Posted on July 9, 2019
In which I answer a few questions on an older film… or a new one… or talk about actors and directors… or take on a few YouTube comments…
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Baradwaj Rangan 
Rahini David
July 10, 2019
With all due respect to the Books thread, it amazes me how a thread like this is being ignored.
One of my most favorite #AskBR.
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Rad Mahalikudi
July 10, 2019
Even though his initial movies followed the Drama template (from 1960s), they had great content, whether it is Bama Vijayam, Ethir Neechal, Neerkumizhi, etc. But, yes, like you mentioned, his golden period is 1970-Sinthu Bairavi. For me, it is hard to pick a favorite of his movies. He had something new in every movie during that golden period. He did show his creative hand in many of his movies, one may question them from cinematic approach, but I liked them and felt it contributed to the impact of the story, on what he wanted to say. Like chapter wise narration of Aval Oru Thodarkathai with a creative interval block, Raagams in Apoorva Ragangal, comment cards in Tappu Taalangal (including one where it said dialogue too GREEN and censored!!), and unseen Irumal Thatha in Ethir Neechal. You are bang on the target on the fact that his kind of movies don’t have a market now in theatrical release. He was able to command a Rajini as a rowdy in Tappu Taalangal and Kamal played a cameo as a prospective customer!! Those will be non-starters in current era.
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brangan
July 10, 2019
Aw, Rahini. Thanks so much 🙂
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Jay
July 11, 2019
Nice one. I revisited aboorva raagangal after seeing this vlog. With regards to bizarre endings,I think that is more a commentary on society rather than the director’s eccentricity. Take for example a real life situation -My family friend willing to marry a widow/divorcee. No widow/divorcee girl is ready to marry him. Reasons: “Why would a first time groom want to marry a widow? Something must be wrong with him. Another reason, The widow is earning much more than him.” This was the state of the society in the 80s. Those endings explained how people’s lives were miserable due to social constructs despite individual persons willing to go against the tide.
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bart
July 11, 2019
I have seen many of his movies and probably all of them since the mid-80s. I had boxed him into one who plays around “what-if” scenarios within normal relationships. Ofcourse, there were a few exceptions. I also used to have a tiff against his not working with IR so much. I have forgotten many of his old ones which I had seen in my school days (Thaneer Thaneer, Achamillai.. , Agni Satchi etc.).
But you have specifically said that his 70s movies are his best and I haven’t seen quite a few of them except the standout ones that you had highlighted. Will try to watch a few of them..
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Madan
July 11, 2019
Great video. Should catch Varumaiyin Niram Sigappu sometime. I haven’t watched all of his films by any means and nothing of his 60s work. Of the ones I have, conceptually my favourite is Sindhu Bhairavi but purely from an entertainment perspective Moondru Mudichu was the one I enjoyed most.
It’s interesting you say KB like stuff would today be restricted to TV or web series. But in Bollywood, we see web series like films still do really well. Arguably they have a better hit rate than Bolly’s attempts at tentpole films. I wonder why this is. It could be the sheer size of the market but somewhere is it also that there are different expectations from Tamil cinema? Even in the Mumbai screenings of masala potboilers starring the biggies like Thala or Ilayathalapathy, there is whistling and cheering but I haven’t seen that for a long time in Hindi films. I mean, not even a ginormous blockbuster like 3 Idiots so it’s not because people don’t go to the movies in the Bollywood market.
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MANK
July 11, 2019
Its not that i am totally unaware of the points that Brangan makes in this video, but it feels really great when he articulates it so well . How the mainstream cinema had so much breadth in those days and how the bottom has fallen out , making KB like films nonviable in today’s market place. Or about KB’s technique and his treatment of the women character. His style which was cinematic, but non subtle. Remember the scene from Ek duje ke liye , where Kamal and Rati signal to each other by switching on and off the lights in their room. I would also like to mention the editing in KB films , which was quite cutting edge for its time.In Nizhal Nijamagiradhu, there is a scene were Kamal is trying to find out who impregnated Shobha . He is up on the terrace scanning the place and his eyes fall on Hanumanthu who is down below working, and in the next cut , he is standing right next to Hanumanthu . Its like a moment of magic realism.So i believe that It was in the editing that he was the most cinematic, he was not someone who to moved the camera a lot . Even that shot from Arangethram is more of a ‘proscenium’ shot, though the deep focus of the camera gives it that extra depth. Anyway as Rahini said, one of your best #AskBrs.
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ThouShaltNot
July 13, 2019
Like many who reside in Chennai, on a recent visit there, I was also touched by the water crisis. But those of us who are privileged enough simply pay our way out of hardships. The not-so-privileged don’t have that luxury. Also, when people in Chennai make noises about a crisis, those who wield power at least pretend to “listen”. As victims of unremitting institutional apathy, the parched throats in rural areas are never that lucky. The suffering in Chennai brought to the fore memories of the movie “Thaneer Thaneer”. KB’s movie was about the predicament of people in a drought-hit rural hamlet. Like “Achchamillai Achchamillai”, it was one of his noteworthy films that was not a knotty family drama (his comfort zone). Saritha, the leading lady in this film, had the honor of playing the lead role in the most films of KB. Below is a song from the movie in which a teaser drizzle and its source kindles much hope and excitement in Saritha and the village folks, who then run around propitiating sundry Gods. A sprightly Saritha concocts a riveting story around a few drops of water… inguttu oru sottu… inguttu oru thuli… anguttu oru sottu… and the “gullible” folks are sold on it… but the dark clouds here have no silver lining (most folks in Chennai are not as easily excited and are resigned to the drizzle that fizzles).
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Isai
July 15, 2019
@BR
Hope FC is interviewing someone from Kadaram Kondan/Mr. KK team. I think this movie will finally end the TN box office drought.
Don’t know where else to ask/suggest this. Apologies.
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Isai
July 19, 2019
Apologies for the wrong thread.
Just saw Kadaaram Kondaan, a quite engaging thriller. May not become an all time blockbuster like Dhool or Saamy but will definitely become a much needed success for both Vikram and Kollywood. 99% of the audience at my theatre were still looking at the screen during the post credits since they felt that the movie ended a bit fast and trust me, that is a very good thing to see for a Tamil movie.
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