Jan 24, 2008

Movie Review : Pirivom Sandippom and Bheema

The first is a smooth ride on the highway while the second one is one jerky ride that you would not want to experience.


Karu Pazhaniappans latest venture, Pirivom Sandippom, is a woman centric film without trying to evoke tears in the viewers with melodramas. The first half of the movie would take you through an eloborate wedding ceremony and the happiness in a joint family and totally contradicting from it, the second half explores the loneliness in a womans life post wedding. The casting is simply brilliant and the actors bring their respective character to life with their performance. Cheran and Sneha play the couples and they share an awesome chemistry on screen. It seems as if they were really a couple and a candid cam was used to shoot the whole scenes between them. Among the other actors, Jayaram makes a mark and proves his versatily yet again, though his role is more like an extended cameo.

The movie is slow in parts with repetitive scenes in the second half, but at no point would one feel restless while watching them. The first half also has some unwanted comedy track, which could have been edited to make the film short and crisp. Music and BGM by Vidyasagar is good and goes well with the mood of the film. The movie has been approached with neo-realism, a kind of film making not explored much in Kollywood. Not much of technicality involved in the movie as most of the scenes are limited to indoors.

The makers had taken a big risk by releasing their movie during the Tamil festival, along with some over hyped biggies. Nevertheless, a good movie should always find its kind of viewers. A must watch for people who appreciate good cinema.


A much-hyped movie, Bheema has been in the cans for a very long time particularly for financial reasons. Once the final credits roll, you would understand why the delay. There is nothing much to talk about the movie, as it is one horrible experience. The first half would make you completely restless with the action and song sequences coming back and forth. The second half moves a bit faster, but with the unconvincing action and easily irritating romance scenes, your left out interest in the movie would also be killed and would want you to move out of the hall as early as possible.

The story and screenplay seems to be inspired from Vishnu Vardhans Arindum Ariyaamalum and Pattiyal. Even the roles of Prakash Raj and Aashish Vidyaarthi reminds you of the characters played by Prakash Raj himself and Aditya in Arindum Ariyamalum. Music by Harris Jayaraj is good but somehow does not go along with the movie and he has reused his own BGMs from Kaakha Kaakha in the encounter scenes.

Vikram saves Bheema from being a normal B-grade action movie. His acting and appearance is the only convincing factor in this movie. Trisha has hardly anything to do except to look good, which she doesn’t. She has to create an identity of her own and it is time she stopped aping Jyothika in the comedy scenes. Prakash Raj does what he does usually and Raghuvaran is wasted in such a role.

Please avoid this movie at any cost; you would regret spending your time, money and effort.

Jan 16, 2008

Current Favs : Jan 1 - Jan 15

I am back with my current favs for the last fortnight. Surprisingly, more of Tamil songs than the usually found Hindi. Waiting patiently for the release of Jodha Akbar which I am sure would find a place in the top 5 in my next list of Favs. Well, here goes :


1 Maambulli from Kadha Parayumbol (Malayalam)
2 Uyirile En Uyirile from Vellithirai (Tamil)
3 Maa from Taare Zameen Par (Hindi)
4 Sol Sol En Nenje from Pirivom Sandippom (Tamil)
5 Kadhal Thandadum from Vaazhthugal (Tamil)
6 June July Maadam from Kalloori (Tamil)
7 Pyar To Hona Hi Hai from Sunday (Hindi)
8 Naan Meendum from Billa (Tamil)
9 Kathaazha Kanaala from Anjaadey (Tamil)
10Ellorukkum Ethi from Rameswaram (Tamil)

Jan 10, 2008

Top Ten Movies - Bolly & Kolly

Finally !!! It took me so long to come up with this list too. There were a lot of changes in the last minute and I even had to rethink when I am posting this article.

