Reviews

The anti-social character played by Dhruva has its justification. This is what happens to a lot of children who grow up without proper parental guidance. Dhruva portrayed his role very well. It isn't supposed to be a lovable character. It is a character that oozes negativity and he did justice to the role. He has worked really hard to lose 35kgs to fit into the teenager's role and then bulked up to play the rogue. It takes immense dedication and motivation to do it. The plot may be weak and far-fetched but as far as Dhruva Sarja's effort is concerned, it needs to be appreciated.

Karuppu Durai (Mu. Ramaswamy) is a bedridden old man. One day,his children (except his daughter) plot to perform a traditional ritual of euthanasia on him as they think he will be a long term burden to them. They are also eyeing his property. Karuppu overhears this,and summons as much energy as he can to escape from the house. He takes a bus to a nearby locality and spends the night at a temple there. In the morning,he is greeted by a cheeky young boy (Nagavishal) of about 7 or 8 years of age who scolds him for sleeping at the spot which he has "reserved" for himself. KD soon finds out that the boy is an orphan who was adopted by the temple pandit. From then on, the old man keeps getting into trouble with the boy, but soon enough, circumstances change and both of them become close buddies. The boy creates a bucket list for KD,as he's already in his twilight years. In the meantime,Karuppu Durai's children enlist the help of a guy to track him down. This is a heart touching tale of an unusually close bond between two people,one whose life is almost ending,and of a child whose future is just about to unfold. How long will this friendship last? Will KD's family find him and put him to involuntary death? The director must be appreciated for injecting lots of humour into what could possibly have been a depressing story. Nagavishal, in his debut role, wins hearts with his cheeky mannerisms and toothy smile, while Mu. Ramaswamy warms hearts with his frequent bursts of laughter. All in all, this story is about making the most of what we have, even under pressing circumstances.

This film is about the happenings at a medical laboratory where seven people are anxiously waiting for the results of their HIV test. Ashok Selvan is the most chatty one among them and he initiates a conversation with a reluctant Prakash Raj first, followed by the other five people. Each one opens up about why they're doing the test except for one person. As the test results are only released after a few hours, Ashok tries to get the help of one of the counter staff (Shriya Reddy) to reveal the results earlier, by offering her money in exchange. As she desperately needs the money, she agrees. However, getting the results out is no easy task as there are strict protocols in place. The doctor in charge is a no-nonsense character (brilliantly portrayed by Nasser) who monitors the staff carefully. The counter staff tells Ashok that out of the 7 blood samples, only one has tested positive for HIV. However, she does not reveal the name of the patient. The waiting continues with much suspense. Was there really a HIV positive result among the seven patients? The answer is revealed in the climax. This film was produced to create awareness on HIV/AIDS and had no theatrical release. It is available on Netflix.

Most of the reviews for this movie are negative. However, I found some substance in the story. There is a moral lesson in it and unlike other movies, there aren't half a dozen songs with half-clad dancers to drive you crazy. VTV Ganesh is not a regular type of film hero but he fits the role of a naive and careless person who struggles to understand his life. Santhanam,as the mysterious chauffeur was witty and his dialogues with Ganesh evoked some laughter. Simbu's cameo role added to the fun,while Meera Jasmine did okay as the heroine. It is a watchable movie, and far better than many meaningless junk that often get higher rating.

Jayasurya shines in his role as a man struggling to rebuild his identity as a new transwoman,in the generally patriarchal and regressive minded society of Idukki in Kerala. The opening scene itself displays the uneasiness of church goers in his presence. Marykutty (Jayasurya) quits his job as an IT professional and wishes to be a Superintendent of Police, but faces a lot of humiliation and harassment along the way. The most disturbing scene is when Marykutty is humiliated by his sister,who warns him not to attend her wedding as he will embarrass her. It just reinforces the foolishness of the old adage "Blood is thicker than water". Family is just a part of society that happens to share genetic ties with a person,and it is good that the director made an effort to educate people about the fallacy of familial bonds. The character of the villainous police officer who tries extra hard to humiliate Marykutty was perhaps a little overplayed, but without him, Marykutty's struggles would not have stood out that much. Innocent's role as the sympathetic and supportive priest was soothing. So was the radio jockey and the lady who plays the role of Marykutty's friend. Many scenes in this movie are emotional but not excessive. Jayasurya portrayed his character with tenacity and should be applauded for his willingness to do so.

