Quick Gun Murugan

Its hard to describe a movie like Quick Gun Murugun which stars Rajendra Prasad portraying the title role with Nasser as Rice Plate Reddy, the villian. The movie is a fine combination of witty dialogues, over-the-top acting and action. What is an absolute no-no for most films today, is exactly what works for Quick Gun.

The film is short, sweet and has enough laughs in store to warrant a visit to your nearest movieplex. Director Shashanka Ghosh takes on a difficult script and his uniquely different way of execution is what makes Quick Gun Murugun a compelling watch.

Rajendra Prasad's performance is what takes Quick gun to a different level altogether. He is simply fantastic, its a watch-it-to-believe it performance. Nasser is equally good as the villian. Vinay Pathak and Ranvir Shorey have smallish roles, so does Sandhya Mridul. Rest of the actors are perfectly cast.

To sum up, Quick Gun Murugun is a tasty crisp dosa that should be enjoyed with a bit of popcorn and a lot of pepsi, but only in theatres. Go for it.

Kanthasamy

Sending a message within commercial parameters is no easy task for any filmmaker. But kudos to Susi Ganeshan for achieving the same. Coming out with an unpretentious entertainer, Susi has ensured that he plays to the strength of Vikram. An action extravaganza with technical finesse was lacking in Tamil cinema. But Kanthaswamy has filled the void now. The computer graphics and the breathtaking stunt sequences captured well by cinematographer Ekambaram has proved a point that Tamil cinema is no way behind when compared to Bollywood and Hollywood.

Vikram had got his trophy this time too. The film is pure commercial masala entertainer that strikes fine balance between style and substance and also has neat message. The film has all the trademark super-hero movie elements like flashy action scenes and eye-popping special effects. But, actually it is not a super-hero film that is the twist in the film.

The film opens as normal film showing ordinary people flocking to a Murugan temple which has become famous as all their wishes can be fulfilled at the temple. The people wrote their wishes in a piece of paper and tie it to a tree in the temple.

The introduction scene of rooster Kanthasamy where he comes crashing through the dome of a police station and plays around with the bad comic cop is terrific. The highlight of the film is Kanthasamy dressed as a woman and teaching Charlie and Mayilsamy a fitting lesson is hilarious. The blindfolded action scenes in Mexico are stunning.

What is the connection between masked crusader Kandasamy and the CBI officer Kandasamy? Why is the CBI Joint Director protecting Mr. Kandasamy? Can the villains- PPP, Rajmohan of RMG group, and Mexican Pitchumani expose and bring Kandasamy to trial? Will the DIG succeed in proving that Kandasamy is no God? The underlining message in the film is, “Money (read black) is the root cause of all evil”.

The answers to all these questions are known only when we watch the movie. Technically the innovative camera angles and the lighting of the cinematographer made the film visually stunning. The sets of Thotta Dharani are awesome especially the bedroom of the heroine and the interior of the plus us used as villain’s hide out is fantastic.

The music for the film is by Devi Sri Prasad also given the special support. Two songs ‘Excuse me..’ and ‘Enperu meenakumari..’ have been well picturised and lavishly shot. Susi Ganesan also done a cameo in this film and by this flick he joined in the big league of directors in Tamil.

There is grandeur and richness in every shot in the film and no wonder it took two years to complete. The film with no doubt belongs to Vikram and he rocks. Shriya sizzles throughout and carries the glamourous role. Prabhu fitted the role of investigative cop. There is also a separate comedy track for Vadivel and he keeps you in splits.

Kanthasamy is perfectly an action commercial entertainer and can be seen with the entire family and it is an enjoyable one.

Kaminey - Logical Masala

‘Dhan Te Nan’ Shahid definitely needs applause for his outstanding performance in the film. He now can be added in the list of top actors of bollywood. Piggy Chops is amazing and the chemistry between them is crackling.

