Maamannan Review | Mari Selvaraj’s Political Thriller Is Compelling in Totality

Blending the craft of filmmaking with strong political statements has been the one thing that made Mari Selvaraj’s movies stand out from the other films that show the oppression faced by the Dalits. Regarding Maamannan, I would say the impact is considerably less due to the overall optimism about a near-perfect future. But the efforts… Continue reading Maamannan Review | Mari Selvaraj’s Political Thriller Is Compelling in Totality

Takkar Review | This Tamilnadu Version of The Transporter Is an Endurance Test

In the movie Takkar, our hero is a luxury taxi driver. His Korean boss would make scratches on his body if his driving caused scratches on the car’s body. And this guy decides to drive a Mercedez Benz car in reverse on a busy public road to stalk his crush. Needless to say, the car… