Spoilers ahead…
Among the mass heroes, Ajith may be the most interesting. It’s the grey shades – not just in the hair, but also in the characterisations he gets away with. There’s something about watching a hero who isn’t virtue incarnate, whose image allows him to do things other heroes can’t, and Vedalam makes pretty good use of this aspect of the actor. The film, directed by Siva, isn’t so much a movie as a vending machine for dispensing star-isms. Consider the star’s first shot. (He plays a cabbie named Ganesh.) A glimpse of wavy grey hair. A glimpse of the eyes. A glimpse of a smile. All this in a scene that involves a… kathi. (Remind you of anyone else’s movie?) Or consider the scene where someone asks him, “Unakku car otta theriyuma?” These aren’t dialogues between the characters. They’re conversations between the film and fans, who go berserk. (They know the line is for them.) This blatant demolition of the fourth wall is why these “mass” films can’t be analysed like other films, on grounds of logic. Or even sense.
The last time Ajith was in a Siva film (Veeram), he played a character with four brothers. This time, he’s got a reason for a flashback sister, Thamizh (Lakshmi Menon), who thinks he’s as innocent as he looks, with that streak of ash on his forehead, with that tendency to also pray in church, with that impulse to help the blind across the street. But guess what? To the surprise of nobody who’s seen the trailer, there’s a side to Ganesh that makes him smile and snarl and deliver aphrodisiacal punch lines. (I am as important as your parents. They were instrumental in your birth. I’m going to be instrumental in your death.) Forget dirty magazines – these clips are all Ajith fans will need if they decide to become sperm donors. The actor plays the two sides as if outfitted with an on/off switch. Good guy/bad guy. Meek guy/Superman. And he doesn’t even have to duck into a phone booth. Is it great acting? No. But it’s something.
That something keeps us watching, and the anticipation of that something tides us over the lulls. A catalogue of the latter would begin with the supremely un-comedic comedy track by Soori & Co. He pretends to be faithful to his wife, then he slips into a nightclub, then his wife lands up there with her mother… This sort of thing could function as a litmus test for a couple considering marriage. If he or she laughs… The film’s biggest laugh, for me, came from a doctor who says things like, “His survival rate is just seven per cent,” as though the patient were a battery. There’s a heroine around somewhere (Shruti Haasan), who gets an awful song that goes, Don’t mess with me. Not that Ganesh plans to. I haven’t seen a hero look less interested in the heroine. Shruti Haasan gets more footage in the Fanta ad during intermission. Then there are the villains, an ill-defined lot. Their scenes are edited with chopper blades, on which the camera is mounted. Maybe there’s a way to look at this. Maybe the hyper-cutting is a manifestation of the evil that churns in these men… Nah! It’s just lousy filmmaking.
And yet, the film makes good on its mission. Fans are left delirious. Others are left… fitfully entertained. Some scenes – the scene where the villains zone in on the hero’s whereabouts, or the one where the hero discovers his kidnapped sister’s whereabouts – are charged with the enjoyably trashy energy AR Murugadoss brings to his films. The pre-interval block is particularly impressive – at least, for this sort of film. It’s a sustained stretch of action, plus a revelation that sets up the second half. Now we get to the “family sentiment” zone, and I must say these parts aren’t as bad as they sound. I walked out of the film wishing these filmmakers would apply themselves a little more. All mental resources seem directed towards the hero-oriented scenes, and they work. Why not redirect some of those street smarts to the comedy track, the romance, the scenes with the villains? It’s like taking up swimming just to keep afloat.
KEY:
- Vedalam = phantom
- kathi = knife; also this film
- “Unakku car otta theriyuma?” = Can you drive a car?
- Veeram = see here
- Fanta ad = see here
Copyright ©2015 Baradwaj Rangan. This article may not be reproduced in its entirety without permission. A link to this URL, instead, would be appreciated.
Baradwaj Rangan 
Harish S
November 13, 2015
that last line – i think this will be one of your all time best punch line! great going 🙂
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Bala
November 13, 2015
Heh, the related reviews at the bottom throws up a review of “vaalu” which also had the title “a not bad star dispensing machine” ☺I’ll even take the punny titles now to be honest 😀
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Anu Warrier
November 13, 2015
I walked out of the film wishing these filmmakers would apply themselves a little more.
That line resonates, and how! It was the reason I griped about it on your review of Sivappu – no, ‘tried’ is not good enough. That said, I guess, fans of Ajith aren’t really going to care here.
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Gautham Viswanathan
November 13, 2015
Dear Mr. Rangan,
I look forward to your reviews with more anticipation than the actual movies. Honestly me and my friends enjoy your reviews more than some movies. Your reviews get better each time – there are certain elements only guys born in the 70s and 80s would understand – like the GRE comments in Thani Oruvan.
Now with Vedalam – “a fourth wall” that only a Tamizhan would understand (to quote you Kamalism and add Viyaism, Ajithism and so on)- you have really topped it.
I’m pretty sure “the mass” that supports this movie don’t understand what you write – but you certainly bring to us a whole new definition of Tamil movie watching. With legal on demand services like Herotalkies and Tentkotta Tamil Cinema has become much more enjoyable especially with a sprinkling of your review to guide choosing a good movie.
I do want to point that it is common to use survival rates in cancer patients. I haven’t seen the movie to comment if it was used in the right context or not. Perhaps we should applaud for using appreciate terms – when there are several hundred movies were we still see medical science portrayed from the 80s.
Anyway it is such a joy to open my inbox and see a new review waiting to be savored. Looking forward to much more.
Sincerely
Gautham
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Betty Jones
November 13, 2015
Every hero has a dark side. That dark side can stop him from driving let alone swimming. Just the good side spouting clever dialogues and dance moves isn’t enough. It’s time actors grew up. An actor acts the part. A hero lives it.
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Ram Murali
November 13, 2015
Bala – so in Vedalam, Ajith broke the fourth wall. In his latest movie, Simbhu broke the fourth vaalu! (Indha pun-nu podhuma innum konjam venuma!)
Allow me to indulge in a completely off topic joke (or at least, something intended to be a joke) that involved a pun…
My mother-in-law is visiting us in the US. Recently we had all gone to a park nearby as a family. On the way back, we had to take back roads that were quite uneven. She asked, “Ena pa idhu…America-la kooda Chennai madhiri road-la maedum pallamum irukuma?!”
I responded by saying, “Yaen ma kaelvi pattathille…made in USA?!”
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vasuvasudevan
November 13, 2015
I used to like the ‘something’ before, but am worried these days about my ear drums – the loud ‘music?’ that stresses on the ‘something’ and the roar from the fans! Thalai, you have given good movies in the past and I think you can still do some once in a while!
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venkatesh
November 13, 2015
The fact that this guy is a Hero with an absolutely mind-blowing opening is the biggest surprise of all . I have never really understood how just suddenly he became a star.
Now, that is a mystery
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brangan
November 13, 2015
venkatesh: Remember we discussed this at length in the comments section of some film? Can’t remember which one now..
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Santosh Kumar T K
November 13, 2015
venkatesh: i used to wonder too. back in 2003 when i went to a college in vellore, there were these trapezoid metallic boards (similar to those that mention a colony/ward name) that lined the streets from the katpadi railway station that detailed his fan associations. two things used to amaze me.
1) ajith, and interiors of TN?! 2) those metallic boards were rusted and tattered! (doing some shankar kind of investigative procedural in mind, these fans and fans’ associations were not recent/new. also, it was 2003, for God’s sake.
yes, as in your case, the “suddenness” of it all used to puzzle me.
one wouldn’t be surprised were it to happen to vijay, but ajith?!
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Srinivas R
November 13, 2015
As someone who grew up with Rajini and Kamala movies, it is a little depressing to know that Ajith and Vijay are the reigning stars of BO. It feels like their body of work doesn’t deserve the stardom they enjoy. Now I’ll duck before their fans burn my effigy.
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MANK
November 13, 2015
Brangan, that was Aarambham. I remember that well. I got into lengthy fights with somebody (whom I don’t think comments here any more) about the stardom of ajith as well as several other stars. it didn’t go anywhere
I guess the reason for Ajiths stardom will always remain a mystery.
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sabharinath
November 13, 2015
About the mass heroes discussion, I think every mass hero or every actor who transformed into mass action heroes has two things in common…. 1) Powerful or ferocious looking eyes & 2) A strong roary or a deep metallic voice….. Maybe vikram is an exception, but can modulate it enough to sound ferocious like he did in saamy…. Maybe these two are the things we are referring to as…. that ‘something’ which actually make them look like a goon bashing machine at a suspending disbelief, combined with the swagger they ooze out on screen…. And surprisingly, even a strong physique doesn’t count here…. Thats why our superstar is ever shining…. Even a dhanush looks a believable action hero with just the two things…. Even guys with strong physique like vishal, jayam ravi are struggling to get there just because they lack one of the two above…. When vishal utters a punch dialogue, it sounds utterly unconvincing…. So I think its just the eyes and the tone combined with the swagger…. I still can’t remember a mass film without a tight closeup shot of the hero’s ferocious eyes
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brangan
November 13, 2015
MANK: Ah yes, Arrambam – reviewed here.
Guess what! venkatesh was the one who started the discussion there too 🙂
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MANK
November 13, 2015
Brangan, this fourth wall breaking kind of stardom and cinema is a uniquely Indian phenomenon, is it not?
Can you think of any such instances from the west? I am not talking about woody Allen kind. I have noticed rare instances in films of john Wayne or Schwarzenegger perhaps. But however big the star, they always seem to remain in character and hardly ever seem to break the illusion of the film
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brangan
November 13, 2015
MANK: Absolutely. Actually, it began as a Tamil (and I’m assuming Telugu, as the “mass” cultures are somewhat similar) phenomenon, with the Dravidian movement stars and screenwriters “speaking” to the audience — and MGR, of course, took this to its apotheosis.
And then it mutated into a more fan-centric version, where it was less about a philosophy than getting off on fan-star exchanges.
But yeah, all of this involved fourth-wall breaking.
Come to think of it, apart from Salman films, this isn’t there in Hindi, no? I mean, SRK does it too, but it’s more a wink (like how he references DDLJ in Chennai Express). It’s not full-fledged wall-breaking.
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MANK
November 13, 2015
Oh, it used to happen a lot in Bachchan films, when he was at the height of megastardom. I can think of instances in suhaag, lawaaris,inquilab, mard, coolie and so on. I guess we never had a star of such magnitude again in Hindi cinema until Salman came along and took up the mass hero mantle. may be Govinda did it for a while in his massy comedies – remember that song in coolie no 1 where he hit back at the critics of sarkhailo khatiya.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DrS2Z6XLi7U
SRK and Aamir are huge stars but aren’t necessarily mass heroes. I suppose that’s why they refrain from doing it.
the chronology you mentioned about the evolution is correct, starting with the Dravidian movement and all. And once NTR developed political ambitions, it spread to Telugu as well. And now the situation in Telugu is even worse than Tamil. They have only fourth wall breaking stars and films
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brangan
November 13, 2015
MANK: Oh yeah, Bachchan. How could I forget? 🙂 The most famous “star-fan” conversation is probably the freeze-frame in Coolie where the accident happened. I was talking about the scene today and only Salman came to mind. 🙂
Can you recall any fourth-wall breaking by Rajesh Khanna? I mean, given the massive stardom and all (though he wasn’t exactly a “mass” hero, as we define it now)…
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Dhanda Soru
November 13, 2015
“Remember we discussed this at length in the comments section of some film? Can’t remember which one now”
BR, I think the film was “Arrambam”. Quite an interesting discussion that. What constitutes stardom, why a certain star is more popular than the other, how someone like a Vikram is still considered as a “star” despite multiple critical and commercial duds in the last decade or so.
What I find more puzzling/interesting is how Tamil cinema went from having heroines who looked the part to heroines who – to borrow a sentence you used in a review – look as comfortable as Zulu tribesmen in Gstaad. But I suppose that matters little in the context of star-vehicles, where the heroine is essentially a prop masquerading as a character. 😛
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Venkatesh
November 13, 2015
Gone are the days when he used to act in films that gave us an impression that he’s trying to follow Kamal’s footsteps – I’m talking about Vaali, Citizen, and Villain. Back then I was in school, and couldn’t digest when somebody said Vijay and Ajith are the next Rajini and Kamal, respectively. All of a sudden, Vikram came from nowhere and looked like being a worthy successor of Kamal. Post Anniyan, Surya was projected as one (at least by his fans). With the exception of Varalaru, Ajith never looked like getting into that mould thereafter. Following Mankatha’s success, he too seems like eyeing the ‘Next superstar spot’. Not to forget our ‘Little superstar’ Simbhu, now everybody wants to occupy that position, and not ‘Next Ulaganayagan’!
