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rangaraj-vignesh
Reviews
Angadi Theru (2010)
A Musical Rendition of Cinematic Reality
Probably one of the best Indian movies all time: what I loved about this movie is how they had proved small budget movies do not decide on the cinematic experience at all. I just finished watching the movie and I have a very heavy heart. It was not an easy movie to watch--every frame was painful, gross, and pathetic. Sometimes I wished they were over-exaggerating the living conditions of those workers, but a little bit of search online, you would know that everything that had happened in the movie was true.
Alright the acting was top-notch. The female lead was really good at portraying a winsome young adult with sorrows lurking behind. The male lead wasn't really that great, but it doesn't matter: he does things the way he knows best. The music was lovely; the background rendition could have been more organized, but like I said none of those matter. It was funny at times--you will laugh and you will cry. A screenplay with right kind of elements placed at right places: a tear-jerker.
I repeat: this movie is not easy to watch. Be warned. Every element was a juxtaposing touch: amidst movies that take songs abroad in snow-clad mountains, dreams here were made of villages that the leading roles were longing to go back. The modern theme of feminism was rightly handled.
This movie isn't that beautiful, but that is not a problem at all! :) (Aval appadi ondrum azhagillai; anal adhu ondrum kurai illai)
The Double (2013)
This movie is engaging as hell
I do know it's a surreal movie, but I haven't seen or appreciated movies like this before. I don't know its history or anything of that sort. What I loved about this movie is its excellent leading role: Jesse Eisenberg. Throughout the movie, he gives an Oscar worthy performance, and this is the reason you want to stick with this movie, even when sometimes, nothing makes sense.
Or I loved this movie because I could connect with the original of the double. I felt sorry for him and I wanted him to have a better end, although I was pretty sure he's not gonna get that. So, in a way, this movie was predictable.
Would I recommend it to people? Absolutely. Its music and surreal screenplay will definitely touch some part of your heart.
Vishwaroopam (2013)
Vishwaroopam – a highly over rated movie!
Don't get me wrong; I have always admired Kamal and his bravery to change the cinema industry. He had inspired me big time and I went into the theatres playing Vishwaroopam with high expectations driving for about 200 km because the movie was banned in TN for some silly reasons, and boy, I have never been more disappointed. The cast was weak, save it for Kamal. He was incredible in his role as a gay dancer. I don't know why Andrea was cast, and I cannot possibly think why Kamal would waste a character in his movie. Pooja's acting was really good, but she was used in a mediocre level. As usual Nasser was amazing, along with some other cast that truly lived up to the role. The movie was really great on the technical side; Kamal's efforts were truly seen behind the camera. The story was just okay, with no real twist or awe. The climax build up drained toward the end, with a stupid dramatic walking scene of the four leading cast How could Kamal have wasted 100 crores on such a lousy effort? Some scenes with FBI guys talking to Pooja were incredibly hilarious, but no that was supposed to be a serious climax scene. What about characterization, Kamal? A guy that made Anbe Sivam? Where is he? The screenplay was extremely confusing and boring. Lacked the pace and adrenaline. Kamal should have restricted himself to acting. One thing: Kamal disappointed me and I hope he wouldn't again with Vishwaroopam 2'
Life of Pi (2012)
A greatly satisfying movie, probably the best of the year!
Life of Pi!
What a brilliant cinematography? A visual masterpiece! The movie itself had a character apart from that of Pi. The animals seemed to be acting as well, what a brilliant SFX work! The background score was fantastic, you feel goose bumps all over during some extreme scenes! A completely satisfying movie! A couple of Oscars are some deserving jewels for this crown!
I am an Indian, and I can definitely say, in India, some plots explained in the movie do not happen! But they can be excused as it is more of an emotional story, of courage, of faith - more like a fairy tale!
If you watched this movie, you would find these interesting:
1. Anandhi, the classical dancer, makes a sign or a mudra during her dance. Pi later asks doing the same mudra, 'why would a lotus hide in a forest?' And Anandhi is shown to be embarrassed. That's because, in hindu symbology, lotus represents a woman's vagina! It hides in dense pubic hairs, doesn't it? (damn) By the classical dance, it is symbolically meant that the lady is shy and wants to express her sexual feelings.
2. The whole carnivorous island is seen as a Hindu God, Vishnu (the supreme soul) lying on his back! It is a beautiful metaphor! Vishnu has said in Bhaghvad Gita, 'whatever is given to you is taken back!' The island gives you food and shelter in the morning and takes it all away in the night. Such an island is scientifically impossible to exist, but like I said, it's a fairytale.
These are the things I couldn't see anywhere on the internet. But, if you read the novel, you can definitely understand the complex and intricate relationship between humans, life and survival instincts. The whole movie is a beautiful poem! It takes some time to understand it!
I would give a 9 on 10, the movie lacked nowhere, and yet I had to take off the one because of some cast's poor acting! Ang Lee is a great director!
Nandalala (2010)
Prepare to be moved...
I am not a person easily moved, and, well, I'm not proud of that. I've always been waiting for something to come along that could make me feel something. But that was until I saw this movie.
Well, I'm not going to sit here and say that this is the best movie ever made. Nandhalala has a lot of flaws – from poor camera angles to ridiculous acting skills of certain lead actors. So many goofs are there. But there's something in this movie that could leave an aching spot in your heart. If it's the story or screenplay, I could not tell.
The story line is so damn amazing, I really doubt if Mysskin had written it all by himself. But, no offense, he has managed to pull something spectacular. You would laugh, smile and cry to the earnest – don't tell me you haven't been warned.
***SPOILERS***
The storyline of the movie is simple – a small boy who had never seen his mother in his life joins hands with a mentally challenged person (who had happened to have escaped from hospital) toward his quest to find her. At some point, the disabled person finds that the boy's mother had left him to marry another man and now has a child to take care of. But he hides this from the boy and pretends to continue to search for his mother. At another point, they join with a prostitute they meet on their way. The movie climaxes – man, that's an odd word – when the boy finds who his real mother is.
What I like about this movie is that it has three amazingly interesting characters. The human emotions are well captured and delivered so that all class of audience would understand what a human can do. The characters they meet on their way are also deeply pictured.
There are some people with lot of love and some that don't show it. But there is no one in this world that could possibly live without this amazing quality that makes them who they are. Human mind is an amazing thing that could fall in love within just a second, but at the same time fall into hatred. When something you love, something you think you can't go on even a second without, is lost, you can still go on. And that is an amazing thing. You can love what loves you.
The boy's journey is not to find what is very far away from him, but toward what had been always within him. The quest might not have gotten back his mother, but had sure put some strength in him to accept and love what he already has. To come back where he started. Every man who had walked this planet had always been on a quest toward something what he thinks is very far away from. Those succeeded were the ones who knew where exactly to find it. Their heart!
There are so many things this movie could teach you – if you let it!