2007 had been an exciting year for Bollywood in terms of the different genre of movies; we had two sports movies, a couple of thrillers, a few episodic movies, a lot of comedies (most of them mindless), some path breaking movies, spoof based movies, etc. This list is only based on my personal preference and not on the popularity or box office collections. I am sure that there would be a lot of debate as to why certain movies like OSO, Cheeni Kum etc. didn’t find any position here. Its simply because there were better movies that appealed me.

Top Ten movies of 2007 - Hindi

1Taare Zameen Par
2 Johnny Gaddar
3 Black Friday
4Guru
5 Manorama Six Feet Under
6 No Smoking
7 Chak de
8 Jab We Met
9 Gandhi, My Father
10Bheja Fry

The other top contenders(not in any order)

1 Om Shanti Om
2 Cheeni Kum
3 Hey Babyy
4 Bhool Bhulaiyya
5 Partner

Films I think I missed – Metro, Nishabd, Saawariya, Shootout at Lokhandwala


Kollywood witnessed some of the best films in 2007. There were a lot of fresh plots and performance oriented movies. 2007 also saw a remarkable change in the taste of the Tamil audience as they had encouraged innovative movies like Chennai 28, Oram Po and also offbeat movies like Mozhi, Kattradhu Tamizh, Periyar. Not to forget, the costliest movie, Sivaji, and also the most stylish movie, Billa. This list is only based on my personal preference and not on the popularity or box office collections.

Top Ten movies of 2007 - Tamil

1 Mozhi
2 Polladhavan
3 Billa
4 Kattradhu Tamizh
5 Chennai 28
6 Patchaikili Muthucharam
7 Pokkiri
8 Oram Po
9 Evano Oruvan
10 Naan Avan Illai

The other top contenders(not in any order)

1 Azhagiya Tamizh Magan
2 Satham Podaadey
3 Sivaji
4 Kanaamoochi yenada
5 Unnaale Unnaale

Films I think I missed – Paruthiveeran, Onbathu Roopai Nottu, Marudamalai, Kalloori, Kreedom

Jan 3, 2008

Thanks, Happy New year and Coming soon

Finally, 2007 had a good ending here in Vlog with my last post on the top ten songs. It was quite an encouraging year for Vlog and I appreciate the tolerance level of each and every person who goes through this nonsense(chuckle). Though I know that there had been quite a few visitors, the participation level was so poor. Guys and gals, do post your comments after going through; it could also help you in closing down this site easily (chuckle again!)

However, I would have to stop using the name Vlog from now on. It was only recently that I came to know that Vlog actually stood for Video Blog. A new name is in the thinking process; will update it here once I get hold of one.

In 2008, the regulars would continue with added features. There will an inclusion of a new category “Will write whatever I like !” in the blog which would have topics that I cant fit anywhere in my current topics.

Following are some of the posts that would be a part of my blog next year; but not in any order :

  • Countdown of Top Ten Movies of 2007; Hindi and Tamil; the omission of Malayalam movies is deliberate as I could not watch most of the releases.


  • Some of my favourite songs rendered in my voice with(out) karaoke.(If 2007 had the Kenyan air crash and also the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, 2008 will witness one more such sad news !!!)


  • “ The people with whom I shared my room !!! ”


  • A post in Malayalam, written in English with no usage of English words. (Personally, a little excited about this !)


  • “ My Pregnant Girl Friend !!! ”


  • Vilm-Fair awards for Bollywood (only) for the year 2007.


Wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year.

Thanks a lot everyone, for not giving up on me. Love you all.

Jan 1, 2008

Awards and Recognitions

Since blogger doesnt allow to create a new page, this post is created as a static page to hold all the awards and recognitions I got so far.

From Reema for The Best Post Award

(the award winning post - The Stars Scream Awards -Winners)
From Anniyan a.k.a Pavan

The Addicting Blog Award

From Reeta

The

The Medal of Awesomeness

From Smita 2











From Smita









From Vishesh





From Kanagu








From IHM

From Apar
From Verbivorehere


From Oxy boy



From Rakesh Vanamali


From Archana



Poonams Avant Garde Bloggie Award