When you talk about comedy, I think we are in dearth of good actors. Looks like Soori is trying to fill the shoes of the legendary Ganja Karuppu. Had to watch Poojai during another journey. Needless to say, I found his comedy scenes with Shruthi extremely horrible. I had no other option but to laugh; the co-passenger sitting next to me was like avlo periya comedy illa. 🙂
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Naren
November 13, 2015
BR – Vedalam had become one of the contender for the top spot – in your words – WTF movies. I just couldn’t understand the psychology behind fans whistling and clapping just for the very noisy, out of the track, not so appealing background score and the slow motion walk of the hero – just after doing nothing? Especially, fans went crazy when he uttered – “Ne Verum Kaettavan, naan Kaedu kaettavan” – has this become a punch dialogue that fans will now start to recite? Would you say these are “the right buttons pressed”? How far we had travelled from “En Vazhi thani vazhi” or “Naan oru thadava sonna…..” etc punches to these… Vedhalam pushes this film too long way deep down on the standards – to Badhalam (PUN?) than most Telugu movies.. no offence! Are we so deprived of celebration now that all we need is just a motion images of Ajith for 2+ hours to let us go berserk?
Besides, it has become a trend that anyone who trashes this film will get beating by the fans in the social media, you may even see mob attacking your home. Believe me, they can trace anyone – check Ananda vikatan cover story, this week. The Intolerance in India?? The movie is being celebrated just by these fans mafia. They had to make this movie hit as “Puli” did not do well. It has become that full time job for many to create as many twitter handles and praise this movie. As long as there is such split fan base between Vijay and Ajith, the makers can be any lazy in producing such crappy movies. Their fans will make it a hit through twitter and FB.
Eventually, there was no review that shouts how bad this movie is – be it a masala movie – in all terms. Everybody tries to balance that this is not really that bad. the sentiments in the movies are good. Or at least Ajith screen presence is…… what? Or is it enough the hero be fair and good looking with gracious smile and not how uncomfortable he appears in most scenes as if he is just doing this for his fans with the least interest in the who idea of cinema. There were even references in the movie for hero being Fair. Shruthi says, “haa fair guy with a streak of ash, should be believed as innocent”.
Everything was so carelessly done with utter belief that only Ajith on the screen will get their money back. The music, the acting, the atmosphere, the villains and what not? Scenes are even so silly where for just sentiment case, the Cab driver’s sister will talk to passenger to get out of the car so the driver brother can come home early?
There is now a sudden thirst for some real good masala movies from those good old Rajini’s good vs evil.
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bart
November 13, 2015
Saar, Veeram worked better for me. This was noisy and lousy. Can’t stand hero/heroine (or hero’s sister) helping blind people cross roads anymore. New ideas please. There were many archaic stuff like the house demolition for building a complex, Rowdy who will do anything for money (switching for highest bidder), donating blood to the victim after hospital admission (that too O+ve), the whole of a non-tamil place speaking tamil as though it was a compulsory 2nd language in their schools (Kolkatta??!!). There were many other cringe worthy scenes as well, topping up with the atrocious comedy, ear-deafening meejik etc. Ajith’s switching good/bad on/off started with Vaali and was done very well in Villain but now it feels like a stretch. Forget logic, but some freshness in thoughts and some basic sensibility in executing a scene (all 3 international terrorist villain brothers in the spot kidnapping 100s of women in a container chennai?!) are not too much to expect.
Oru mellisana kodu. Koattukku andha pakkam Telugu masala padam. Indha pakkam Tamil masala padam. Indha padam andha punidhamana koattaye azhichirichu…
(sperm donors, swimming to stay afloat – engeyo poyittinga sir!)
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vijay
November 13, 2015
I pity the current 20-somethings whose childhood memories of deepavali/Pongal are forever going to be scarred because of Tharuthalai’s and IIayathalavali’s flicks.
Does Kamal watch his daughter’s movies? innum sariya pesave varalaye? eppo acting kathukkardhu?
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MANK
November 13, 2015
Brangan, reg: rajesh khanna, manmohan desai’s (that man again) Roti comes to mind. The 2 songs, public hai yeh sub janti hai. and yaar hamari baat suno – seems like the superstar’s conversation with his audience. There were some scenes too in the film, if I remember correctly – there is a scene were he claim to know emperor Akbar and his sons personally and then names them as prithviraj kapoor and his sons.
Now come to think of it Raj kapoor has done some conferencing with his audience as well – may be not exactly of the massy superstar kind. In films like aawara, shri 420, do ustad, mera nam joker and so on.
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Rohan Nair
November 13, 2015
” this fourth wall breaking kind of stardom and cinema is a uniquely Indian phenomenon, is it not? Can you think of any such instances from the west?”
You don’t have it in the West but that doesn’t make it ‘uniquely’ Indian. West African popular cinema has a lot of this going on.
The idea derives readily from folk theatre and storytellers from cultures across the world. It isn’t even uniquely a cinematic thing.
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Gowtham
November 14, 2015
Aren’t sur names important while naming villains? The main antagonist is named Rahul. Does it not sound too nice for someone who is into trafficking and stuff?
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Rm
November 14, 2015
@Naren: Very true. It’s not politically correct anymore to call the ‘fan appeasing masala film’ as bad explicitly anymore 🙂 You will be trolled and abused left, right and center. What I find very interesting is even the educated facebooking fans are predominantly guilty of this. You just need to look at the recent trolls that trended against actor Vijay on facebook and the humbug that was created over FB removing a fanpage (or a trollpage, in this case). Wtf, I mean idolizing seems to be precluding any reason here. Forget Vijay/Ajith, I got trolled by my own friends for posting my opinion of Papanasam by comparing it with Drishyam. They couldn’t believe I had the audacity to derive a frame of reference for ‘Andavar’s’ film from some other film, albeit original.
Fan’s reactions in this film’s case certainly seems outrageous. As long as stars indulge in ‘image’ and as long as the fan continues to associate his identity with the star’s antics and onscreen persona, no matter how many ‘Kaaka Muttai’s get churned out by the film industry here, the fan appeasing masala film is here to stay.
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Srini
November 14, 2015
The conversation on how Ajith became this sale-able a star is intriguing indeed. In fact if you look back at his filmography, there have been plenty of failures and they do not seem to have diminished the kind of ‘opening’ he gets. On the contrary they seem to have only gone up.
There is a basic principle that ‘humans put a higher value on something that is scarce’, and I feel Ajith’s keeping aloof from the media has helped keep him stay ‘scarce’. Fans do not see him on TV commercials, reality shows, interviews, social media etc are totally starved of any access to him. In fact he does not even take part in his movie’s promotions, does not attend success bashes. There is a sense of ‘enigma’ about him. So people just latch on to whatever comes up.
This can also explain the case of downward curve that Surya is seeing. In addition to some poor movie choices, he has just made himself seen everywhere. From selling fairness creams to cream biscuits, hosting TV shows, promoting his own movies, he has made people feel a little overwhelmed of his presence. His recent movie ‘masss’ in fact got a rather underwhelming initial reception something that must have shocked the makers and the start a little.
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Prasad
November 14, 2015
Naren
“Would you say these are “the right buttons pressed”? How far we had travelled from “En Vazhi thani vazhi” “
Nice Comments 🙂 In 20 years span, from a Auto Driver (with violent flashback) we’ve progressed to a Taxi Driver with similar flashback. Don’t you think this is not enough for Progressive transformation of Tamil Cinema? What more can we expect Sir?
Some suggestions. Maybe in another 20 years It would be exciting if Ajith can drive a Rover in Mars and have almost a similar violent Flashback and take care people on Mars One.
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Pavithran
November 14, 2015
I think you need to give credit to Ajith here (no, not his acting prowess). I remember him saying in one of his very old interviews “this is an image based industry”, he understands this business and the way he has played it so far, reclusive (no interviews , public appearances etc.) and appearing only on screen has contributed towards building the myth around brand Ajith. There is always talk about him but he is not the one talking. Myth making. That he reserves his appearances only for the screen might also explain the massive openings that he gets. Making the fan crave for it or something.
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Niranjan Balachandran
November 14, 2015
Not perhaps movies but I remember ‘Spiderman’ episodes (the good ol’ DD days) and also some moments from Superman where the hero winks at us (the audience) as we are privy to the secret that he is the superhero while the others there are unaware of it. This is probably a superhero syndrome act and it works in any such setting. Our heroes generally operate on that level, so breaking the fourth wall is part of the game.
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Ravi K
November 14, 2015
These Ajith and Vijay movies offer nothing to anyone who isn’t already a fan of them. They’re utterly disposable works of fan service churned out each year to tide the fans over until their next film comes out.
I don’t see what it is about these two that inspires such crazy fandom. They have some screen presence, I suppose, but IMO nothing to warrant the huge followings they have, and their films are consistently mediocre. I’m sure people said the same about Rajini and MGR, but at least their films often had good songs. Ajith and Vijay’s films don’t even have that!
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rothrocks
November 14, 2015
I agree with Naren and Sudhir Srinivasan made some of the same points more politely. The movie felt lazy and rushed through… even by masala standards. Baadshah or Padayappa feel almost FFC-esque in their scope compared to this. There’s no attempt to provide a satisfactory context for Ajith’s vethala avataram. Or rather I should say the manner in which gangsta Ajith’s transformation into gentle Ganesh is explained just doesn’t cut it. Explanations of any sort are dispensed with to serve the overarching need for unrelenting violence. From eye candy, the heroine has now regressed further still into hapless sis-in-law. As I speculated elsewhere, perhaps this sort of entertainer is intended to provide an outlet for frustrated souls in the not so shining anymore economy to scream and cheer the hero in the way boxing spectators bay for blood. At any rate this is a different beast, more primal, and imo only tenuously linked to the MGR-Rajni lineage of masala films. I COULD have appreciated that mutation had the flashback not been a boring mishmash of OAK, Baadshah and Moonram Pirai. As it was, I actually found it more interesting to observe the reaction of a few vociferous viewers in the theatre than the movie itself. But even they couldn’t save the show beyond a point, let alone Ajith.
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bart
November 14, 2015
Unrelated to the movie but related to a topic discussed here. A rowsu video:
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brangan
November 14, 2015
Naren: Let me reiterate the point I made in this review. This is not a great film. It’s not even cinema, the way “mass” movies were in Rajini’s time, where they used to at least strive for some kind of coherence.
This (not just Vedalam, but movies of this ilk) is a transmogrification of the “mass” movie that — in these frenzied social-media times — I like to call star-dispensing machines. That’s their only purpose.
So the way to “evaluate” them is to see whether the star-dispensing works to an extent. For me, that aspect worked. The rest of the film left me wanting. And all that is there in the review.
Am I happy about this trend? Not really. But when you get a “product” (as opposed to art), it’s more useful to evaluate it as a product.
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Ram Murali
November 14, 2015
BR – A while ago, you had used the phrase “cleanness of writing” to refer to some of the B/W movies of the 70s. That phrase came to mind when I think of the importance that stars and their directors gave to writing (good or bad, at least there was a structure and reasonable coherence) that the “products” looked well-assembled even if not painstakingly, aesthetically crafted. Many of the Rajni-SPM movies fall into this category.
Annamalai, Baasha and even Padayappa had some pretty solid writing (even if inspired to varying degrees by other movies). I think in the past few years though I feel like directors go overboard and unnecessarily sacrifice basic logic and flow in order to have those 4th wall demolition moments. It’s similar to what you wrote about Kamal in Anbe Sivam or Thoonga vanam that he almost seemed to put brakes on the screenplay for his trademark musings. But I think it’s worse in the case of these movies where the director’s focus seem to be on the whistle worthy moments and creating the flow of events around them instead of creating a coherent flow and expertly inserting the 4th wall / “mass” moments. I think “Annamalai” and “Baasha” did this superbly…even a “Padayappa” (though I think it’s a notch below the other two).
As I mentioned in an earlier comment, I strongly feel like Directors should actually work with proper writers the way writers like Balakumaran and Visu were involved in the star vehicles of the 80s and 90s. If I remember even an MGR had people like RM Veerappan who supervised the development of screenplays. In the current era, it is great to see the involvement of a few writers like Suba in several high profile projects like Thani Oruvan, Aarambam and Shankar’s I but that’s more the exception than rule, I feel…
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Naren
November 14, 2015
BR – I agree. As a product to let Fans to whistle, it did work. Not just this, Ajith’s image in any other movie also works. Take all the recent releases, Vallu or Yatchan… Like I mentioned, motion images of Ajith, would just work!
But, I was worried how harmful that product might be to our health…Like Maggie (Just kidding) and to the whole concept of Food!! In Thoongavanam, when Kamal was stabbed at the first scene, a guy from the back row (first row, in India and last row, in US it seems) cursed the bad man in the movie with cuss words. For the first time, I heard such words echoing from the US theater walls (in screen, yeah). He must be drunk. But as the movie progressed, even as Trisha would kick Kamal, he was silent. (he might have slept, am not sure). How wonderful it would be, if a mass masala movie could transform such a fanatic fan into a movie listener leave alone the art patron! How amazing it would be if the star-dispensing machines become proper-fan-dispensing machines.
If it was a total non-sense movie, I would have moved on saying “how do you say trash in Tamil”? But this movie steps us to cheat the people further with sentiments. one..just one dialogue that says “leave the girls be…” and that advertised this whole movie as women centric. And the sister factor…
Like, now it is said – Maggie is all good and it is tested!
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brangan
November 14, 2015
Naren: Not just this, Ajith’s image in any other movie also works.
This may work for fans, but in a review, we see if it works for us — i.e. whether there’s something that at least keeps us fitfully entertained. I thought Vedalam was much better in terms of star-dispensing than Veeram.
