Vishwaroopam Review

Vishwaroopam - One of the best tamil action movies

The wish of any creator would be to have a wider audience (Inspite of what my blog title says). The creator would be satisfied when those audience understand his work. But a creator's true triumph lies when his work creates a multitude of interpretations with his audience, sometimes a few which he/she never envisioned personally. Now kamalhasan has achieved that ultimate success as a creator and that very success is the biggest stumbling block for the economic success of his work. Coming back to the actual work, I leave it to the audience to decide if it deserves the opposition its getting.  The movie as such is a stylish action entertainer that is taut with a few really touching moments and a few logical loopholes. But what takes it to a higher level than most of the movies releasing in India is the very obvious touch of the genius Kamal Hasan.

Coming back to the story (Will keep it to the bare minimum), its about a classical dance teacher Vishwanathan alias wiz and his adulterous nuclear oncologist wife Dr . Nirupama.  Its a marriage of convenience for the two, and is on the rocks because of Deepak, Nirupama's Boss.  Viz has his own little league of friends in Ashmita (Andreya), his Kathak student, his uncle (Sekar Kapur) and a British guy named Dawkins. There is Omar (brilliant Rahul Bose) along with Salim, who are the chief antagonists of the movie who want to blow up the entire of New York. Simply put, it is the Cat and Mouse game between Viz and Omar and how one outplays the other. More than the cat and mouse game it is the characterization of the two main characters that keeps the viewers glued to the movie. 

Coming to the performances, Rahul Bose as the chief antagonist is simply brilliant. He is not a typical  villain one finds in any international movie. He is as much humane as any of us. His crooked stance, his interaction with his family, his non-vociferous yet impactful speeches and commands, he really made the role his own. Another brilliant antagonist in a kamal movie following Devar Magan, Kuruthi punal and the most recent virumaandi. Look out for the scene where he cries like a baby after his family's death, but in no time goes out to stop a fight brewing between two of his subordinates. Also the scene where he warns the guy against teaching his son English. Non-Gory yet brilliant.  Kamal, the actor is on the top of his game. As a kathak dancer he blows over all of us. His eyes, mannerisms and dialogue delivery are top notch. But in the second half he looks a bit tired and loses a bit of spark like Kamal the director. Another character that shines is that of Omar's brother Salim. 

Director Kamal overpowers almost everyone in the movie in the first half that is filled with subtle moments.  Watch  out for the scene where kamal plays two youngsters on a swing. I dont think there has been a better representation of the importance of education in Indian cinema. Lack of melodrama is another high point of the first half. Technically the movie is the best to come out of indian cinema. There are lots of blanks in the story telling that leaves it to the viewers' imagination. Cinematography is simply brilliant. Special mention should go to the action choreography. Please watch out for the action sequences, which is possibly one of the best in indian cinema.  The action scenes can be named the anti-mimick of "Tamil Padam". I would watch the first action scene a zillion times and still be blown over by the artistry. Shankar-Eshaan-Loy's music is adequate. 

What brings down the quality of the movie is the second half. Since the movie banked more on the characters and not on the twists in the story line, the second half fizzles out a bit. And there are a few logical loopholes that mares the proceedings. Another drawback is the improper characterization of the smaller roles. None of the smaller characters stand out. Nazar has been wasted in an insignificant role.  Dr . Nirupama's characterization looks caricatured, but not as irritable as asin of dasavatharam. You hardly notice the presence of Andreya. 

So does it deserve to get banned in TN? Absolutely not. Does it show muslims in a poor light? Only those that live in a fantasy world. "Fantasy, abandoned by reason, produces impossible monsters" is what he tries to say. If people are uncomfortable with that, then I am not sure, if I belong to a secular country. Its a must watch for every Tamil Cinema fan.

P.S I watched it in Netherlands!!

Mayan End, Retrospection and New Year Greetings

One of the most anticipated dates in the recent times has to be 21st December 2012, not just for the audacious plausibility associated with this date, but also for becoming a source of inspiration for countless comedians and satirists to show their ingenuity.This must be one of those non-events gathering such a huge anticipation just because people are bored. More than the mayan end, as an Indian what is disturbing is the Rape  and subsequent death of a 23 year old female victim in the capital city. May her soul rest in peace and so do the the soul of people losing their life every 5 minutes in the country due to some form of human neglect or atrocity  As heinous as the crime is, its the response of the general public that is really encouraging even if it borders emotional frenzy. If this emotional outrage converts itself into meaningful change in the attitudes, then all the means will have a semblance of sanity. The fact that it happened in the capital city and media is closely scrutinizing law enforcement means we can at least hope that the criminals would be punished eventually.

But more than the atrocity itself, whats more frightening is the fact that she laid unattended on the road for almost 1 hr without till the police arrived at the scene. There has been no protest against these ppl who were mere spectators. They must also share equal blame. These incidents in the last few days has made me retrospect who I am!

I am that person who has believed that education will bring a change in the mind set of people. I am that person who happily wants everyone other than me, do their duties to perfection. I am the person who is ready to break any existing rule to sate my ends and still scorn at corruption like i am not part of it. It all started from Nehru. Had vallabhai patel been the first PM this would not have happened. Subhash chandra bose should have been our first PM. All my sufferings are because of the past generation's mistake. I have no patience to wait in a line or wait for my turn, but still say that people around are barbaric and impatient. I am that person who thinks system is everything other than me!!

I am the person who says that reservation is bad for the system. Still I enjoy the social and economic benefits  my birth brings to me on a platter. I have no guts to stop my own kin and friends from making references to the origin of the people whom they meet.

I am that pseudo intellectual who has the absolute right opinions on every issue and will have no ears to the opinions that contradict mine. I am still not comfortable with the idea that i am born because two people whom i respect the most, decided to quench their craving for the cardinal pleasure. I need all the euphemisms to describe 'sex' and still am not ready to  talk about it to my parents or my kids. But still songs like munni bhadnam huyi and shiela ki jhawani are the biggest hits. And sunny Leone is a *****, but still she is the most searched person in the indian internet space. Indian men have absolutely no respect for women. It's due to their lack of understanding, immaturity and more importantly because of improper upbringing. 50 % of the parents had no role in this upbringing. it's all just the men. Mahatma Gandhi does not deserve to be father of nation because he was not chaste and slept naked with girls.

I know I have lived midst the god. His name is Sachin. He is god because he is good at something he does. I will either make a person god and will be ready to die for him. Yes sachin is god. Didi is god. Amma is god. Sourav is god. Bala saheb is god. Rajni is god. Yes I can also kill in the name of god.

I have all right intentions but no balls to take an action. Not even to stand up against the driver in a bus who fails to stop the bus long enough for a old couple to get in. Forget the gundas who molest girls. I cant go to the police  because they are all corrupt. All I can do is post messages in facebook, 'like' the emotional outrages of people. As soon as the media get another scam or celebrity wedding, I will forget the 23 year old and will not even know that she is a tip of tip of tip of the ice berg. Yes I strongly believe nothing will save India mainly because no one is ready to change.

Yes I am just another unique indian citizen.

P.S Wish you all a very happy new year. I really wish in 2013 I will be the change, I want to see in the society.