The “deliberate” theatricality is everywhere. The very location looks like a stage, with the barest of props and a very visible lighting.
Spoilers ahead…
You can read the full review on Film Companion, here: https://www.filmcompanion.in/oththa-seruppu-movie-review-parthiban-resul-pookutty-santhosh-narayanan-c-sathya
In Oththa Seruppu (also called Oththa Seruppu Size 7), R Parthiban uses several devices to push the boundaries of conventional storytelling — here’s one. He plays Ilayaraja’s music not to lazily signify “the past” (like many filmmakers do) but to shape the character of a woman who’s crazy about Ilayaraja’s music. She’s from a village – and when this point comes up, we hear faint strains of Senthoorapoove from 16 Vayathinile, the most iconic “village film” of Tamil cinema. A youthful stretch is coloured by Ilamayenum poongatru, a “matter” moment contains shades of Meendum meendum vaa, and when this woman is suspected of infidelity, we get a bit of Ennullil engo from Rosapoo Ravikkaikari, the story of a wife who strayed. Why is this different from all the other films that used the maestro’s work? Because we never see this woman. We simply hear about her, and this music helps to fill in the absence of her presence.
Continued at the link above.
Copyright ©2019 Film Companion.
Baradwaj Rangan 
Isai
September 19, 2019
It will be different and even inventive, but will it be entertaining? That was the question on my mind ever since I saw Parthiepan’s interview on FC. The title of this review has convinced me. Now if Kaapaan is as bad as its trailers suggest, then this movie may do better than it in the box office by the 3rd weekend, which would be very good for the industry.
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praneshp
September 19, 2019
@Isai haha glad you noticed that about kaapaan trailer. I couldn’t believe a movie with a somewhat good director and a leading star could have such a bad trailer
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Nithya
September 19, 2019
“I watched with both a smile (at the audacity on display) and a mild sigh (of a teacher faced with a brilliant student who can’t help showing off)”
Exactly my thoughts while watching R.P’s movies. Although it seems like a show off, it is hard to ignore those touches of brilliance.
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KS
September 22, 2019
Unfortunately, didn’t release in Houston (USA).. 😦
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Isai
November 26, 2019
Watched this movie and for the most part found it to be….. exasperating. One needs to be very patient and indulgent to like this movie. In fact, I had to go through this movie in multiple sessions….like a root canal. The only solace is that I found the last 30 minutes to be engaging, where we get something more than Parthiban’s template theatrics. No wonder there are hardly any comments here.
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bart
December 1, 2019
[Mild Spoilers]: I completely concur. I watched it throughout with a smile. Since I felt the fan’s name was used in the story he tells, thought that the entire story is a cook-up. But he throws a twist at the end. But this also makes us not really get affected by the characters that he brings up in the story – irrespective of how heart-wrenching it is. The “Parthiban”ish word-played, twisted narration doesn’t make it easy to grasp as well unless you are used to it. Not sure how he expected it to a) succeed in theatres and b) win an oscar. It is clever and effective but not affecting. I enjoyed it though though it felt a bit prolonged. ..
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Ganesan Kandasamy
January 15, 2020
last night I stumbled about the interview between BR and Parthiban on YouTube so I decided to check this one out on Netflix. I was glad I did. I admit that when I saw the words “Usha” on the ceiling fan, I half expected Parthiban’s character to turn out to be Keyser Soze 🙂 but I was pleasantly surprised at how the film played out and I sat riveted till the end. I think one of the strength’s of this movie is the sound design by Resul Pookutty – that really added to the entire atmosphere of the movie. for what it’s worth, I hope this film’s success allows Parthiban to make more of such movies.
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