But, I was worried how harmful that product might be to our health…
That’s a different argument. The way I see it, these films aren’t going to go away. And given that they are a fixture on the pop-cultural firmament, we critics have to give them…. not respect… that would be too much. But at least give them a considered viewing, keeping in mind the basic principle of criticism: Does the film do what it sets out to do?
If you are a food critic, you cannot say, “This is junk food. This is bad.” You have to be open to the fact that there are times you crave junk food, and sometimes that junk food is going to really screw up your system and infect it with lead, and yet… let’s see if it satisfies those cravings.”
The fan, of course, goes by other criteria.
PS: So I just don’t get this. I can understand if people who expect “art” go and watch Yennai Arindhaal. Why go see Vedalam when you know exactly what kind of film it’s going to be? And then why explode in angst?
At least for me, it’s my job. And I do like certain things about these films — these trashy-pulpy Murugadoss-y things, especially. But what excuse do you have? It’s as if you’re kicking yourself for being suckered… again 🙂
I’m not accusing you 🙂 Just trying to understand this whole cycle of “I will go see Anjaan/ Vedalam/ Whatever and then go ballistic” reaction 🙂
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Naren
November 14, 2015
ha ha ha ha.. BR – even if you would accuse me, I would take it as a compliment. 🙂
For the first time, for some reason I am pushed to make comments on your blog. I am a fan of your writing, needless to say!
Why I see these movies – although it might matter nothing to you..
Being a cinema lover, I can sit through anything. I watch just everything. Albeit I don’t get paid for the reviews I write in FB or on the discussions with friends… I can watch anything and I do.
Learning through people like you on how to write a review… in Tamil. (had an experience of writing in Vikatan, once)
But here, I exploded not as a student critic but just as a commentator on – always a pleasure to read – your article. and the situation that is arising around this movie in social media.
Why does it become so hard to say that – this is not good; not healthy. I might still watch it and tell everyone that this works for the fans, could be exciting for the fans. But why can’t I say that this is not good, finally! (Vikatan once made a comment on the movie “Boys” with just one single infamous word.. now to think, how stupid the crew was!!! But they made a point rather a clear point, as a representation of one particular group, may be)
To be even more simple – as a fan of a masala movie, I go watch these expecting to be any good – in your words, at least like Ghilli, or dhool or etc.. – but when I see movies like these tries to push our bar down for a masala movie (itself) then I get more petrified. So, should I keep this movie as “decent enough” and start watching the next masala movie?
At least you watch these for a Job, Few like me watch all the movies just for the pure pleasure of watching a “Movie”. so for the fans like me, who are ready to watch anything that comes out, it can be a bad baby but it has to be a baby, you know (with its own DNA, at least)!
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brangan
November 14, 2015
Naren: Thanks for the illumination 🙂
And I’m saying that this is DIFFERENT from Dhool/Ghilli etc. Those are masala movies — this is a “mass” movie. Masala is a tone/pitch — “mass” is a sociological (or perhaps, more accurately, social-media-logical) phenomenon 🙂
Of course, you don’t have to like it. And you should say so if you did not. If someone if preventing that, then yes, that IS a problem.
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Naren
November 14, 2015
“Social-media-logical”? I Love it!!! There goes (or comes..) a new genre!!! 🙂
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kart03ik
November 14, 2015
Venkatesh – I think Ajiths stock rising to superstar is not that big a surprise. I think two factors worked/are working in his favour. The first is the dravidian obsession with light skinned stars (i know i will get rajinikanth thrown at me) who play up the mass/common man element with careful projection of themselves as being part of this universe. And the next is the need to root for an underdog/outsider who has fallen and risen multiple times in real life. Don’t we just love the strugglers? I think what is also happening of late is an amalgamation of his off screen and on screen persona which he is neatly capitalizing on. I remember in ’97 when I had gone to prarthana drive in to watch a vijay crapfest called priyamudan there were a huge no if ajith fans who were booing and extolling virtues of another crapfest called Aval Varuvala. So I guess the vijay/ajith explosion was always going to happen if they managed to sustain which I guess they have. Personally I like ajith though. There is potential especially when depicting manic- over the top characters. Hope a good enough director can give him something like a Dabang.
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bart
November 14, 2015
BR saar, I disagree with the outright delineation you are making on masala movies and mass movies there. A masala movie can have “mass” moments. But a mass movie (if that exists) should have the right combo of masala too. VIP was a good star dispenser with mass and masala, in recent times by your classification.
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sanjay
November 14, 2015
Isn’t it true that money plays an important part in the creation and sustaining of these fan clubs? Maybe there are genuine fans. But much of the hype around the stars today seems stage managed. I have heard stories about how The star gives a percentage of his earnings to these fans to create hysteria about them. It’s almost become like cash for votes by politicians
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superfan
November 14, 2015
I like vijay better than Ajith. Especially in these mass masala movies. Vijay is still in good shape, a terrific dancer and fighter. He is pretty good at delivering punch dialogues also. Ajith can’t even bend his body anymore
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brangan
November 14, 2015
bart: I guess I should have been clearer. Didn’t mean to suggest that they were two distinct genres. Just that masala is a heightened tone/pitch that accommodates mass elements — like VIP, as you rightly said. But the pure mass films — the ones that have exploded with FB- and Twitter-fuelled fans — exist in a slightly different realm. They are masala-flavoured, certainly, but they’re slightly surreal in that there’s constant fourth-wall-breaking and the illusion of a “movie” is pretty much lost because these are “star vehicles” in the truest sense.
In the older days, a movie was made to run for a while. Now, it’s all about the first three days. If you can get the fans excited for that period, you have it made. So that’s changed the way these Ajith-Vijay movies are being made. (Again, that’s no excuse for the directors not aiming higher, as I’ve said in my review. Just that we cannot expect from these films what we expect from a VIP.)
I see a VIP and Yennai Arindhaal as movies, whereas a Veeram or a Vedalam is a product. The latter is very specifically geared for a function, and the conventional ways of looking at them (logic, script, etc.) don’t apply.
At least, that’s the way I look at them. And of course, the fact that you look at them as a product doesn’t mean you give special privileges. If it doesn’t work for you, it doesn’t work for you.
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Jetlagged
November 14, 2015
So Dabanng is Cinema or Product?
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Vignesh Sankar
November 14, 2015
Check out this link guys ;
http://movies.ndtv.com/regional/with-vedalams-record-breaking-opening-ajith-might-be-new-rajinikanth-1242911
Ajith (Thala) is the new superstar in the making? I am his fan too but a much bigger fan of Rajinikanth (Thalaivar).
Hope he bounces back big time with Kabali. Thalaivaaaaa!!!!!!!
Ranjith, I am having high hopes considering the content of Attakathi and Madras. Please don’t disappoint Thalaivar Fans 🙂
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bart
November 14, 2015
I understand that these are the niche, social media fuelled, fanboys-only movies. But my grouse is that even these movies should have a decent masala script to mass-on. Veeram was not this bad in its writing. It could pass off as a masala movie. Can’t see any other actor making such movies. Half an hour of direct talking at screen might’ve worked better than this. But he does add petrol to fuel, calling one of side-kick goons as “sombu sura” and thrashing him. But as per media, these two are very good friends. Thamasu, thamasu!
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Madan
November 14, 2015
BR: On the mass v/s masala angle, well, how would you classify Kathhi? Is it masala or mass? I think it was more along the lines of a typical Rajni starrer from the 90s, albeit a pale shadow (imo). It did have enough moments for the Vijay fans while still having some kind of script. The message was also delivered more convincingly even if it was a rather predictable film on the whole. I don’t know but everything felt hackneyed/slapdash/lazy in Vethalam. That scene where Ajith delivers a small message in support of dignity of women was so throwaway. And that’s just one such example. We don’t know what’s the big deal in Kolkata, why have all the baddies converged on Kolkata. How did Ganesh/Vedhalam decide to try at that design institute for his ‘sister’? Nothing, seemingly, is built up or explained but most of all, the explanation as to why this gangster is so placid in his sister’s presence is pretty weak and unconvincing and the whole film pivots on this Jekyll and Hyde conceit. I can understand the need to zero in on the stunts a la Kill Bill but that comparison itself illustrates what’s wrong with Vethalam; it’s just not tight and crisp as it ought to be for an action caper. There’s an attempt, but a half hearted one, to accommodate the must haves of masala films in a way that feels akin to name dropping typical masala moments in Tamil films.
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Siva
November 14, 2015
Wow… I came here expecting a superb piece where BR tears apart such pathetic attempts at film making. Honestly, when a stupid movie like this comes out, I so eagerly await BR’s review. You know how great those are 😀
Disheartening to see this one called “decent” in any context. I don’t care much for Ajith. I didn’t like Yennai Arindhal as well. But that, you can at least call it a “film”. I personally didn’t like Gautam Menon’s rehashing of his own plot lines, but I could understand if someone said that movie was “decent”.
This! Well, this was migraine-inducing material. If this becomes a ‘hit’, then I think it sets Tamil Mass Movies back by some 10 years.
And I agree with Naren, there seems to be great caution from reviewers of these Vijay/Ajith films. Even in reviews of crapfests like this, no one says bad things directly about the leading men. Shame!
Oh, well, gues we’ll have to wait longer for a good masala film…
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Madan
November 14, 2015
I echo your sentiments Siva. I respect BR’s views and more importantly the job he has to do as a critic. If he kept bashing blockbuster films all the time, the larger readership will start feeling he’s out of touch with pop culture. With all that said, oh, how gratifying it would have been to read a typical snark-vent piece from BR loaded with similes and metaphors that Art Buchwald would have been proud of. I have a thing for dark, pungent humour and bad films usually bring out that side of BR. Not this time, sadly, ha ha.
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brangan
November 14, 2015
Jetlagged: Dabanng is a well-written and coherent masala movie. The sequel on the other hand…
Madan: I’m saying that all this hand-wringing is completely out of place, as this isn’t even a coherent movie to begin with. Kaththi has at least some direction — it’s going somewhere. This one is just a bunch of “moments” — taken together, they don’t do anything. Why Kolkata? I say, Why not Kolkata? Heck, why not Timbuktu? You cannot “think” about these films. You have to accept them or reject them on their own terms — i.e. given this hero-centric hodgepodge, did some of it work for me? As opposed to trying to evaluate it on cinematic terms — i.e. screenplay logic etc.
I’m not defending this film, though I did find the hero-centric stretches decent enough. A lot of it did not work for me as well. But I’m saying, you cannot tear into these films based on things they’re not even trying to do. If you say this film is crap, then say it’s crap based on the fact that the hero-centric hodgepodge did not work for you.
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brangan
November 14, 2015
Madan: If he kept bashing blockbuster films all the time, the larger readership will start feeling he’s out of touch with pop culture.
Aren’t you being both condescending and disingenuous here? Why can’t it simply be that I did genuinely find the Ajith portions okay and the rest not up to the mark? Why should my opinion match yours? 🙂
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Madan
November 14, 2015
BR: I am referring to your explanation that you evaluated the film as a star dispensing product rather than as a film. I took that as an admission that as a film per se it is not up to scratch. Besides, let’s face it, if it didn’t star Ajith or any other big name actor, you wouldn’t have to go to great lengths to understand from what point of view the fans like it and see if from that prism it makes sense to you.
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Madan
November 14, 2015
Actually you just confirmed my guess above. You are saying there is no point in even attempting to evaluate it as a coherent movie. So pray what it is then? Maybe I thought you might want to call it out but you have chosen the option of being politically correct instead. If you wrote this as just another blogger rather than a professional reviewer, it is quite likely you wouldn’t have suffered the lack of coherence so gladly. If saying that makes me both disingenuous and condescending, so be it.
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Madan
November 14, 2015
Sorry I am breaking it up in multiple comments but I see no reason why the fans cannot get their feet-hands-face moments as you described in the Arambam review, while also maintaining a tight narrative. Let’s just bell the cat, everybody concerned thought the mere presence of Ajith was enough for this film to succeed commercially. And so it has by all appearances. But this doesn’t necessarily mean this is a whole separate niche of film making by itself; just that film makers working with big stars are becoming lazy. I don’t doubt that Ajith has the charisma to pull off the Thala moments (I seem to remember even this was called into question in the Arambam thread). But a set of discrete Thala moments do not a film make.
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Siva
November 14, 2015
BR: Quick question: I’ve always come to your blog for actually decent discussions on films. But, I was wondering about your reader base… Do you get those fanatics like the ones on FB, Twitter ? 😀
Do they send you hate mail or bad comments if you diss their stars.. or praise their “opponent stars” (or whatever you call them…like Vijay fans hating on you for calling this one decent or something). Or is it always civil ?
P.s: I’m a relatively new reader of yours, so I don’t know if some of those feuds have happened here before 🙂
Madan: I know, right?! Love those pieces about films that rile him up 😀
Oh, and I don’t think he writes anything to appease anyone 🙂 That’s why came here thinking this would get a whacking.
But I guess you didn’t find it irritating as much as I did BR..
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brangan
November 14, 2015
Madan: Besides, let’s face it, if it didn’t star Ajith or any other big name actor, you wouldn’t have to go to great lengths to understand from what point of view the fans like it and see if from that prism it makes sense to you.
Thanks. It really helps when know-it-alls are around to tell me what MY motives are while writing a review. 🙂
Is this a rave review? Is there no knocking of the elements in the film? Is there no wishful thinking that all this could have been so much better?