Vijay Sethupathi (Karuppan) is a bull tamer in a village,who is known for his brute force and skill in taming even the most ferocious bull. Inwardly,he is a guy with a soft, caring heart. He involuntarily wins the hand of a girl (Tanya Ravichandran, granddaughter of the late Malaysia Ravichandran),who is offered in marriage to him by her elder brother (Pasupathi) after he successfully subdues Pasupathy's bull during a jallikattu event. Their married life is disrupted and almost ends in a separation because of a hidden enemy. Bobby Simha plays the role of Tanya's maternal uncle who had secretly coveted her. Songs by D.Imman are okay. The bull taming scenes look real. The movie is watchable for family sentiments and good acting.

Dhanush has brilliantly written and directed this family entertainer, adding yet another feather to his cap. Power Paandi which was later renamed as Pa Paandi (for tax exemptions), is the bittersweet story of a sixty plus, retired and widowed film fight master (Raj Kiran) who feels restless staying idle at home. His misadventures outside the home lead to arguments with his son (Prasanna). One day, he decides to leave home so as not to trouble his son and daughter in law anymore. He recalls his first sweetheart with whom he had an unfulfilled destiny decades ago. With the help of some bikers, he locates her through Facebook. He meets up with her (Revathy) and what happens next form the rest of the story. Dhanush and Madonna Sebastian appear as the younger versions of Raj Kiran and Revathy, and their performances are emotional and heartwarming. The background music and songs are excellent, especially 'Venpani malare' and 'Paarthen'. There is a sense of deja vu in the music, that reminds us of 1980s Ilayaraja soundtracks. Dhanush deserves accolades for putting together a neat presentation that is pleasing on all fronts.

'Darbar', as the name suggests, is the story of a person who metes out justice as only a king would do- he makes the final decisions, notwithstanding the opposition from authorities. Rajinikanth plays the role of a maverick cop who goes on a killing spree of gangsters involved in the trafficking of drugs and women. He has no mercy for wrongdoers and does so with so much enthusiasm. There is a back story of how he became ruthless,and it has a strong emotional connection. Nivetha Thomas plays the role of Rajinikanth's adult daughter who shares a close bond with her father. Her role is pivotal in the movie and how things play out in the story. Sunil Shetty shines as the main villain, while Prateik Babbar does a decent job in his brief role as Sunil's son. Nayantara looks more radiant than usual but has nothing much to offer in terms of her role. She seems to be more of a supporting cast rather than a heroine. Yogi Babu is okay as the comic. Anirudh's background music is riveting but among the songs, only 'Chumma Kizhi' stands out. The choreography for the song was nice. Overall, there is nothing new in this story but it is watchable because Rajinikanth is a persona larger than life. With every passing year, he gets closer to retiring from films. At the age of 70, his energy and enthusiasm must be applauded.

"Iraivi", literally means "Goddess". The title intelligently relates to two interlinked plots in the movie, that is the lives of female characters in the story, and a sub plot related to the theft of goddess statues from temples. A dejected film maker (SJ Surya) , his younger brother (Bobby Simha) and their loyal friend (Vijay Sethupathi) mess up their own lives due to their inability to control their rash and impulsive behaviours. In the process, they cause suffering to the women in their lives, unintentionally. In turn, the women face the dilemma between putting up with these troublesome men and the chance to rebuild their lives independently. The story ends in a tragedy with a message that friendship and loyalty should be within certain limits. SJ Surya is the show stealer with his portrayal as a chronic alcoholic. The climax scene showcases his brilliant histrionics. Bobby Simha has done a great job in his role as SJ Surya's vengeful brother who nurses hatred for men who disrespect women. Vijay Sethupathi also excels in his role as the erring husband and as the unquestioningly loyal friend who unwittingly ruins his own life. Kamalini Mukherjee, Anjali and Pooja Devariya do justice to their roles as women affected by the men in their lives. Veteran actress Vadivukarasi plays a cameo role as the bedridden comatose mother of SJ Surya and Bobby Simha, and Radha Ravi plays the role of her repentant husband. The first few minutes are not really appealing but the story gains depth as the narrative progresses. Director Karthik Subbaraj's wife appears in a cameo role as Kamalini Mukherjee's friend.

