Thani Oruvan – Well Executed

We watched Thani Oruvan also last weekend. That was on our list for a long time, but could not watch until last weekend. I had no expectations even though it was a huge hit. It is a kind of class movie I would say, in a way that it does not have any extra songs or scenes that would divert you from the track. It was very well focused and executed. I really want to applaud the director Raja that he focused on the plot very well.

 

Jayam Ravi did a good job, but Arvind Swamy stole the show. His screen presence was amazing. His body language and facial expressions were fantabulous. He lived as Siddharth Abhimanyu & did an extraordinary job in acting. Arvind Swamy looked really amazing and did fit the bill perfect J. I also liked the character Shilpa in the movie, she did a good job too.

Nayanthara was adequate and did justice to what she had to do. Thambi Ramaiyah as Arvind Swamy’s dad was too good. He balanced his acting very well with Arvind Swamy. To be honest, Jayam Ravi underplayed and acted exactly what he was supposed to do.

Congratulations to director Raja for a good action thriller with a clean plot. It is a decent action thriller in Tamil movie list.

Thani Oruvan – If you love action and/or thriller, do NOT miss it!

Naanum Rowdy Dhaan - Fresh

I watched Naanum rowdy dhaan and it was a breezy entertainer. It is really fresh. Script was new and the casting as good. Dialogues were good. Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara nailed their characters. They both lost lot of weight and looked much younger to their age. Vijay Sethupathi’s modulation of asking “Are you ok baby?” to Nayanthara was a scream every time.

 

RJ Balaji as Vijay Sethupathi’s friend was so apt. I still remember one of his dialogue when Nayanthara (being a deaf) ask for Bluetooth headset, he says “Kekaadha kaadhuku headset, poison kudikaradhukku palsettu”. I seriously do not know what does that mean and found it funny. He was very good at his timing. Good for him to get more offers as comedian in Tamil industry since Santhanam moved to hero league J. As a whole it was a cute, feel good movie with new characterizations, location, dialogues etc.

Wanted to mention about Parthipan too. He is a villain but did his acting in his own style which was good. Vignesh Sivan is the director of this movie who earlier directed Poda Podi with Simbu & Varalaxmi. He seems to be a person who knows how to entertain the audience. Songs were pretty good from Anirudh. I love the song “thangame unna naan”. Overall it is a good entertainer and with cute acting and dialogues. If you want to watch a feel good movie, go for it and you will enjoy every bit of it.

 

Naanum Rowdy dhaan – Feel Fresh!

 

Kirumi – Another Surprise

I watched Kirumi recently and this is another surprise package J.  It is a new director’s movie and all were new actors. Story was very good and the way it has been taken is amazing. It is a crime thriller genre and was very well taken. If you are a movie lover, do not miss this movie. The lead actor is Kathir and he was very natural and did fit to the role perfect. Charlie was in a very strong supporting role and he did the complete justice to it.

This movie is also very impressive. I would VERY highly recommend this movie.

Kirumi – Pleasant Surprise!

Kutram Kadidhal – Must Watch

We almost ran out of movies and decided to watch Kutram kadidhal last weekend. It is a new director’s movie and all were new actors. There was no background to it. But unbelievably it is one of the best movie in recent times. Very tight screenplay and strong dialogues. Characterizations were amazing and all the actors looked and acted very natural. No cinematic feeling at all.

This movie is impressive and the director name is Bramma, not sure he is the one who used to direct very nice serials (soap opera) in Vijay TV. The story was strong and the way he presented was excellent. The scenes and the dialogues were very original. The lead actor Radhika and the school principal, his wife and the kid’s uncle were all excellent. They just lived their characters. This is one of the best movie in Tamil Cinema recently. I would VERY highly recommend this movie.

Kutram Kadidhal – Please do NOT miss it! It is a MUST watch.

Movie Reviews - Maari, Vaalu & Idhu Enna Maayam

I watched couple of movies in last few days and wanted to write my review.

Maari – Not sure what happened to Balaji Mohan. He gave us good movies like Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu eppadi and Vaayai moodi pesavum. But this movie is really bad. There is no strong story. Also he did not know what to do after the interval. I could not even understood what he tried to convey. It is not entertaining too. Dhanush is not larger than life hero J. First half is at least ok, but second half is horrible. And there is nothing between Dhanush and Kajal Agarwal. You do not feel anything for her character.

 

If you do not have anything else to do, watch this movie.

 

Maari - Kodumai!

Vaalu – Indha Padatha release pannamaye irundhu iurkalaam. Avalo kodumai. No villains at all. No interesting twists. Hansika acted the same like other movies. There were few good comical moments from Simbu & Santhanam. That’s it. Nothing more to write.