Dislike the review all you want. Say that I’ve lost it this time. Say that I’ve been reviewing too many films and I need a break.
All I’m saying is don’t get on a high horse and pretend to guess where this review is coming from, second-guessing motives as though they were fact.
Heck, if I were going about appeasing fans, would I write that line about sperm donors? 🙂
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brangan
November 14, 2015
Siva: The producer Dhananjayan once told me that he doesn’t worry about my reviews because nobody understands them. I took that a bit of a compliment 🙂
And I don’t think my reviews are consumed as much as those by the YouTube reviewers. I have a reader base, sure. But it’s a very different from the fans who begin trolling — at least that’s what I think.
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Madan
November 14, 2015
The reason I am not able to say outright that you’ve lost it is you are more forthright in the comment section about the problems of the film.
Sample this: “Am I happy about this trend? Not really. But when you get a “product” (as opposed to art), it’s more useful to evaluate it as a product.”
In different words, I said practically the same thing above for which I have been duly rewarded with a set of adjectives. Thanks much. So who’s being disingenuous? Do you at least concede your review was far more polite and measured than your above comment? I am playing know it all, I just happened to read your comments very carefully. But maybe I shouldn’t have done that? If you are not happy about a trend but recognise the trend for what it is and re-adjust your frame of reference, then you are no longer doing it for yourself, as in your personal satisfaction, but in order to keep the review relevant from the perspective of the reader. What you said is different from initially disliking a trend but coming around to it and eventually enjoying it.
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Siva
November 14, 2015
BR: Ha ha… Dhananjayan of UTV? I guess he has to worry more about RJ Balaji and his ilk 😉
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Venkatesh
November 14, 2015
By any chance, has anyone read his ‘Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931 to 2013’?
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Pady Srini
November 14, 2015
BR has to write a review. It is his job. But I see mostly comments trashing the movie. Why not make a statement by not watching the movie and then stop commenting here? I am sure, BR will take note of that. Of the current lot I am ok with Suriya (mainly because of the Gautham Menon association) but seriously this whole lot is trash. I feel the only ones who are on the right path are Vijay Sethupathi and Vishnu (jeeva, indru netru nalai).
I caught Dhanush in Mari on Diwali… OMG… for god’s sake, if you want to be a mass hero, atleast go the gym and bulk up a little…
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Sifter
November 14, 2015
Forget dirty magazines – these clips are all Ajith fans will need if they decide to become sperm donors
That trailer was ‘crap’ that was on repeat for the entire 2+ minutes for want of a better way to describe it. His voice horrendous. It is baffling how such trash go on to become block-blusters. Can’t imagine sitting for a full length movie like this, much less enjoying it 🙂 The only thing I enjoy about these movies are your reviews.
P.S. – No, I am not a fan of Vijay or any of those ‘mass’ heroes.
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ThouShaltNot
November 15, 2015
I have a reader base, sure. But it’s a very different from the fans who begin trolling — at least that’s what I think
The egghead demographic 🙂 More faculty lounge ethos and less paamara rasigan eedupaadu ?
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vijay
November 15, 2015
“I don’t see what it is about these two that inspires such crazy fandom. They have some screen presence, I suppose, but IMO nothing to warrant the huge followings they have, and their films are consistently mediocre. I’m sure people said the same about Rajini and MGR, but at least their films often had good songs. Ajith and Vijay’s films don’t even have that!”
It is called DDS – (the great) dravidian depravation syndrome. There are enough idiots out there for whom movie watching is a ritual come these festival times and somehow their senses, limited to begin with, gets numbed even further in these days.
If you take the other joker, Mr. Ilayathalavali, he had five humongous flops in a row, not too long ago. I don’t recall Rajni/Kamal, doing as much as 3 or 4 films in a year sometimes, having these many turkeys in a row in the 80s. Vijay does 1 or 2 max in a year.Yet somehow he is back and considered a big star.
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Ram Murali
November 15, 2015
Siva – I don’t know if you watched “Naanum Rowdy Thaan.” In the movie, RJ Balaji has a hilarious “Crosstalk” sequence where he calls someone and asks, “Anjaan-ku anju ticket venuma? Mugamoodi-ku moonu ticket venuma? naan yaara…um, Dhananjayan!”
Prashanth – a reviewer on Youtube – recently tweeted a DM (direct message) that Dhananjayan sent him around the release of “Yatchan.” I thought that the DM was quite polite and fair but Prashanth found it to be unwarranted… but the bigger issue is that Dhananjayan felt the need to send a message to a youtube reviewer around the time of a movie’s release… It goes to show that producers are not taking the amateur reviewers lightly at all…
At the other end of the politeness spectrum, the Director of Vadivelu’s “Eli” sent some nasty messages to Prashanth… of course, the latter had the last laugh thanks to the terrible quality of the movie…
BR – on a tangential note, has any director or actor thanked you for a positive review? Just curious…any memorable exchanges? (outside of Venus colony, of course!)
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Durai
November 15, 2015
Annamalai and Baasha are watchable but Padayappa is pukeworthy shit. Will take Vedalam to it anyday.
Ajith vs Vijay is boring though. With Kamal vs Rajini, it used to be 2 sides to the coin. I can’t imagine how Tamil cinema would have been with Rajini vs Vijaykanth (as like for like), frankly that’s how it feels with Ajith vs Vijay.
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brangan
November 15, 2015
Pady Srini: Why not make a statement by not watching the movie and then stop commenting here?
Heh. That’s the same question I asked Naren above 🙂 When you know a filmmaker does not work for you, why bother?
ThouShaltNot: egghead demographic? Haha. But then, I’ve really written reviews for the reader (in the sense of a recommendation), no? 🙂 So unless one is interested in cinema and/or writing, why would they come here? 🙂
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Madan
November 15, 2015
Why not make a statement by not watching the movie and then stop commenting here?
– Er, thanks much for your consideration. I have not watched an Ajith movie since at least Dhina. I had family obligations to fulfill which, yes, can sometimes involve watching an Ajith film. Aiyyo kadavule! Some people can’t let go of Madras even after living in Bombay. Unfortunately, only films like Vedalam get a release here (also Thoonga Vanam which I am not sure if I wanna bite). There’s a nice little place called Matterden which is basically run down Deepak Talkies converted into a haven for English art films. Would be great if they could ever play Soodhu Kavvum or OAK there (just dreaming); much more my kind of films.
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ThouShaltNot
November 15, 2015
There is a basic principle that ‘humans put a higher value on something that is scarce’, and I feel Ajith’s keeping aloof from the media has helped keep him stay ‘scarce’.
I have a suggestion… lets up the ante. How about he stay away for 76 years (or is it too late). That way people get to see him only once in their lifetime. Preciousness will be unsurpassed, like for that celestial superstar 🙂
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tonks
November 15, 2015
BR – on a tangential note, has any director or actor thanked you for a positive review? Just curious…any memorable exchanges? (outside of Venus colony, of course!)
Ram Murali: Recently, of course, this comment under the Masaan review from Neeraj Ghaywan 🙂
I loved your review!! I cannot believe you got so much under the skin of the film. You’ve read it EXACTLY the way me and Varun Grover intended it. It felt as though you were there with us in all the two years of research in Varanasi, or when we are jamming in our pad, when we were intently listening to feedback from peers and also being by our side at Cannes standing ovation. Heck! You even saw the C and Java books at Devi’s desk 🙂 I am happy that you saw the film as characters in the fore and socio-political background as just an aid to the narrative and not the moot point.
Also
Forget dirty magazines – these clips are all Ajith fans will need if they decide to become sperm donors
Genuinely puzzled with this comment. Do heterosexual males actually get off on their male idols or was that comment an exaggeration for humour? I suppose its the latter. But so much of this phenomenon is incomprehensible. It would make an interesting subject for a psychology thesis.
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ThouShaltNot
November 15, 2015
But then, I’ve really written reviews for the reader (in the sense of a recommendation), no? 🙂 So unless one is interested in cinema and/or writing, why would they come here?
Of course. And, who said eggheads don’t love cinema. Them people come in all shapes. Or maybe call them cinema eggheads 🙂
If you want to watch dishoom-dishoom or kissu-kissu (as love scenes were paraphrased), catch a movie, if you want to understand why either lacked verve (maybe it is the camera angle, or the lighting or that notorious Surya toothpick got in the way 🙂 ), then your blog is it, right?
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Siva
November 15, 2015
Venkatesh – Haven’t heard of the book. Googled it just now. Didn’t know he wrote! Is it any good?
Ram Murali – Of course, I watched Naanum Rowdy Dhaan 😀 .. I think RJB and Dhananjayan have become pals now. I saw one youtube video of RJB featuring Dhananjayan 😀
“Why not make a statement by not watching the movie and then stop commenting here?”
Well, you can’t avoid these Vijay/Ajith movies. I’m 22.. naturally means I have fans in my gang, who will kidnap me. Going is not an option 😀 . And I don’t wanna get into a barbarian clash with fans on FB. Prefer to ‘dis’cuss it here rather than cuss there 🙂
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Venkatesh
November 15, 2015
Siva: The book is actually an extension to his ‘The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010’. You can read it over on Google Books (it’s available as a limited preview). I haven’t really read much of it, but it covers offbeat films like Unnaipol Oruvan (not KH’s), Ezhavathu Manithan, Oorukku Nooruper, Knock out (B. Lenin’s short), etc., You won’t be able to find stuff about these films elsewhere on the internet. That said, for some reason (which I cannot disclose here) , I’m wondering how come it won a special mention at this year’s National Awards! 🙂
Santosh Kumar T K: You wonder about ‘ajith, and interiors of TN?!’ My cousin, too, had a similar experience while doing his undergrad in Pondicherry. It was in 2009, when he and his friends had gone to watch Aadhavan. Much to their surprise all shows were houseful. By that time, they were approached by a group of young men (in their 20s), who were apparently trying to sell black tickets. When inquired, they said ‘Naanga Suriya Rasigar Mandrathula irundhu varom’!
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Naren
November 15, 2015
“Why not make a statement by not watching the movie and then stop commenting here?”
I am very surprised with this recommendation unless the comment (I and) these people put out of frustration creates a heavy overhead to the storage space or there is a constraint on what to be commented. This is as equal as expecting what BR can write or what not.
There are movie fanatics like me, who would watch all the movies just to take a bit or byte out of it. Giving the benefit of the doubt to the creator that he might have come out with a surprise this time or at least to witness where and how bad he did fail. Yeah, we are thick skin fellows. It is also out of passion – with as equal as I go sit in the Film festivals. But yes, if the movie is a worthless crap, we do come to cry out that this is a crap and “unhealthy”.
Personally, I never meant to say how BR should have reviewed this movie. We all respect his opinion and enjoy his writings. Dot!
All that I wanted to bring up for a discussion is, I see a sudden softness in the reviews of this movie, everywhere. Which had been never before for such masala .. sorry, mass movies.
The social media made the director of Anjaan run away from the fore. Here in the same space, “we” felt that movie had no surprises and that it was uninspired. How vedalam – but with Ajith – becomes decent enough. Let’s say, if this Vedalam was acted by Vishal or Jeyam Ravi. And If there were no enough fans to make noise, Would we have still felt that this movie is a star-dispensing machine? However, if it feels as one by having Ajith, Is it just the movie made for a set of fans? All that the hero need to have is a fan base enough to collect 15.5 crores on the opening day? Now the makers would need to make an head count and go the floor?
There was an article in The Hindu by Sreedhar Pillar on elucidating how Ajith is overtaking Rajini. Rajini movies even had failed drastically if that wasn’t worthy enough. For that matter Ajith’s countless movies like Red, Raja, Jana, Anjaneya, Alwar etc. were thrashed down. How and when the fans started consolidating and went frenzy behind this hero to make anything he appears on as a hit? Thanks to Social networks combined with our basic instinct to go behind ‘The one’ against ‘The one’? So, is it just the young fan’s force that pushes the movie through social media? Is it like a digital mafia that would decide what kind of or whose movies would stay?
I have no grudge against any hero or any review. But the atmosphere around this movie was worrisome. Of which BR might have had no clue. He was just doing his job. But on his wall, I wanted to bring up a thought – Can movie’s (social issues through social networks doesn’t stand much..they don’t cash on FDFS; eventually losing the value) box office results and the trend be decided by such digital so-called fan mafias?
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brangan
November 15, 2015
Naren: About your point: I see a sudden softness in the reviews of this movie, everywhere.
Which could be due to:
(1) People are scared of fans or trolls or whatever.
Or:
(2) People genuinely didn’t mind this film in the overall sense.
All I’m asking is why give the benefit of the doubt that it could be the latter?
I looked up my review of Vaalu (here) — and there too, I’ve not exactly torn the film apart, but have said that it clears a low bar fairly comfortably. (I’ve used the terms “star-dispensing machine” and “decent” there too.) That review, too, isn’t a rave. It’s a kind of shrug-gy “You know what? I didn’t mind it at all” response. I enjoyed watching Simbu there. I enjoyed watching Ajith here. And that kinda made up for a lot of the negative stuff in both films.
Why can’t someone have this response to this film — just because YOU felt it was crap? That’s what I’m asking. (And sorry bart, but I did feel Vedalam was much better than Veeram, which is reviewed here 🙂 )
Now, are these films good for cinema etc.? That’s not the point here. At least, that’s a different discussion. But just because people hated Anjaan but did not hate Vedalam does not imply some kind of compromised viewing on the basis of the star.