With ‘Kaminey’ Vishal Bharadwaj pays homage to many old thrillers which is a good enough reason to watch the much anticipated movie of today's times. This black comedy thriller on the lines of European thrillers is worth a watch.

It is a very unpredictable film which might very well work for the film. Bharadwaj takes you to a completely different world which none of us have witnessed in hindi cinema. It is not a regular masala film, if paid attention you will come to know that very scene leads somewhere and is well coordinated at the end. Not a single scene is wasted.

To cut everything short ‘Kaminey’ is a well made film. If you are looking for an out n out experience this is a must watch. Bharadwaj has a knack of gluing the audience to Kaminey their seats to see what happens next and his way of testing the audience’s intelligence.

In the first half of the film the characters are established. The story takes a dramatic turn towards the interval. The expectations are high and the eagerness builds. It is a bit slow in the middle which might not be liked by the masses. ‘Kaminey’ is a film for the classes.

From the very beginning till the end Bharadwaj places the events with such an ease that we are amazed as the end gives a wonderful blast. It is a very difficult film to execute and if not for Vishal Bharadwaj it would have been a mess. The music by the director himself is superb and the background score enhances the feel of the movie. Cinematography by Tassadug Hussain is visually very appealing. Dialogues by Bharadwaj are mind blowing. The editing is top class not a single spot can be pointed out.

‘Kaminey’ definitely has an effect. When you walk out you will be wondering about the series of events that happened. It is definitely a very smart thriller. Shahid’s acting can is par excellence and Priyanka Chopra has well justified the maharashtrian mulgi. Amol Gupte has done a very good job. Chandan Roy Sanyal, Tenzing Nima, Shiv Subramaniam, Hrishikesh Joshi have acted to their perfection.

Overall a very well made movie and a cool watch. Some spacing in the movie would have helped. But Bharadwaj with his lead actors Shahid and Priyanka and an amazing script is sure to pull it off.

Love Aaj Kal

Love Aaj Kal begins with how a Boy and Girl meet, have a breezy year long affair and then decide to go for a break-up and to top that they have a break-up party. One of the most obnoxious things we would have heard, but dealt in the most hilarious manner. All of this in 20 minutes flat. This pace may confuse you a bit but you will soon realize this pace reflects today’s day and age.

You begin to know more of Jai, an architect by profession and aspire to work at the Golden Gate in San Francisco and Meera who wants to join an art restoration project in India. They both are fun, perky, confident and above all “practical”, who have mapped what they want in life. And this is exactly the reason for their amicable separation. From lovers to ex-lovers who are extremely comfortable with their status and each other, so much so that they can go on to list all things wrong in each other and still have a good laugh. While the casualness of this present-day romance is in contrast to the romance of Veer Singh who befriends Jai post his break-up party which was catered by Veer. And then as the name suggests Love Aaj Kal the love story of Veer’s Kal and Jai’s Aaj run parallel and yet amalgamate beautifully. Both the stories have their ups and downs and how their love story reaches its climax and to the climax of the film is quite interesting.

The film goes on to prove the power of love in its own way and is gripping till the end. It doesn’t begin where you think it does and doesn’t end where most stories do, making it unusual piece of writing.

Imtiaz Ali has done some stupendous writing and wondrous direction. One of the proofs would be the way he has justified Saif playing the younger Veer. He is a pro at story- telling and extracting fine performances and it’s no different even with this film.

Both Saif and Deepika are convincing as Jai and Meera. Saif has pulled of an astounding act as urbane, flirty, idiotic, confused Jai and is likeable as the younger Veer too. Deepika has enacted way beyond her previous roles. Rishi Kapoor is the eternal lover boy and is cute and adorable in the film.

The dialogues of the film surpass most other elements of the film. The music by Pritam is a good mix ranging from soft romantic ones to disco numbers and takes the narrative forward but can’t be called everlasting. The cinematography enhances the landscape of London, Delhi, San Francisco, and Calcutta (not Kolkata) in the film.

All in all this film makes you fall love with the idea of falling in love all over again.