 

Even if you have nothing to do, do not watch this movie J.

 

Vaalu - Kodumaiyo kodumai!

Idhu Enna Maayam – This is another kodumai movie. Slowest to the core. Characters are not established correctly. Flashback was very very slow and there is no string love shown between the lead pair. The new girl Keerthi Suresh was cute. Not sure what happened to Director Vijay. He gave us beautiful movies like Madarasapattinam, Kireedam, Poi Solla Porom. Felt some dejavu moments from Poi solla porom movie here. Bottom line, there is no strong story.

 

Idhu Enna Maayam - Boring!

Dei Nalla kadhai illana padam edukaadheenga da. Veruppaa irukku L.

An Experience of a Life Time

My mom had her knee replacement surgery couple of weeks ago in India. I wanted to go see her after couple of months but did not want to go during surgery. They live in Chennai but went to Coimbatore for the surgery. Vijay’s grandma had her knees replaced last year at the age of 86 and she recuperated well. So after looking at her, my mom agreed for her surgery. When I went to India for Samanu’s ear piercing ceremony in May/June, I took my parents on a day visit to Coimbatore to meet with the same Surgeon Dr. Muthu Saravanakumar at Dr.Muthu Ortho Specialty Hospital. He was very confident and I liked him and the hospital.

So she finally got the courage and got the surgery done on Aug 6^th Thursday. But after the surgery I became restless and I really wanted to go see her & be with her for few days. Since I just went to India and came back 2 months ago, I did not have enough PTO to go. But both my employer and the client were very supportive and they approved my leave. I went to India alone for a short duration. I booked my tickets from Chicago-Chennai-Chicago. I booked separate tickets from Chicago to Des Moines while coming back. Also Prabu (our family friend who is more like a family to us) booked Chennai-Coimbatore-Chennai flights for me.

On Aug 14^th Friday, Vijay dropped me at Chicago airport. We left home at 4:30 AM and reached Chicago at 10:30 AM for my 1:30 PM flight. After my 2 flights, I reached Chennai on Aug 15^th Saturday night. I went to my sisters’ house for the night and took the flight to Coimbatore on Aug 16^th Sunday 6 AM. Reached Coimbatore at 7:15 AM. My dad and Thiyagarajan uncle (Vijay’s paternal uncle) received me from the airport. My parents rented an apartment closer to hospital to stay for few more weeks in Coimbatore. So, we went there and both Thiyagarajan uncle and Iswari aunty were there for some time and left.

I knew my parents will be happy seeing me, but the way I spent the time I really felt that the impact was much more than what I assumed or thought of. I was like their kid 25 some years ago. After our wedding especially girls have more responsibility pleasing husband, kids etc. Our parents move down on our priority list even though it is not intentional. Some parents do adjust to that natural change and some do not. They get pretty much upset and think that their kid changed once they have their own family. I felt that my parents were very happy that I made them as my high priority (left my kids with my husband in US) and travelled alone for 1 week to be with them. I think I really made the right decision.

I gave her lot of confidence to go through physiotherapy and can talk my heart to them. They were also talking their heart to me which was really nice. Once I got married I made my visits with husband and kids all the time and my parents & I did not have our 1-1 bonding time. I felt this 1 week gave that bonding time. It was really precious to both me & my parents. The rented apartment was empty and we had rented only bed and couple of chairs. They also bought few pillows and bed sheets. Vijay’s uncle & aunty provided us with induction stove and some basic utensils.

During the time we stayed, I made vegetable soup, chicken soup, tea and coffee with whatever little ingredients that we get. It was the most yummiest food that we had J. We talked about lot of little things and my mom was telling her about her childhood things. I encouraged her to not to think about her pain, keep on talking to her, pushed to practice walking with walker etc. I think I went at the right time and boosted her confidence. I am glad that I could go and spend some time with her & dad.

The routine was I make tea in the morning and after sometime my dad would go get newspaper and breakfast for us. The cute thing was I will ask for dosa and my mom will instruct my dad to get “egg dosa” for me J. Then the physiotherapist Kaliyappan will come to help mom. He is one of the most nicest person I ever met. Even though he is young, he is very patient and composed. He is good at what he does. He talks to my mom in a nicer way and make her do all the exercises. Then around mid-morning, my dad will go get juice for us (technically it is for my mom). After that it is time for us to think about lunch. My dad found multiple restaurants to get food for different times to keep the variety going. I understood that my parents missed homemade food as well as people in Chennai. We did not have TV also in the apartment, so the only entertainment for my mom is “Books”. But at times it was too much for her as there was no conversations/talking to help her bear the pain. I got internet data card and tablet. So, we started watching some comedy episodes in youtube. It was fun watching it together in a little tablet J.