I was able to buy into Ajith here.
I was not able to buy into Ajith in Veeram.
I was able to buy into Suriya in Singam.
I was not able to buy into Suriya in Anjaan.
These films work or do not work based on the star’s charisma/ performance / ability to hold the screen / whatever, and if you buy into that, you buy into the movie (at least to the extent that it’s not a total washout). And it’s not a precise science.
Also, when reviewing or writing about a film, it’s about not just about the film but also around the film — and I find it useful to talk about fans and stuff that feed into this giant machine. This does not mean I am taking the side of the fans and whistling at everything — merely that I am trying to look at the film from a certain angle.
Like with Sura (here), I Wrote:
Sura is a depressing failure as entertainment, but, at least, it sets out to do what its hero wants it to do – and that’s to define him, in the public gaze, as a candidate worthy of electing into office. The political undertones are so overt, they’re no longer subtext but the main text.
This does not mean one is being “soft” on the film. Just that one is considering a few extra-textual things too in the context of the film.
I’ve talked about some of this in the piece I wrote on Vettaikaaran here:
At first, it appeared that Vettaikaaran was better than expected simply because the recent bar for Vijay starrers has been set so low, by the abysmal likes of Kuruvi and Azhagiya Thamizh Magan. But it’s a little more than that, due to a robust David to cheer for and a refreshingly life-sized Goliath to hiss at. Let’s not get into whether this is good cinema (if we begin evaluating the worth of masala movies against the gold-standard wit and elegance of Aboorva Sagotharargal, we might never watch one again in our lives) – reasonable entertainment, at times, is enough.
Again, I’m not saying this is how EVERYONE should view these films. It’s just how I view them.
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Pady Srini
November 15, 2015
Naren: There are movie fanatics like me, who would watch all the movies just to take a bit or byte out of it.
Given the number of movies (given you are fanatic, there are more movies made than time available) to watch, this movie should warrant a single word comment – “Trash”. BR has a job to review. Not us. But you are right – obviously it is your choice to comment as much as you want. But this is only helping Ajith. Because you still have hope on his movies. At a minimum, he can get in shape.
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Prasad
November 15, 2015
BR,
Was thinking up some of the past reviews this year by you for some of the big banner movies.
“I: A terrific performance let down by an uninspired, exhausting movie”
Uttama Villain: A superb core let down by lacklustre filmmaking
These reviews were some of the first and foremost to appear in the net compared to other reviewers. These movies were got a big thumbs down from you. I think during “Lingaa” you made a comment which is very valid for these films also. The STARs can get all the resources they can get at their dispense… budget is huge. They can get the best of the script of course which can suit them but still.. we get a dated stories with a cab driver with some flashback. I mean this is SO Dated.
Don’t you think your comment which you made for Lingaa is very valid here also? Again am not starting the discussion whether this is good or bad cinema
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venkatesh
November 15, 2015
BR: I really haven’t managed to understand The “Thalai” phenomenon at all hence my repeated query ..
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vijay
November 15, 2015
At least Ajith’s fandom can be partly understood by a combination of an absence of godfather for him in the industry+struggles and comebacks (from accidents and stuff) + staying away from media glare. And also, once upon a time he did have the looks, around Aasai period. But, how would you explain IlLayathalavali’s fandom? Even if his father used every bit of his connections and muscle to push his films down our throat that doesn’t still explain to me the following he seems to have. It is a new low for Tamil civilization.
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Naren
November 16, 2015
BR: I think we are running parallel 🙂 I understand that everyone has a view and entitled to express the same. But beyond that, despite you seeing all these movies had something decent about it, Sura or Valu were not blockbusters. But this movie is surpassing Rajini’s collection. My overall question behind the psychology of the “force” (it is not just fans..) that made this movie a blockbuster still remains open. But if I give the benefit of doubt to your “People genuinely didn’t mind this film in the overall sense.” That ends this discussion. May be, right! hmmmm!!
With all such “thrashing” reviews, Vijay moved on from Perarasu to Murugadoss (Chimbu devan is the biggest surprise). He did realize, its time he need to work with quality makers (in its very own sense) else he will become a big “Joke”. Ajith would still be staying with “Perarasu ism”. Reportedly, he is doing the next movie also with Siva.
Anyways..!!
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chandra prakash
November 16, 2015
BR/ Pady Srini, ‘Why not make a statement by not watching the movie and then stop commenting here?”
This is like saying if you don’t like my review ” shut your mouth” don’t post comments, there is a reason BR has this blog and allows (mostly) some intellectual talks/cross talks/or opinions shared, rarely we see trolls, and in general for the readership base of your blog there is some face value from (I will say once again, this national award winning critique) MR.BR where many make a decision to watch or not watch with additional informed decision especially through (now legal) paid services like tentkotta or herotalkies , like RJ balaji’s my Rs 120 worthiness, it’s about our 2 or 21/2 hour (time value) worthiness of going through craps from these over-hyped , not 25 crore worthy actors.
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MANK
November 16, 2015
Venkatesh, as you said, its a phenomenon. It’s not supposed to be understood. Like the Rajesh khanna phenomenon of its time. Is it even possible to believe that such an ordinary looking guy with a very limited range as an actor created such mass hysteria one time. May be this too shall pass.
I too have trouble understanding ajith’s popularity. You can understand why Bachchan or Kamal or even Rajni or Vijay became such huge superstars. But Ajith is rarest of rare cases of pop cultural phenomenon. And as Brangan said in one of those older post about ‘why they kolaveri’ song becoming a phenomenon and javed akthars criticism of it, things don’t become popular or celebrated just because they are good or extraordinary.
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Siva
November 16, 2015
For people struggling to comprehend the phenomenon behind these guys, here’s my 2 cents:
I think people like Vijay because he always plays the good guy. His roles signify the classic ‘Good vs. Evil’ clash. I don’t think he follows the Rajni template, I think he actually follows MGR’s template (let’s not get into the politics part) – being a messiah to the people that need uplifting. Those types of movies are good, clean and could be enjoyed by everybody.
Then, Ajith becomes the antithesis of all this: his roles are all about the bad guy in you that you always want to let loose. Doing bad (or what people would like to call badas*) stuff and looking cool while doing it. These movies are a little dirty and perfect for youth to gaga over.
There could be a nice dichotomy to their films, and some great popcorn fun to be had, if there were movies (for lack of better ones) like Thuppakki and Mangatha that came around most of the times.
It only gets irritating when they overhype and oversell this,”Ungala azhika enga annan varuvaru daaaa!” in Vijay’s films. Or dialogues like “ena vida ketavan dhan oruthan varuvan” at the beginning of Vedalam.
Or maybe not, maybe those actors have no clue what they’re doing and neither do their fans.
Who knows 😀
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Durai
November 16, 2015
ajith is more rajini than vijay.. vijay dances well and keeps youth image.. is open to publicity for his film… ajith n rajini want to protect their image.. humility. no publicity image.. all 3 r terrible
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vijay
November 16, 2015
“I think people like Vijay because he always plays the good guy.”
and the other heroes don’t? There isn’t a single redeeming aspect about him. Oh yeah, but he dances well. Should have been a dance-master then. The biggest hit of this year, by the way, is from another dance-master Lawrence Raghavendra (Kanchana 2). At best, Vijay should have been on par with Lawrence Raghavendra (who also has seen success doing bit comedy) in the star hierarchy. At best.
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Pady Srini
November 16, 2015
Durai: all 3 r terrible
Concur. Many of my friends just want to fall in line (in spite of hating these guys) with the majority and not be controversial. So they find any small spec to ‘pretend like’ these stars. And many play the ‘personal’ side of the person to justify their movies!!! Worst thing is, most fans have no idea who the real person is – easily falling for what the media writes about them. Not that they might not be a really nice person. But for most, it is a 50% chance at best.
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oliver
November 17, 2015
BR, I think you are caught in the ‘hero’ trap like our mass heroes. People come here expecting you to ‘trash’ such movies and are disappointed if you don’t 😛
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SG
November 17, 2015
Disclaimer: Just my two cents based on my observation. I could be wrong.
I think Ajith has two types of fans. People who liked him because of movies like Asai, Kadal Kottai or even Vaali and a certain group of people that started to like him after Dheena. If he had continued to do movies like Asai and Kadal Kottai he would have ended up like Abbas, Prashanth and Madavan. Only action heroes have longevity in Tamil Cinema. No wonder almost all heroes wants to get that image. That’s why Surya does a Singham movie frequently and Dhaush wants to project himself an action hero even after failures like Sullan. Coming back to Dheena, it’s not a bad movie, but i feel it attracted a certain type of people who didn’t want their hero to have a clean image. They wanted their hero to smoke, drink and even play a negative character. Otherwise you can’t believe a mass hero will call himself ‘Naan Kedu Kettavan’ and fans whistling for it. This is completely against a typical do-gooder tamil hero. It’s true that Rajini used do such a roles, but they were well defined negative roles most of the times and his character doesn’t win in the end. After becoming Superstar, he also started following the do-gooder template.
Even though Ajith has all kinds of fans, I think his core audience is the one who formed after Dheena and who give his movies a big opening. That’s not enough to sustain the movie in the long run which is evidenced by the fact that his movies are yet to cross 100 crore mark. But in these days where a hit or flop is decided on the first three days it is important to have this kind of core audience. He can’t afford to alienate these audience. No wonder he continues to play characters with negative shades.
Another interesting phenomenon is the cult image surrounding him. You ask an average Ajith fan about why you like him, he won’t tell you that he likes Ajith for his acting, dance, fighting or any other ability. He will tell you he likes Ajith because he is a great person, he is simple, he is a racer, he has pilot license, has had 17 operations etc. Surely that’s not why one likes an actor. But that’s an aura that surrounds Ajith. When you like an actor for these reasons, then the story and the making of the movie doesn’t matter. I think he has found an audience that’s under served by Tamil Cinema. That’s the explanation for his stardom.
But what I am wondering is if he continues to do movies like this whether he will get in to a rut like Vijayakanth. At the end of his career Vijayakanth mostly did an Assistant Commissioner or a CBI officer. Now Aijith also doing a negative character or a cop in most of his recent movies. He has also ballooned up like Vijaykanth!
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Santosh Balakrishnan
November 17, 2015
“And sorry bart, but I did feel Vedalam was much better than Veeram, which is reviewed here ”
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durai
November 17, 2015
SG.. vijaykanth is a good primer for ajith.. that is why i feel ajith vijay reminds me of vijaykanth rajini more and more…
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Srinivas R
November 17, 2015
@vijay – Though I am in agreement with you for most part, I think you are being a little unfair about your namesake. He is begining make an effort over the last 2-3 years to move towards “acceptable” masala movies. Thupaki was pulpy fun , Thalaiva wasn’t bad and Kathi was good in parts. Again, the point is not that he is doing something off beat, but at least there is an attempt to reach out fans outside his core fan group (as opposed to his Kuruvi, Sura etc.). Even Puli was a good idea gone wrong, IMO. Ajith is increasingly confining himself to his standard image. Starting from Billa, all his movies are about Ajith showing his swagger on screen and nothing else.The fact that these movies (or products) are big hits is a little scary for me. Yennai Arindhal was a surprise but, that was an exception and not a trend in case of Ajith movies.
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Venkatesh
November 17, 2015
SG – I can’t say whether you’re right/wrong, but partially agree with you. At one point in time, I used to think Vijay and Ajith might end up like Jaishankar/Ravichandran. But I was proved wrong! You’re right about the action hero thing – I remember one of the interviews of Vikram where he had said the same thing when questioned about doing films like Dhill/ Gemini/ Dhool alongside Sethu/ Kaasi/ Pithamagan.
Abbas was never a hero material, for most of his career. Prashanth had all the ingredients of a ‘proper’ Tamil cinema hero. Although Vijay and Ajith have been acting since 1992, they both were never considered Prashanth’s rivals at any point between ’92 and ’96. Remember, in Kalloori Vaasal Ajith played second fiddle to Prashanth. It’s very difficult to trace Ajith’s path to stardom. In one of his earlier films (Vaanmathi I think), he played a Rajini fan. And with Kandukondein Kandukondein, his career could’ve gone either way. It is thanks to Murugadoss that his career took a turn after Dheena; the ‘Thala phenomenon’ started from there. He was more Kamalesque during the phase between 2000 and ’02 (until Villain); he chose films based on the importance given to his character.
Back in 2002, I read somewhere Vijayakanth had acted in 100 plus films as a cop up to that point. I don’t think Ajith might end up becoming another ‘Captain’ because he clearly has a stardom and a loyal fan base unlike the then Vijayakanth, who never managed to claim the numero uno position (even at the peak of his career).
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Nivazr
November 17, 2015
Seriously disappointed with the review, I was expecting some thrashes here and there but you have mentioned most of the not bad though sequences here 😀
Surprisingly I too had the same thought that Ajith literally saved this movie with some weird performance (those flashback hospital scene, his was horrible) and indeed there are some good family sentiment and Mass hero sequences. The Complete infuriating stuff is the bunch of airheaded villains who keep on shouting, shooting, shouting and shooting.
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Pady Srini
November 17, 2015
The sad part is none of the current crop take ‘acting’ seriously. Seems to be more a fame/money driven group. Where is the actor like kamal / sivaji ???