A story with unexpected plot twists. Michael Karthigeyan is a pizza delivery boy who lives-in with his girlfriend, Anu who has a hobby of writing horror stories. They find it hard to make ends meet as the income is not great. Anu conceives and they get married. An unexpected series of events follow that change the course of their lives. The climax is a bit unsettling but overall, the movie is a good watch especially for the brilliance of Vijay Sethupathi as the lead character. Good direction by Karthik Subbaraj in his maiden effort. The song 'Mogathirai' is a lovely composition.

Vijay Sethupathi plays the protagonist in this movie. The first half was quite entertaining and light-hearted, and starts off with a satirical portrayal of how a typical hero and comedian are shown in tamil cinema. Suri plays the comedian role here. The song "Oh My God" is peppy and has motivational lyrics. Raashi Khanna plays the role of heroine and looked pretty. It is a story with a flashback. The flashback portion is set in a village where a happy family is beset by tragedy due to an act of revenge. The hero plots to avenge the deaths of his family members and to save his village from potential environmental pollution. The second half is a bit tedious and the plot is an often repeated one. The songs were good. However, on the whole, there was nothing new in the story. The movie is watchable for Vijay Sethupathi, the songs, cinematography and some social messages.

Super Deluxe is the kind of movie which one may have to watch more than once, to capture the social message(s) that the director wishes to convey. Several different stories are woven together with characters that portray 'traditionally unacceptable behaviours' and how we, as human beings have been conditioned to view certain behaviours as 'acceptable' or 'unacceptable' and fail to see things as they are, in grey shades (neither black nor white) form the plot of this movie. This movie aims to shatter stereotyped views on people who don't fit the mould that society has created. A not so happily married couple who are forced to face a really grim situation that helps them reassess their relationship, with the opportunity to heal their rifts; a quirky godman who is devoted to a self created god, his estranged wife who struggles to save the life of her injured son who wanted to kill her, a transsexual man who struggles to gain acceptance, and three young men who are willing to murder and steal for some desperate cash. Certainly, this kind of story is not a mainstream one, as far as Indian commercial movies are concerned. The transgender character was criticised by some transgender associations who wish to see their kind portrayed in a less humiliating and a more dignified manner on screen. However, this movie aims to show real struggles of real people. In conclusion, some people may not like this movie as it can be uncomfortable for them to accept unconventional portrayals. It is a brave attempt, nonetheless. The downside has to be a slow screenplay and muffled dialogues in some scenes. Great performances by all the actors, with special mention for the little boy (Ashwanth Ashok Kumar) who plays the role of the son of the transgender father(Vijay Sethupathi) and Mysskin who plays the role of the quirky godman. Vijay Sethupathi, as expected, performs well as a transgender but his emotions towards his long suffering wife (played by Gayathri) were probably a little subdued. Perhaps the director wanted it that way.

Two young brothers, living in a Chennai slum area are attracted by the TV advertisement of a pizza outlet. The story is about how the two boys save up enough money to savour the taste of their dream cuisine, despite their destitute existence. The two boys usually eat crows' eggs as a snack, thus naming each other 'Periya Kaaka Muttai' and 'Chinna Kaaka Muttai' respectively. Their roles are played by child actors Ramesh and Vignesh, who would later go on to win the National Film Award for Best Child Actor in 2015. Aishwarya Rajesh excels as the boys' mother who saves every little penny she can, to bail her husband out of jail. Shanti Mani as the boys' grandma is endearing. Ramesh Thilak and Yogi Babu get themselves into a sticky situation related to the boys' quest for pizza and give us something to laugh about. The film won the National Award for Best Film in 2015,and is worth watching for those who enjoy children's movies.

This is one of the most unique stories to have emerged from Tamil cinema in recent times. Jayaprakash plays the role of an elderly landlord in a village who has a loving relationship with his wife. The only problem is their married daughter keeps fleecing them of their belongings. A friend leaves his old car with Jayaprakash as he has to be away for sometime. Since Jayaprakash doesn't know how to drive, he enlists the help of Vijay Sethupathi who is delighted to help. The Padmini car becomes an object of emotional attachment for the main characters in the story. One day, Jaya Prakash's manipulative daughter arrives on the scene. Rest of the story is about how an emotional struggle ensues. The song "Unakkaga Pirantheney" is a beautiful ode to love between an elderly couple who have shared a long and warm relationship and stands out as a rare song among the thousands of love songs being written for Tamil cinema.

