leaves us with a lasting impression is the Vagai Puyal.

Rating – **

Watch the official trailer here

Director –    K.S. Ravikumar

Producer –     U. Stalin

Writer –    Ramesh Khanna
Cast –    Surya, Nayantara, Vadivelu
Music –    Harris Jayaraj
Cinematography  -  R. Ganesh
Editor – Don Max

Kamal in Unnaipol Oruvan

Effortless, Nonchalant and classy.. Its hard to describe the manner in which Kamal has portrayed a common man with a mission.  Arguably the best film of the year, with the most intriguing star cast combination in the recent times. Seeing Kamal and Mohanlal faceoff could not have come in a better movie. It is debatable whether the Tamil version is better than the hindi original, A Wednesday. However it is less controversial to say that no one else could have done it better than Kamal.

The film is a real time narration of events as they unfold on a day in the life of Mohanlal,the police commisioner , where he meets his match, Kamal the common man. At the end of the day Mohanlal is a transformed man and lessons learned, while Kamal earns our respect. This is in sharp contrast what initially seemed a terror mastermind toying with the lives of people and the pride of the police commisioner. Thus the script needs to be appreciated for its originality (A Wednesday) and the remake applauded for the manner it matches the quality of the original.

The script and the star cast keep us on the edge of the seats, and us heavily involved with the events as they unfold. There are no songs nor romance, but we are left with is a lasting impression of a well made movie, that made best use of an acting genius. What more, the daughter (shruti) delivers a stunning background score that belies her age. All in a all a movie that we needed badly, to show the direction for future of Tamil cinema.

My rating ***/5 (3 out 5)

Watch the Trailer here

Abiyum Naanum

Director Radha Mohan delivers another family entertainer after his successful ‘Mozhi’. Like ‘Mozhi’, this film too could have ended up as a top grade movie if the director had avoided unnecessary scenes and comical situations that has no impact on the storyline.  Prakashraj has been flawless despite being tested by Director in some seemingly inappropriate and poorly inserted scenes. Aishwarya plays her character perfectly and with Trisha in the cast, one has to say that Radha Mohan has the knack of forming good teams, just like in ‘Mozhi’. Despite drawbacks, this is clean family entertainment with emotions, humour and lessons to be learned.  Vidyasagar doesn’t live upto his reputation, although most songs go well with the storyline.

Rating **

Watch the Movie Trailer here

Director -    Radha Mohan

Producer –     Prakash Raj
Writer -    Radha Mohan
Cast –    Prakashraj, Trisha, Ganesh, Prithviraj
Music –    Vidyasagar
Cinematography  -   Preetha
Editor – M. Kasivishwanathan

Director –     Sasi

Producer -    Moser Baer

Cast -  Parvathi menon, Srikanth

Parvathy (aka Parvathi) has put the rest,including Srikanth, to shame by her impressive debut which is well worthy of an award.  Although directed by Sasi, this movie has shades of Seran. Tamil cinema has not seen better demonstration of a deep rooted and utterly selfless love, than one that Mari (Parvathy) shows for her cousin Thangarasu (Srikanth). The extreme nature of this affection becomes fanatical at times, but yet beautifully controlled and enacted by Parvathy.

One of the better movies of the year, worth watching for the simplicity and the beauty.

My Rating **1/2  (2.5 out 5)

Watch the Movie Trailer Here

Varanam Aayiram

Director –     Gautham Menon
Producer -    Oscar Ravichandran
Writers -  Gautham menon
Cast -  Surya, Simran, Divya, Sameera
Music – Harris Jayaraj
Cinematography -  R.Rathnavelu
Editor – Anthony Gonsalvez

Watch the Movie Trailer