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xyz
November 17, 2015
On their own, Kamal/ Sivaji at various points beat Rajini/ MGR in collections and all time industry blockbusters..
Unfortunately that seems far fetched for Vikram and Surya unless they team up with Shankar and Murugadoss.
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SG
November 17, 2015
Venkatesh: I only added Abbas and Prashath as Ajith also had a Chocolate boy image at one time (but unlike them he didn’t create a craze in his first movie). At one point Ajith played a second fiddle to Vijay too(Rajavin Parvayile). I agree that the comparison with Vijayakanth is not really apt if you consider the fan base.
Vijayakanth is not really big in A center. His strength is B,C Centre and family audience which helped him when he entered politics. Ajith had A center audience from the start due his looks(at that time) and choice of movies. I still believe he couldn’t have survived with same kind of image he had before Dheena (considering the huge no. of failures).
While his post Dheena image assured his survival despite many failures, I was only wondering whether it is also dragging him to Vijayakanth territory. Because after Vedalam already the comparisons are being made with ‘Narasimma’ Vijayakanth and Balakrishna.
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brangan
November 17, 2015
Venkatesh: in Kalloori Vaasal Ajith played second fiddle to Prashanth.
Prashanth was one unlucky actor. He got films with the biggest filmmakers — Balu M, Mani Ratnam, Shankar — but they didn’t take him anywhere. Not that I’m a fan, but this does remind me of Jeeva, who must have been delighted to land films with Mysskin, Gautham etc. Only to have them bomb.
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SG
November 17, 2015
BR: Actually Jeans gave a new lease of life to Prashanth though a very short one. His movies were not doing good at that time. There were lot of groans when Shankar chose him for Jeans. Because of that movie Prashanth’s career revived and he did some more movies like Kannethire Thondrinal etc.
I think Vikram also unfortunate in that sense. He too got Mani Ratnam and Shankar. But met success only in Anniyan. Most combinations that look good on paper didn’t work for him (Bheema, Raja Pattai, Koli Soda).
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Venkatesh
November 18, 2015
SG: Sure thing about Vijayakanth! I’m yet to watch Vedhalam, so can’t really comment on that. The Narasimha effect could be because of ‘Siruthai’ Siva’s earlier stint with the Telugu film industry. Ditto with Thirupathisamy, who made Narasimha. You can’t blame our heroes all the time. 🙂
BR: Yes, those collaborations happened when he was very young! Plus, he did films in Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi. Convincing or not, Aanazhagan came before Avvai Shanmughi – end of his first innings. I wasn’t really able to recognise him when I saw the thirai vimarsanam of Jeans; I was eight and a half then. I think that was the time when Vijay’s career took off, with films like Love Today, Once More, Nerrukku Ner, and Kadhalukku Mariyadhai. Interestingly, Jeeva, too, had the backing of his father. Raam and Kattradhu Tamil came much before MM and NEP. Where is that actor now? 😛
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praneshp
November 18, 2015
@SG: great comment. After superstar/Kamal, Ajith is pretty much the only actor whose movies I’d never miss. I fall somewhat into that cult category. I like the fact that he is a self-made star (which seems to be a rarity), and I liked the fact that he had the courage to stand up to the then-CM making actors come to functions every other week. The other self made star(vikram) constantly disappoints me, in terms of expectation vs output.
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Kavitha
November 18, 2015
Adding my two cents to this discussion.. Ajith has certainly built an aura around him where he doesn’t come out giving interviews or taking part in movie promotions but he is also always in the media with his good deeds to his employees or his friends or his humbleness where he stands in line with no airs of a star. I believe this is what gained him his mass openings rather than his movies and also one movie a year helps his case. Seeing a do gooder (real life) onscreen with shades of grey sends these fans into crazy hysteria… It all boils down to good PR which no one else in the tamil industry has managed to do maybe except Nayanthara..
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Vimal
November 18, 2015
I have been following BR’s blog but this is my first comment because the discussion is about Ajith’s stardom and not about the film. I liked vedalam more than veeram.
I am an Ajith fan I think a fan can explain better abt his stardom. As someone said above, most of this fans are not for his acting but for his off screen image. He has no godfather, numerous setbacks and comebacks, frank, honest, helps others though the news don’t come out (like vijay and surya), respects costars/women, no interview/promotions, less off screen presence, doesn’t indulge in cheap tactics (cinema politics, ask any one in the cinefield they have only good things to say), racer/pilot/other real life hero skills etc etc. Most of the cine field people like him for this off screen image too. Post that CM Stage issue (ajith confessed that actors being threatened to take part in functions), neutrals started liking him too. To be honest, I am not his fan for his acting/dance. I am his fan because i could relate to him and he inspires people with his real life. Most of the general public wants a good person to succeed which is what happened for Rajni and MGR even thought both of them are not great actors. Even if the movie is not good, they want him to succeed and have this soft corner towards him.
So Ajith is on his way to become the successor of MGR and Rajini. It might be hard pill to swallow but thats what happening right now. Mayilsami gave a interview recently where he has explained really well on why he is a successor to MGR. (check it to understand his stardom).
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brangan
November 18, 2015
This is such an interesting discussion, all. Thanks.
But tell me, do things like “good deeds to his employees or his friends or his humbleness where he stands in line with no airs of a star” (as Kavitha says above) really matter when one decides to watch a movie?
Are most people attracted to off-screen behaviour (rather than on-screen persona)?
Because I know very little about Ajith’s personal life — and I don’t care either. What I like about him is that he has a presence on screen, and he’s not a goody-goody. He’s got a bit of an edge.
I wish he were a better actor, but then, he’s not exactly playing great roles, so for now, that something I mentioned in this review is enough (for me, at least).
At least some of the comments have helped me understand that something (to the extent that these things can be understood).
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Ram Murali
November 18, 2015
I’ll just steal and put a twist on a line from Thyagarajan Kumararaja’s Aaranya Kandam”:
“Unaku Thala-na romba pidikuma?”
“Apdi-nu ille…aana, avar namba Thala”
I really enjoyed all of the above comments. But I just feel like it’s impossible to come up with a well-fleshed out explanation as to why someone succeeded and why someone didn’t. There are just far too many examples of actors that had no business to fail but somehow managed to. Ditto for some of the successful ones.
On a tangential note… off-screen, I am glad that Ajith and Vijay are very dignified these days. Because there used to be a time when they took cheap potshots at each other in the movies… glad that they have grown up… but it’s sad that some of their fans take to social media platforms and stoop to new lows… wish that kind of an abuse would stop and that fans treat all these actors with respect regardless of which “camp” they belong to. PKS Kamal would look at all their wasted energy and say, “Vijay TV-la thala padam pottaa adhuku-nu thala TV-nu aaramichu vijay padam podanum-nu solluviya nee? Padam paatha anubavikanum asinga padutha koodaathu!”
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Kavitha
November 18, 2015
I had such a fan girl moment that you mentioned my comment, that too for a first time commenter ever in the blog world… been your fan for so many years from Hindu to WordPress…
Coming back to your question “Are most people attracted to off-screen behaviour?” …I would say this is an easy yes as with all the social network and media and cinema being the most read news of all, stars are always in the eyes of public.
A classic example is Salman who managed to garner so much public adulation and that too happened after his rampage. Starting charitable organizations has gained him support from the public and he is being seen in a totally different light. Being no fan of Salman Khan I was shocked at the support from the public against his jail term…
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Santosh Balakrishnan
November 18, 2015
“But tell me, do things like “good deeds to his employees or his friends or his humbleness where he stands in line with no airs of a star” (as Kavitha says above) really matter when one decides to watch a movie? Are most people attracted to off-screen behaviour (rather than on-screen persona)?”
May be not so much to watch a movie (e.g. neutral like myself.. I like the man not his movies/acting), but may be “to become that hardcore fan”, where you want the individual to succeed no matter what, off-screen persona does help… I think that connects more strongly with an individual which makes him/her root for the guy (though his mind may accept the product is not worth it.. or may be the product is not in the context at all.. 🙂 )…
to an extent it is the case for me when it comes to MS Dhoni (his dignified approach is that hook)… I would want him to succeed no matter how ridiculous his tactics are at times… 🙂
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Anoop
November 18, 2015
“But tell me, do things like “good deeds to his employees or his friends or his humbleness where he stands in line with no airs of a star” (as Kavitha says above) really matter when one decides to watch a movie? Are most people attracted to off-screen behaviour (rather than on-screen persona)?”
I have a personal anecdote to share here. Back in 2011 i was standing in the immigration line at Chennai Intl airport when suddenly everyone ahead of me in the line turned and were smiling and waving. I turn back to see Ajith right behind me. In no time one immigration official walked up and offered him an option to by pass the Q which he turned down. I asked him why he did that and he said that he is just another citizen and doesn’t like special privileges just because he is a movie star. Needless to say i was very impressed and proceeded to have an almost 10 minute convo with him till we got to the immigration counters. He did not seem bored and was enthusiastic to know where i worked, what my company did and so on. And i thought he looked way smarter than what you see in movies. I certainly walked away from there as a fan of the person and certainly wished that his movies are successful and so on.
However that did not make me a ‘Thala’ fan. At that time the last Ajith movie i had seen in a theatre was Kandukondein. Have only seen Yennai Arindhal since in a theatre and that too for GVM.
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hari
November 18, 2015
BR off-screen behavior impacts negatively as well. Few women I know, don’t like Kamal because apparently he kisses a lot of women both real and in reel :).
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Rahini David
November 18, 2015
A very amusing thread were even Ravichandran is pulled in for comparision and I should admit I have not seen so much detailed analysis from so many people.
BR: When did this Mass thing start? I have been hearing this word only for the past 3-4 years.
Ram Murali: Vijay TV-la thala padam pottaa adhuku-nu thala TV-nu aaramichu vijay padam podanum-nu solluviya nee? I don’t know why, this amused me a great deal. 😀
Re: The persona vs. Acting Prowess: I have noticed that Kamal divorcing his first 2 wives and having a live-in relationship with an actress is a deal breaker with loads of folks and his being a competent actor only infuriates them more rather than improve their feeings towards them. Rajinikanth’s popularity improved for being a monogamist. Why it should matter is not something I am fully able to understand.
This is like saying if you don’t like my review ” shut your mouth” don’t post comments: Actually I am a card staunch supporter of “Let us stop watching that that does not please us” school of thought. BR usually replies to those who engage in the review and disagree on a few points. It may be the tone, the sentence making, his idea of humour, factual errors or even gramatical errors. But if the person is opposed to the style itself, and is against BR’s idea of craftsmanship, he usually informs them that these are not going to change and the reader may check other reviewers who align better with his tastes.
It is one thing that I did not enjoy “Anbe Sivam” though I should have enjoyed it because it “sounds” like a movie I usually like and I liked the trailer a good deal. But why should people who could see they would not enjoy “Sura” inflict it on themselves? Masochist is a the word that springs to the lips. I am not talking about actual “Mass”-fans but others who unfailingly call these movies “Migraine inducing”.
A few doubts:
1) I have been wondering if there is any comedy apart from a scene in Villan were Ajith’s comic timing was well appreciated. Even in that scene, it was Karunas who made the scene funny. I find this weird. Almost all other Tamil Heroes have loads of comedy scenes to their credit. It may be just my ignorance, so just gently correct if I am wrong. I had a gala time imagining “Un mouth ea organ maathiri thaan iruku, aparam ethukku mouth organ” in my mind. But it wasn’t intended to be LOL funny (I think), so it does not qualify.
Say what you will about Rajinikanth, he could really pull off a comic scene.
2) I don’t keep myself abreast with all these gossip, but is not giving interviews and not jumping queues and being “normal” in general all it takes? Have the other actors sunk so low that “Being Normal” is celebrated in Ajith?
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thalaveeran
November 18, 2015
our thala also pulls the best comedy scene in vedalam on soori.. asking why he wears salwar… n in vedalam portions… ur rajini is a foolish idiot who speaks fast in name of comedy..
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Srinivas R
November 18, 2015
I can understand the blind following of one’s favorite star, to whatever extent these things can be understood. I have never understood this hatred for all other stars except your favorite. The comment from thalaveeran is a classic example of this behaviour.
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Thalafans
November 18, 2015
You people are such idiots. Lengthy discussion on something that s no issue. Thala is and will always be biggest star of Tamil. Sitting in America and making bad remarks about thala. u people are not fit to talk about him. If you have guts come to tn, we will show you the power of thala and fans.
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Venkatesh
November 18, 2015
Hari: BR off-screen behavior impacts negatively as well. Few women I know, don’t like Kamal because apparently he kisses a lot of women both real and in reel
You’re quite right; he did have that problem, but that was long ago. Given the craze for Roshans and the Kapoors, among today’s women, I don’t think that could be a reason for them to hate Kamal. Lastly, ‘reel’ is fine, but ‘real’? 🙂
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Vimal
November 18, 2015
Rahini David: To be honest most of the people these days are not modest and dignified. You can see examples in real life where once someone got something (money, fame anything) they think they can show off, be arrogant, egotist. First quality that i look in people is whether they are modest. Being such a huge star (Ajith), this quality really appeals to fans. Good thing is he is consistent with his behaviour for many years unlike other stars who acts normal in public but they have umpteen bad things in real life. Being normal is what we expect from people, but unfortunately only very handful of them are really normal in spite of fame.