We went to hospital on Aug 21^st Friday to get the stitches removed. Doctor checked and asked her to come for 10 days follow up appointment. Then on Sunday Aug 23^rd me and my dad went to Gandhipuram to get sweets from Adyar Anandha Bhavan. We stayed in Singanallur and did not know that Gandhipuram is little far. I thought that the next stopping is Ramanadhapuram and the next one is Gandhipuram. But we had to take bus and go to Gandhipuram. It was around 30 mins in bus. We went to Adyar Anandha Bhavan and got some sweets. My mom asked us to eat non-veg food outside and bring her some lunch. And my dad said he saw Anjappar Chettinad restaurant closer while getting down from the bus. So, after the sweet shopping, we went to Anjappar. I did not want to eat there and told my dad that we can get “to go”. He said ok and we ordered good food which includes mutton briyani, karakudi chicken masala, liver fry and vanjaram meen kulamabu. We went back in bus and had good lunch with my mom and dad. There was a store Shri Kannan Departmental store in Singanallur just across from where we stayed. I went there and did some little shopping. I packed my stuff on Sunday and weighed it and kept ready.

My flight from Coimbatore was at 3:40 PM and I left home around 1:30 PM on Monday Aug 24^th. I stayed in Coimbatore with my parents from Aug 16^th Sunday morning until Aug 24^th Monday afternoon. Those 8.5 days are so precious in my life and will remember it forever. I think everyone in their life should experience it at least once (being just a daughter to your parents and not a wife or a  mom in front of them). I will treasure those memories forever.

Since I was all alone in all the airports, I could observe lot of people. It was very interesting. On top of it, I had to help 3 different set of passengers from Chennai – One girl from Thirunelveli traveling with her kid to US for the first time, Parents visiting their daughter for the first time, One “over smart” lady with 2 little kids and got 3 heavy hand luggage. I still do not understand how she had guts to some alone with 2 kids with those 3 heavy luggages. I felt being stupid and manipulated while helping her. She is not new to US and she should know how to travel with little kids when her husband is not traveling with her. Felt she took advantage of nicer people around her. That Thirunelveli girl got stuck at customs with some food items and I could not stay with her as I had some sweets & did not want that little dog to sniff at my luggage. So I came out and waited but the girl was gone by herself. Hope she transferred properly to domestic airport to catch her next flight to Portland from Chicago. I felt so bad that I did not help her properly L.

I spent 3 days in travel and spent 8.5 days with my parents. I really have to thank Vijay and my little ones for letting me go & my mother-in-law for helping Vijay taking care of kids. I also need to say many thanks to Thiyagarajan Uncle, Iswari aunty & Vidhya for helping my parents in Coimbatore. Their help is really huge, timely and very thoughtful.

Even though the trip was very hectic with 3 flights & 6 hours of car ride one way & 4 flights to come back to Des Moines, I felt that this India trip was much more meaningful and thoughtful. I would say this is an experience of a lifetime and will treasure this forever. And I am sure my parents will do too.

Thanks for reading J.

Baahubali – Visual Treat

I am back after my long hibernation. Durai (Vijay’s friend) was asking me about this movie and he asked why I did not write the review yet in my blog which enlightened me that I am being lazy and not writing regularly in my blog.

I watched Baahubali last week and was very impressed with SS Rajamouli’s work. I did not go for the premier show as I was hesitant about the hype for the movie. There were times that the movie was hyped so much and there was no content. I really wanted to hear some feedback before I watch it by myself. We had only Telugu version released in Des Moines & Vijay also agreed to join me. We waited until my MIL came to Des Moines so that we do not have to worry about kids. It was 1 week after the release and there were around 40 people still. We were really surprised as that is a large crowd for Des Moines on the second week of movie release. And another friend Raghu joined us to watch this movie second time.

Story wise, there is nothing new but the characterization of each actor was really good. Each scene was very detailed and the lead actors like Prabhas & Rana really worked very hard physically to get in shape and stay throughout. Because of their physique, there were scenes which was exaggerated but looked real or acceptable on screen. Camera was so good and the CG work is very good most of the time except for couple of places where you can feel that it is not real. Songs were ok. Ramya Krishnan’s screen presence was good and she lived like a queen in the movie. The way they showed the palace, war scenes were amazing. This is just the first part and you feel like the movie ended abruptly. They are expecting to release the part 2 next year.

The one thing that astounded me was someone had so much creativity and he has the intelligence to bring it visually on screen. You can feel that the whole team worked very hard for the last 3 years to bring this on screen. It was a complete visual treat! Rajamouli seems to be very humble and intelligent which is seriously a rare combination J.

Bottom Line - If you have money, you can make movies up to Hollywood standard J.

Baahubali – Theater Watch!