Vijay...
I couldn't help but watch the latest Vijay starrer "Vettaikaran". However I crib to my friends every time after watching his movie about how he could have done something different or better, I don't tire watching his movie again, such is the screen presence of this mass hero. Saying so I am really disappointed by the kind of movies he is doing in the past few years. He seem to be stuck in following a "Formula" which he believes or people close to him (Yes..I am talking about his father - SAC) make him believe delivers success. If only he shakes away the illusionary image he has assumed he could definitely do a lot better.
Its widely known that Vijay aims at winning the hearts of B and C sector movie goers but still his movies do attract full houses in cities also. Today is the fourth day since the release of the movie. It is a week day. I went for a noon show in Sathyam. It was a packed house!!! I never seen such a noisy crowd in Sathyam before. People cheering Vijay on screen. If you are from Chennai, you would know the kind of crowd that come to Sathyam. There was a lot of family crowd too. Typically in Sathyam, the crowd would be like audience in a cricket test match in Lords but today it was more like audience in a one day match in Eden Garden. An environment perfect for a Vijay movie. I haven't experienced this in Sathyam before, may be because I have never watched a Rajini or Kamal movie here. It was one bit about the movie which I really enjoyed. Vijay still attracts a wide set of audience. I wish Vijay works with a director like Manirathnam or Shankar. Even KS Ravikumar would be fine. He needs to work with directors who is strict about filming their idea rather than Vijay's. I only wish that his 50th film "Sura" is a bit different. It doesn't appear to be though.
The Movie...
Note: (Experience from having watched a lot of Vijay movies)
1. Expect no logic.
2. There will be alternate fight and song sequence every 15-20 mins.
Well there is not much to say about this movie. It is a typical Vijay movie but better than Villu and Kuruvi. If you were expecting anything different from an usual Vijay movie then you will be greatly disappointed. Songs are peppy. Choreography is good but couldn't spot any fresh steps which was bit of a let down. There was one gymnastic like step in "En uchi mandai..." song which seemed awfully tough to do but less attractive. Cinematography is really good. I really enjoyed the camera angles during the fight scenes and overall the camera didn't cause a head ache :) There was no separate comedy track as Vijay is known to be good with comedy also but I really missed Vadivelu. Incidentally I was watching Vijay-Vadivel comedy scenes from Sachin last night and his presence is sorely missed. I can't say if Anushka was wasted because I don't know if she is a good actor. If not, then the director has used her well as a glam doll otherwise there was not much to do for her in the movie except show up once every now and then for a bit of romance and a couple of songs. It was Vijay and only Vijay through out the movie. One of the (many) biggest drawbacks of the movie is that it lacked a good plot. The story was like bits and pieces from various Vijay movies put together - Revenge + hero/villian drama where hero finally emerges victorious. The second part of the 1st half was the best of the lot. It promised a racy second half. The second half of the movie was really a bit of a let down. I guess I cannot enjoy a script with only heroism but no logic. It has now come to a point where you can identify a Vijay movie only with the co stars because Vijay's style and dressing is the same in all movies. (Yaen indha kola veri...!!)
Other things you would like to know about this movie.
1. Vijay is seen riding a horse in his introduction scene. Though it appeared really comical in the posters it did look good on screen.
2. There was constant cheering when Vijay's son was dancing for "Nan Adicha..." song.
3. The "Vera vera vera...Vettaikaran dhaan da venum" dialogue you often see in the trailer and think is funny was also really good on screen. For such screen presence, if only he selects the script and his role a lot carefully he would attain a demigod status in tamil cinema.
4. Salim Ghose has done his role well as a Villian.
5. Songs are a big plus and it is really good on screen (It may be because I am listening to the songs since it was released)
6. Sayaji Shinde was irritating. I don't know why people call it comedy but I was only frustrated in all scenes involving Mano bala and Shinde.
7. Sathyan (Role as Vijay's friend) is also wasted. I don't know if its a mistake but I can only compare his scenes from Gajini when I am judging his performance and until now nothing has appeared better than that.
8. Vijay has donned an Ardhanaari (half man - half woman) getup in one of the songs (forgot which). Enna koduma idhu...!!
9. Vijay wears the usual vest and unbuttoned shirt even when he is attending classes in college. (He is a college student in this movie working as an auto driver for sustaining his life and studies)
10. The classroom scene from "Beautiful Mind" (First meeting between Nash and Alicia) is copied in this movie...
11. Not many punch dialogues.
12. Strictly only for Vijay fans...!
13. Ofcourse, I am alive. :)
Now, have to wait for "Asal".... :)