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Dhanda Soru
November 18, 2015
The thing I hate the most about trolls is how they almost always find themselves in some kind of win-win situation. If you censor them, you’ll be accused of intolerance (for the lack of a better word). If you allow them to comment, they stink up the place with their bullshit. If you entertain their nonsense, you’ve given them the attention that they crave. Regardless, they kinda-sorta end up having the last laugh. Goddamn anonymity.
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Enna koduka sir pera
November 18, 2015
Vimal – To be honest, when I was a kid, I used to think like that. I used to choose whether to watch a movie or not depending on whether I liked the projected ‘real’ life image of the actor in the film. This was mainly influenced by the conversations with people in the neighborhood and columns in Tamil magazines about the personal lives of actors. As I grew up, I realized this was artificial and biased and that I should not judge an actor by their lives. Moreover, unless I know these people personally, no way am I going to know about their real nature and slowly I realized this was immaterial. Also, looking at it the other way around, I realized the pressure that’s put on these stars to maintain their ‘projected’ qualities. True, they might be humble and really nice people in real life, but this constant attention from the public sort of makes them show this side even more in public and who knows they might feel they are behaving artificially. I appreciate the fact that people like humility, kindness, etc., but what I don’t understand is instead of one trying to imbibe these qualities, a fan makes an actor like an idol to decorate these qualities on. They snatch away the freedom from the star to err sometimes in life, which is only too human. Also, by doing this, they are treating the star (elevated to this status by the fans) one step above them instead of talking to/about them from an equal stature. This reduces the questioning nature in us and makes us become yes men. I understand where fandom comes from, but think it is a dangerous phenomenon.
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udhaysankar
November 18, 2015
Thalafans:யோவ்,எந்த ஏரியா டா?தமிழ்நாடு தான் டா.Velachery,வா. One to One வச்சிக்கலாம்.
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Siva
November 18, 2015
Rahini David:
I am not talking about actual “Mass”-fans but others who unfailingly call these movies “Migraine inducing”
Those were my lines so I assume you’re asking me :D. I have replied above and I will reiterate: Going to an Ajith/Vijay movie is not an option when you’re a teen or young adult (at least not for me or most of my friends). You have fans in your gang. They will take you. You needn’t even be conscious 😀
My friend tricked me saying there were no tickets for Thoongavanam, so he had booked for Vedalam :D.
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thalaveeran
November 18, 2015
no tickets for thoongavanam …lol nice joke 🙂
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praneshp
November 19, 2015
@Siva: I don’t see why you are bemoaning your situation. Just make them pay for the ticket. Either you get a free movie, or get out of watching movies you don’t like 🙂
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Ram Murali
November 19, 2015
Rahini David: Thanks, am glad you found it amusing! Elaam “crazy” mohan influence! I took a chance posting this comment since I was kinda bewildered at seeing 17 downvotes for a previous kadi joke that i had posted. Thought it was pretty harmless but iruvar a vida peria flop ayduthu!
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Prasad
November 19, 2015
Actually it’s fun reading some of the comments. Am not at a fan of any particular STAR. Just curious about one thing. Is Ajith’s popularity is greater than the aura or the popularity which Rajni enjoyed (Pre lingaa period) either during Nineties (Annamalai- Baasha) or even till Shivaji- Endhiran?
Again not talking about box office nos.. just pure popularity or the Aura which Rajni enjoyed! His releases definitely had a national coverage I think. When “Baba” flopped it was a national news, same is the case when his comeback movie” Chandramukhi” was a hit.
I understand Ajith has gained huge mass but can it be compared with what Rajni had?
Again am not a fan of either. Just wanted to understand the views.
Having said that “Hero Worship” is not new to us. We’re used to this! 🙂
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Thalaveeran
November 19, 2015
english news channels (2000s fenomenon) got around to Rajini popularity started only after shankar films… rajini at late 50s got it… thala already at 44 made headlines fr vedalam in all national media on his own
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Rahini David
November 19, 2015
Siva: Those were my lines so I assume you’re asking me
Not just you. I see the FB feed gets infested with people trying to be funny at the expense of a movie that is just not their favourite genre. I do know many male Thala fans of the 20-25 age bracket. And yeah, I know it is tradition and all that. Still, if the movies are THAT bad and you can’t stand it, then nope, I don’t see why watching is such a non-negotiable.
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Srinivas R
November 19, 2015
@ Prasad, the popularity and goodwill that Rajini enjoyed in mid 90’s in the Annamalai, Baasha phase is is hard to replicate,IMO. Baasha is a cult movie and even non-Rajini fan’s couldn’t have resisted his star power in that.
Baasha movie’s success bash and Rajini’s speech in the same (questioning law and order in the state), triggered his participation in the Tamilnadu general elections that followed. His campaigining against Jaya was a major factor in tilting the scales of the election. Around the same time DD telecast an interview of Rajini (audience questions through letters), and that is the most impressive interview I have seen of a star. He answered questions ranging from politics to philosophy to cinema. I can bet that had he jumped to politics at that time, he would have been unstoppable for a while. Unfortunately his political alignment is what caused his downfall (relatively speaking), as well. His run in with PMK and the failure of Baba was a major set back.
Thala and Thalapathy may be more popular than Rajini now, but apart from their core fans, I don’t see then attracting any others. The aura that Rajini had at his peak was something else really.
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Raj Balakrishnan
November 19, 2015
Jumping in late, enjoyed this discussion. I think this whole thala phenomenon and the fan frenzy etc. was carefully created by Ajith himself. I remember he had fan clubs way back in the mid 90s when he had delivered just one hit till that point of time. I think he is a master strategist. Having said that, there is no denying the fact that he has a huge fan base now.
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Thalaveeran
November 19, 2015
mayilsamy n cho r saying ajith aura is comparable to mgr…cho is close friend of rajini..juz wait n watch fr thala s rise
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Venkatesh
November 19, 2015
Prasad: True, unlike Vijay/Ajith, Rajini and Kamal are pan-India phenomena, even now. Looking at some of the fanboyish comments, I won’t be too surprised if they claim Vedhalam as ‘World cinema’. There are FB pages – ‘Malaysia Thala fans’, ‘Sri Lanka Thala fans, ‘Andhra Thala fans’, Karnataka Thala fans’. He absolutely has no market in the aforesaid territories. Furthermore, this reminds me of the election propaganda scene in Amaidhipadai where Manivannan says, Namadhu katchiyin selvaakai Aangileya perarsirkkum, America egadhipathiyathirkkum, Russia-virkkum therivika vendiya kaatayathirkku naam aalagi irukkirom’.
Kamal was a huge star in the whole of South India at just under 24, and tasted his first Bollywood success when he was 27. Rajini was pretty much a multi-lingual star early in his career. I’m not a big fan of his late 80s and early 90s Bollywood films, but he had an amazing time in the south during this period. Long ago, while going through the Google News archives, I came across a 1990 Singapore press, which claimed Rajini was India’s highest paid actor then. Can you think of any other actor beating up the likes of Sivaji, NTR, Rajesh Khanna, Krishna, and Vishnuvardhan on screen? Rajini did that, and was still loved by people outside of TN; Bollywood might be an exception then. A couple of days back, the ministry of I&B came up with a report that contained box-office analysis of regional films in 2014. Guess what! Lingaa topped the position.
Srinivas: Thala and Thalapathy may be more popular than Rajini now, but apart from their core fans, I don’t see then attracting any others. The aura that Rajini had at his peak was something else really.
I respectfully disagree with the first point. Idha indha edathula naa solliye aaganum: When Orkut was alive and kicking in the late 2000s, Suriya had the biggest fan base for a South Indian actor. The so-called fans think that social media truly represents the entire nation. 🙂
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Siva
November 19, 2015
praneshp: Well, going with your friends is more important right 🙂 It’s fun irrespective of whether the movie is good or not. Also, the movie was bad, but my theatre experience was not, cause I constantly kept making fun of my friend for the stupidity on screen 😀
Rahini: To seriously answer the question that you and some other people put forth, on why we go to these movies:
I feel that only Vijay and Ajith can pull off those “mass” moments. Maybe due to their screen presence, or the fanboys’ worship of them the ‘aura’. Whether you’re a fan or not, it is fun to watch a movie amidst an hysterical crowd…
It’s not that others can’t do it. But these two seem to know to do ONLY that and they do it better.
A Surya or a Vikram might be able to pull it off, but I always think “erm.. good..but guys …you can do much better stuff…why this?”
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Srinivas R
November 19, 2015
“The so-called fans think that social media truly represents the entire nation”
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Rahini David
November 19, 2015
Siva:There we are. We have “Disheartening to see this one called “decent” in any context.” and “I feel that only Vijay and Ajith can pull off those “mass” moments.”.
So you are a “Mass Movie Moments Man” afterall and just found Vedhalam not upto the mark. That is quite alright. I am not talking about guys like you. I say “I am not talking about actual “Mass”-fans but others who unfailingly call these movies ‘Migraine inducing'” I only mean those who dislike the genre itself. The type who can never ever digest a punch line. THAT is what I mean by the “Let us stop watching that that does not please us” school of thought.
Maybe the word Migraine caused the confusion. It was a huge thread already and I just picked one of the nay-saying comment without deep whodunits. And that is why I did not address it to you. 😀
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Durai
November 19, 2015
In 90’s When asked who is more popular than MGR and Karunandhi in whole India, Cho replied it was Kamal. In 00’s, similar question, his answer was Rajini. Now maybe Ajith. Tomorrow maybe STR. Don’t pay too much attention to Cho.
There’s always a bit of prejudice towards southern stars. Rajini films are made fun of, admittedly deserving of that treatment, despite much worse from the khans. In this regard, perhaps Ajith has a chance.
Pan India news for South Indian stars is eye candy and gets good viewership from South. Currently Shankar and Rajamouli are enjoying what Kamal, Chiranjeevi and Rajini enjoyed earlier. Maheshbabu, Ajith and Vijay will get that one day, any one pretending that will not happen is living in delusion. Popularity, aura are based on consumption. MKT, MGR to STR today, this will constantly go on and on..
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kart03ik
November 19, 2015
Srinivas – Nicely put about Rajini. No one in the current crop is anywhere close to the phenomenon Rajini was in the 90’s. You hit the nail on the head about the neutral viewer effect for Rajini. Baasha, Annamlai are enjoyable to the non fan too which does not seem to be the case with most thala thalapathi movies. Rajini’s got a decent range as an actor too and has done some serious work across genres. I think Rajini’s usp was that he did not try to model himself on mgr and created an identity & segment unique to him. He s probably the first actor to capitalize on the youth segment especially finding an identity with the irreverent & rebellious kind. His personality and off screen persona of those days helped greatly needless to say. Gravitating towards family audiences came much later in his career by when he had already established a great amount of loyalty with his core fan base. I guess I have gone slightly off topic. Coming back to Rajini vs thala thalapathy anyone who has caught a Rajini movie in the theatres in the 90’s will know there is no comparison. And that was without the social media effect.
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kart03ik
November 19, 2015
Durai – Sad to see all these Rajini jokes on social media now. I think what the khans and kumars are doing now are ten notches below a thambikku endha ooru, rajadhi raja or a guru sishyan which were super entertaining masala capers. I guess the millenials haven t seen the kind of frenzy Rajini whipped up in his prime. What I find more troubling is that the star himself seems oblivious of the ridicule. There was a template which worked for him when he was younger and in his prime which isn’t now. The sooner he realizes the better. He should take a leaf out of AB s book and move towards roles befitting his age. Like I said before the guy can act. Aval appadithan, aaril irundhu aruvadhu…. netrikann are testament to his acting chops. Kabali seems to be a step in the right direction. Let’s wait and watch.
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sanjay
November 19, 2015
I can’t believe people are even comparing Ajith to Rajni. Forgot all that aura and number of fans and all that, you at least have eyes and ears. Rajni even into his 60s was an on screen dynamo of energy, physical agility, screen presence and dialogue delivery. Even when films are bad, he is superb. Just see his dances in his 50s in baba or sivaji or chandramukhi. Ajith only into his forties looks tired, overweight and jaded. He is going to be next Rajni? Huh ROFL
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Anand
November 19, 2015
Are there still who take cho seriously?. I would rather take subramaniam swamy seriously.
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Venkatesh
November 19, 2015
Maheshbabu, Ajith and Vijay will get that one day, any one pretending that will not happen is living in delusion.
You must be seriously kidding. Age is a crucial factor – Rajini, Kamal, and Chiranjeevi were in their 30s while enjoying their stint at Bollywood. Kamal almost stopped accepting Bollywood offers by the time when he turned 31-32. Vijay, Ajith, and Maheshbabu, on the other hand, are now past 40. Frankly speaking, a Bollywood success is very unlikely for them. I’m sure they themselves would be aware of this. Among the current crop, only Dhanush seems like having a decent chance.
The greatest thing about Rajini and Kamal is they continue to act as heroes even at their sixties. When I think of others, only Rajkumar managed that aura/fandom (call whatever). He remained a hero material until 70!
