Does the latest Rajini-starrer Jailer directed by Nelson measure up to the expectations? In the past two decades, only two films – Sivaji directed by Shankar and Petta by Karthick Subburaj – were out-and-out Rajini films. They were cocktails of all the customary Rajinisms. Chandramukhi,...
Jailer audio release was atypical for Rajinikanth. The superstar is rarely controversial when it comes to talking about movies and filmdom on public platforms though he doesn’t baulk at venting on politics or social issues. In movie events, he makes his appearance without makeup, looks his age,...
Tamil cinema has a long tradition of comedians who have endeared themselves to audiences. Some attained iconic status such as Kalaivanar N.S. Krishnan who started the tradition of comedy with social consciousness in Tamil cinema. When some comedians appear on the screen, their mere presence...
The spirit of adventure lies dormant in all humans, but only a handful of people have opportunities to tap into it and come off with daring feats. Those denied the chance immerse themselves in the world of fantasies or enjoy vicarious pleasures watching fantasy films or reading comics. The...
Love and lust play predominant complex roles in man’s life, referenced as ‘id’ in Freudian terms. They have from time immemorial been the staple of man’s creative works – poetry, epics and fiction. In the post-Renaissance period, they have been the perennial sources of man’s high creativity....
Mariselvaraj’s earlier films ‘Pariyerum Perumal’ and ‘Karnan’ hit the spot; his recent criticism of Kamal’s blockbuster Devarmagan has evoked support as well as denunciation. These factors have made up the hype about his latest film Maamannan. Has it really measured up to expectations? The...
With its tight storyline and taut screenplay, Thandatti comes as a breath of fresh air. Director Ram Sangaiah has proved that good and gripping content can evoke the feel of a big budget film. One hopes that he will sustain the tempo in his next films. It is generally said that no novel is...
While there have been big-ticket films that have turned mega grossers, at the other end of the spectrum there are films that have also set the cash registers ringing though produced on a shoe-string budget. Both phenomena are common to Tamil cinema. Films such as Dada, Good Night, Porthozhil...
Maamannan jukebox has answered a major question regarding Mari Selvaraj. For Maamannan, Mari Selvaraj teamed with Udayanidhi Stalin, Fahad Fazil, Keerthi Suresh, Vadivelu, A.R. Rahman and Yuga Bharati -- an unlikely combination indeed. They are all from different backgrounds, reputed for...
Copycats or adaptations of foreign hits are common in Tamil cinema. There are some directors, however, who take inspiration from such films but indigenize it with their own creativity. One such Tamil film has hit the screens: Vimanam (aeroplane) If you have put the 2006 American biographical...
