Roots, Unhurried A chipped steel plate, or maybe a banana leaffolded at the corners, waits on the wobbly table.Two idlis, just lifted from the pot.Their warmth drifts through the morning,steady and unambitious.Some days, that’s enough—a bit of grain, a bit of sun,and the quiet insistence of thingsthat do not demand applause. There’s a rhythm to…
CategoryFilm Review
Kantara: Chapter 1
A myth reborn in grandeur yet yearning for its lost soul. Rishab Shetty returns with Kantara Chapter 1; with the confidence of a filmmaker who knows his canvas. It’s ambitious, mounted on a grand scale, and crafted with immense visual care. The production is lavish, the detailing intricate, and the world-building immersive. Every frame breathes…
Black
A symphony of suspense Black (2024), the latest Tamil thriller, is a testament to the art of suspenseful storytelling. Without resorting to gore or cheap jump scares, the film grips its audience from the first frame, keeping them on the edge of their seats with a masterfully crafted, bone-chilling atmosphere. Directed with a keen understanding…
Connect
Jump scares? Yes, Connection? Buffers! Move over birthdays, reunions, dates, lessons and classes. It’s about time to conduct Exorcism over mankind’s favorite yet deeply loved and vehemently hated post-pandemic platform – Zoom! We may feel largely the same ambivalence towards the film. The story is a simple leaf out of yesteryear’s favorite Hollywood subject, presented…
TILL
Tragic story. Brilliant film. It comes with award-worthy written all over. Perhaps that’s not the single most reason to bring this true story to mainstream cinema. The more important context is to bring to light, one of the most pertinent pieces of history. One of a probably lesser told yet relevant story that unarguably catapulted…
Ponniyin Selvan – I
Poignant and Spectacular Two words that instantly come to mind resonating with the one and only cinematic representation of the Tamil literary classic, Ponniyin Selvan (trans, The Son of Ponni). First and foremost, thankfully in hindsight, it is a blessing in disguise. That a film adaptation was attempted before but never materialized. That the film made…
An Enduring Effect
Seldom we see a comprehensively compelling film tracing the life arc of a true story. If Madhavan – in his debut directorial venture – aced it with an A-, it is Madhavan – the writer – that excelled with a perfect A. The platform is aptly set for Madhavan – the seasoned and versatile actor…
Annaatthe
Vintage Personified Chandru – Accomplished angel investor and an eccentric venture capitalist. Orthodox Chennaiite, Thalaiva fan. Immigrated to the US when he was in his early 20s. Claims he has some poetic genes.Amudha – Chandru’s only daughter. Born in the US and a neurosurgeon by profession. Absolute movie buff, like her father.Vipin – Amudha’s husband…
Thalaivii
It’s been a tempestuous life and career. When you are a leader, you know how to control your emotions and not show them openly. Jayalalitha as said to Simi Garewal Thalaivii…Shaken and Stirred. We would observe watching the film either as Thalaivi (Tamil/Telugu) or Thalaivii (Hindi) depending on the language of our choice. Perhaps it…
Darkness sans finesse
A false friend and a shadow attend only while the sun shines Benjamin Franklin Andhaghaaram (transl. Darkness) – A modern psychological and supernatural thriller that is both entertaining and intriguing. The premise is one with simple dimensions. The protagonists are smartly set across the spectrum of Chennai middle-class society. Dr. Indran – a clinical psychiatrist…
It’s [never] over…
Indian cinema has come a long way. Long gone are days of run-of-the-mill masala pot-boilers, formulaic scripts, and cliched melodrama. For the most part, method actors paved way for character actors. The wide moat between real-life and reel-life narrowed over time. I must proudly say the Thriller/Horror genre within Indian cinema has matured leaps and…
Wrestling – A way of life
Dangal punches the power of wrestling all the way. In foreground, it is the immaculately choreographed wrestling bouts on mud and synthetic surfaces. In background, it’s the small yet substantive bouts crafted with finesse. Aamir Khan, the performer wrestles with the intelligent showman in him. As Mahavir Singh Phogat, he wrestles with family and society,…