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Thalaveeran
November 19, 2015
thala also did Asoka as villain.. rajini did 2nd hero 3rd hero to amitabh rekha govindha. In Bollywood .. wat nonsense bro.. dont b bias
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Prasad
November 19, 2015
@ Srinivas and Venkatesh
Thanks for your comments. Perfectly agree. So Ajith is another star with a reasonable like Vijay and Suriya maybe. So why some of make a big fuss of that don’t know. Probably due to our ingrained “Hero Worship”
“I won’t be too surprised if they claim Vedhalam as ‘World cinema’. ” 🙂
This is also another worrying factor. We’re not against so called “Masala movies” or Masala moments. The again the quality of the masala movies have come down so drastically. Anyday “Baacha” or a “Gilli” …”Dhool” is a better watch than a “Vedhalam” “Billa ” or a “Thuppakki”. IMO
For those movies you need not be a fan of anybody. You can just go with your family. But for watching “Vedhalam” I think you need to be die hard fan that’s the difference. Just take “Gilli” for example. The comic and masala moments ate too good. You JUST need not be a Vijay fan to appreciate it. Hard to get even movies like that now.
And I saw a comment about “Masala moments” Not sure if you can link “masala moments” to a just an actor. Even some unknown actors with superb direction/staging you can have that. The police inspector appreciating the Mobile phone features in “Ugly” is a an example.
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MANK
November 19, 2015
Venkatesh, that’s bang on man, what you said about mahesh, Ajith and vijay. I always wished someone like mahesh babu would have made it on to the national scene. He has the looks and the talent to be accepted on the national stage. He is way good a performer to have been restricted to only Telugu films. It’s a pity that it is rather late for him now.
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MANK
November 19, 2015
I wish Kamal hadn’t thrown in his towel so quickly in hindi film industry. If he hadn’t been disillusioned by the trashy filmmaking climate of the 80s and preserved some more time. If he could have just gotten through into the 90s and built up a fan following in the north, imagine the possibilities he would have had. With an all India market, he would have had all the resources to achieve his vision. With his talent, he could have even crossed over to the international scene on a big level. Today much of the problem he faces is due to the lack of adequate funds and having to localise his movies to a predominantly Tamil audience. His scripts are usually of a pan national or a pan global nature.
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Ram Murali
November 19, 2015
MANK – I respect your opinion. But I do have a different take on this. I am glad that Kamal didn’t continue to persist with the Hindi film industry. I don’t know enough about the industry to say anything against it that would be well-informed. But the change of mindset that Nayagan gave him was something that he was able to fully capitalize on in the Thamizh industry. Pre-Nayagan, Kamal’s movies of the 80s were mostly SPM-ish masala movies except for the occasional gems like Moondram Pirai and Oru Kaidhiyin Diary. But post Nayagan, he started writing more, started producing more and I dare say, ghost directed some movies. He could essentially stamp his authority and vision on the movies by going beyond acting and went into the realm of writing and direction. I don’t know if he would have been able to do that in Hindi. Plus, I don’t know if he could have been this prolific either. So, in essence, I am saying that I am glad that the nayagan strives to make (and may not always succeed) ulaga thara movies in thamizh 🙂 Having said all that, the one area where I agree with you fully is the resources that he would have benefited from especially when his movies needed SFX. But then again, for every Dasavatharam, you also have a Kuruthi Punal, Hey! Ram or Vishwaroopam where the production values were top notch.
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Venkat
November 19, 2015
Ram Murali, what about Swati mutyam, Punnagai mannan, Pesum padam, Sagara Sangamam, Raja paarvai, Marocharitra, Varumayin niram sivappu, Sigappu Rojakkal, 16V, Aval appadithaan, Avargal, Aboorva ragangal, Manmadha leelai, Sommokadidhi Sokkadidhi, Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala, Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu? At least a dozen of those were in late 70s to 80s, isn’t it? I feel he would have had good success if he did the right films after Chachi 420. He did controversial edgy films which weren’t Diwale Dil chahta hai Gowariker range goody goody stuff.
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Ram Murali
November 20, 2015
Venkat – thanks for your response. As I mentioned in my comment, I am not discounting the “gems” but they were rare, amid some entertaining masala like “Kaaki Sattai” and truly horrid stuff like “Andha Oru Nimidam” and “Kadhal Parisu.” Most of the movies that you cited were from ’75 (Aboorva Raagangal) – ’81 (Raja Paarvai). I was referring to the period in the 80s post the commercial failure of Raja Paarvai. The lukewarm b-o response to Raja Paarvai made him work in movies like Thoongathey thambi thoongathey & Sakalakala vallavan to keep the turnstiles happy. I had a chance to meet him (see link below) and he said the following:
“Devar Magan eduthathey late. If Raja Paarvai had done well, I would have made Devar Magan before 1984!”
http://bbthots.blogspot.com/2007/08/hey-ram-extended-version.html
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supertramp
November 20, 2015
I hate going off topic, but don’t know if there’s another way to get your attention. Do you review all the films you watch (At least Indian films) or even Tamil films? I have seen reviewing a few malayalam films, is there chance to have more of the same. Recently watched Double Barrel (Out on dvd and other options). Film was supposed to have a Tamil release as well (but considering how it tanked at the box office not sure of it happening now). While I was watching the films I was intrigued by what your reactions and thoughts to the film will be. This also had to do with extreme reviews it got (From India’s best gangster spoof to worst malayalam film in a long time) reminded me of No Smoking debacle and its reviews. Is there any chance you have caught the film or can we expect (unreasonably at times) to take note of all these important happenings around our vastly diverse film industries. You didn’t get a chance to catch upon Killa either I guess. Always great to read your views and reviews. 🙂
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Naveen
November 20, 2015
I guess we should not even bring Kamal into this discussion. He is ike Sergei Bubka, setting higher standards for himself and his fans and beating it too. Rajini too had a charisma that worked well in his prime times and he has not learnt from the other super star, Bachan on how to be an actor post prime. As for Vijay and Ajith, the fact that Vijay did Kathi shows he is already moving away from template movies. Ajith gets conned by directors who kind of invoke sympathy quoting personal stories and get him on board. he has not good directors backing him. Vijay had Faazil (the best director in the south, along with K Vishwanath as per my rating) and AR Murugadoss coming to him repeatedly. Ajith should pickup good scripts within the so called masala format to win the non-core-fans too
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Durai
November 20, 2015
Venkat, Ram,
In 80’s, for every kaaki sattai, SKV, TTT we got Varumanyin niram sigappu, Raja paarvai, Moondram pirai, Salangai Oli, Oru Kaydhiyin Daiary, Sippikul muthu, Punnagai Mannan or Pushpak. (Surprised it was actually released ahead of Nayakan, shooting must have happened around same time). Salangai Oli is as important as Nayakan, if not more.
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venkatesh
November 20, 2015
@BR: I promise not to bring this up next time a Thalai movie is released. 🙂
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brangan
November 20, 2015
Ram Murali: About that Kamal quote, I’m a little puzzled. Thevar Magan is a very good film, but it’s also a crackling “commercial” film. Father-son conflict. Rural-urban conflict. Sibling rivalry. Love triangle. Plus, action. And in that period, circa Rajapaarvai, rural-based films were doing very well.
I can understand if he spoke of Virumaandi (apple to apple comparison to Thevar Magan, as opposed to, say, Hey Ram!), which is a much more complex film… A more layered screenplay. Hmmm..,
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Ram Murali
November 20, 2015
@brangan – I don’t know if “Devar Magan” would have been characterized as a “crackling commercial film” in the pre-Nayagan days by Kamal Hassan. In my conversation with him, he mentioned that he had lost 13 Lakhs as a result of producing Raja Paarvai. So maybe that had cast doubts in his mind – as a producer- about the assured commercial viability of anything outside of the SPM-ish films that he acted in…
Re: a Devar Magan-like script, if you remember, Muktha Srinivasan had recollected (in 2012 when the whole “Nayagan” controversy erupted) that he was supposed to do a Godfather-ish film with Sivaji, Kamal and Amala but that Ananthu dissuaded Kamal saying that Sivaji’s character would mean that Kamal’s wouldn’t be as prominent… so maybe those were the kinds of conversations that Kamal’s well-wishers had with him at that time, making him extra wary of many things… which is why I still maintain that it was the success of “Nayagan” that made him, to quote the man himself, make “Kalai nayathudan uruvaakina commercial padangal.” (He said this in a pattimandram that had the likes of Yugi Sethu and KS Ravikumar.)
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MANK
November 20, 2015
Ram Murali, that was what I was thinking too. Tevar makan is such a crackerjack masala film, albeit made with a lot of depth and artistry. I have read in one of his earlier filmfare interview where he said that he experimented a lot in TM while he played safe in mahanadhi by including a romantic angle for the protagonist. he didn’t elaborate what were the experimentation.
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vijay
November 22, 2015
“Though I am in agreement with you for most part, I think you are being a little unfair about your namesake. He is begining make an effort over the last 2-3 years to move towards “acceptable” masala movies. Thupaki was pulpy fun, Thalaiva wasn’t bad and Kathi was good in parts. “
Srinivas, even if I were to accept your point it is still only the last 2-3 yrs right? what about until then? How did he even sustain his stardom until Thuppakki? He had one miserable flop after another for 2-3 yrs. That’s why I emphasize that it has to do with some sort of depravation among our audiences, even among the so-called multiplex-going IT crowd. Some of these IT guys are the biggest idiots I have seen. And the fact that they can buy all sorts of bullshit written about these stars by the paid media and the put-up press conferences working overtime to bolster their image..
That is why I love captured moments like these in youtube, when those carefully crafted “humble, silent” images get ripped apart
pakkathula Prabhu Deva paavam, inji thinna korangu maari..
In the end movies like these and stars like these are more a reflection on who we are as an audience than anything else. It is the same in politics, where “a quarter and biriyani packet” is all its takes to decide whom everybody is going to vote for. And the media just fuels this mad frenzy keeping in mind only their business interests.
why is it that most reviewers tend to treat stars with kid-gloves? you will always read reviews which say “the movie was crap.. but the star saves it, he carries it n his shoulders and blah blah..”
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Venkatesh
November 22, 2015
Ram Murali: Thanks for the link. I still wonder how come a film like Nammavar won the ‘Best Tamil Film’ award. Seriously, there weren’t better films in Tamil that year? Award kudukkra alvaukku adhula onnume illa. The ‘blade fight’ sequence could be an inspiration to the one (Cheran’s) in Yuddham Sei!
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chandra prakash
November 26, 2015
“Whether you’re a fan or not, it is fun to watch a movie amidst an hysterical crowd…”
Ok, may be true or really true… but how many times… hysterical crowd going gaga over the same punch lines , same crappy masala moments… its defintely fun…. for few times… not if its the same with every other movie.
“I only mean those who dislike the genre itself. The type who can never ever digest a punch line.”
One more truth revealed… so there is a “Punch line” genre now… does it mean whole audience who make these usual masala movies (both Ajith/Vijay) a big hit are punch line genre lovers, or it’s just a small segment who love those “punch line” genre.
When this pheneomneon started, I loathe Rajini’s Adhiga kova padra pombale vs adhiga aase padra aambale and Pombale nna moodi (vaaye) nu irukkanum , aambala nna thoranthuttu (vaaye) irukkanum (that was made up)… does all the women (and men) in this age (or even then) find it great punch, A talented actor Rajini, (who is definitely better than both Ajith/Vijay put together with wider range of acting capability, I feel both Vijay/Ajith to be extremely limited in their acting skills… they both are definitely not versatile to even match Danush’s acting skills if you leave the aura, clout, mass hysteria and other fanbase adulation) whose stardom and image silently killed his talent and started doing umpteen masalas in late 80’s and 90’s.
What is even defined as punch line, is it the one line content or is it the way dialogue delivered or the scene where this is delivered… is it a repeated utterance what is it… where does this take the taste of audience to the next level or where is the entertainment quotient.
Do some one call the famous “Heere’s Johnny!” by Jack Nicolson a famous punch…
or “idhu eppadi Irukku” by Parattai
or Naan oru thadave sonna…bla bla..bla”
or “friendu love matteru feel aaitaapla oru half saaptaa cool aaiduvaapla”… keeps coming again and again in various modulation
If its the lead character pr hero depiction…. how long they want to show those puke worthy dialogues …
after all these… I still feel the masala movies of this age is way better than the masala movies of 80’s or 90’s (ex. Sivappu Sooriyan, Pokkiri Raja, and tons of others with the same usual formula), atleast some of these new directors want to give some plot/script variation to keep the audience engaged (i am not talking about the Vijay/Ajith starrers of recent times)
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brangan
November 26, 2015
Among the things I love about reading comments is the tendency of some readers to make 2 + 2 equal 34 🙂
Case in point:
What they read: “I only mean those who dislike the genre itself. The type who can never ever digest a punch line.”’
What they take away: One more truth revealed… so there is a “Punch line” genre now…
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sam
December 21, 2015
“I walked out of the film wishing these filmmakers would apply themselves a little more.”
… don’t exclude Mr. Ajit Kumar here. The vain, drab high-pitched dialogues, double chin & pot belly… hope he gets serious about being an actor and rely less on actor-script & the ‘build up’ dialogues
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aravindan
September 5, 2016
How can anyone make a film as incoherent as this. Just caught it on tv. Did Brangan review the wrong movie?
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Devarsi Ghosh
February 2, 2018
Just watched the film on YouTube. I still don’t understand… why Kolkata?
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