This is one delightful romantic comedy movie that leaves you perpetually guessing what is the kind of relationship that the hero and heroine will have, in the end. It is the story of an evolving friendship between an unlikely pair with only a slight hint of romance in it. A remake of the Korean movie "My Dear Desperado", director Nalan Kumarasamy has done a fabulous job of moulding it into a local template. Generously sprinkled with comical dialogues and expressions, it takes you on a fun-filled ride throughout. Vijay Sethupathi and Madonna share a very cute chemistry that lasts throughout the movie. It's a pity that their other movies together (Junga and Kavan) did not portray them in a similar equation. Many of the scenes are like a guessing game. There is a particular scene in which Madonna gifts Vijay Sethupathi an expensive watch and hints at marriage, but he laughs it off, leaving you wondering whether he has any feelings for her. And as you're wondering, she gives him a grateful hug which he doesn't refuse. There is yet another scene in which once again, you're left wondering what is really going on in their minds. Madonna passes her job interview and waits at the flat to convey the good news to Vijay Sethupathi, but he purposely avoids meeting her. Even at the end, they meet and smile at each other, but you're still left guessing what happens next. Santhosh Narayanan's background music elevates the fun mood of this movie throughout. There is a noteworthy soft piano track during a romantic scene which is lovely. A feel-good movie that has few flaws except that viewers would have been happier had the climax been more conclusive.

Often times, we get carried away by sensational news headlines and dramatic reporting. Kavan is a movie that shows how unethical some media houses can be. It is also about how the media panders to the whims of influential people such as politicians even to the point of victimising innocent people. It is mostly business without much regard for ethics or social responsibility. Bose Venkat has acted well as the crooked politician who seeks popularity through the media. Vijay Sethupathi as the the investigative journalist excels in his role. T. Rajendar plays an important role as the owner of a television station. Madonna Sebastian does not have a very significant role but complements Sethu as his girlfriend. Jegan provides some laughs. The song 'Oxygen' is worthy of mention,and cinematography is excellent.

Junga is a logic defying, full length comedy film. Vijay Sethupathi acts as a bus conductor turned don who is forced to travel to France to settle scores with his nemesis. The scenery in France is breathtakingly beautiful. Madonna Sebastian's talent has been wasted. She has the capability to take on more meaty roles. Vijay Sethupathi had good chemistry with Madonna Sebastian in Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum. In Junga, she appears only briefly as Sethu's first girlfriend. Sethu's make up was not good in this movie. His usual charm was missing. Sayyesha is a good dancer but she is more of a glam doll. Yogi Babu, Saranya Ponvannan, Suresh Chandra Menon and the grandma do justice to their roles. Watch Junga for some laughs.

First half dragged on for quite a bit,and would have been better without songs. Romance between Vijay Sethupathi and Anjali was passable but the chemistry between them wasn't that great. Surya Sethupathi put in a good performance as Vijay Sethupathi's sidekick. He didn't seem awkward or lost in any of the scenes and deserves praise,as this is his first movie as an actor. The story picks up pace only in the second half. We are taken on an adventure to Thailand and Cambodia where a sinister syndicate operates a human trafficking ring. It is indeed shocking that cosmetic surgery involving skin grafting has a sinister side to it. All in all, the movie is watchable especially the second half. There are some stunt acts that are hair raising.

Ram and Jaanu are, without a doubt, the most likeable characters you'll meet on screen. You just feel for them and you badly wish fate had been favourable towards their relationship. 96 is a lesson on love. It teaches us that love is not merely romance or lustful attraction between two people of the opposite gender, but more importantly, it is about compassion and friendship. Ultimately, Jaanu and Ram develop unconditional love and compassion for each other. Jaanu wants Ram to get married, settle down and have a family of his own. She doesn't want him to be stuck in the past. Both of them understand that they can still love each other as friends. Love transcends all barriers because to love someone is not to possess him or her but to care and cherish. Background score and songs were the pillar of this movie. All the songs are sentimental and have poetic lines about love. The song 'Life of Ram' was filmed at exotic locations, and the result is stunning cinematography. Vijay Sethupathi as the happy go lucky character who turns shy only in the presence of his high school crush, excels in his role. The makeover he gets after the interval makes him look cute. Trisha plays one of her most memorable roles in this movie. Both actors emote more through their eyes than through dialogue. The teenage actors who played the role of Ram and Jaanu in high school did their roles well. The supporting cast were excellent too.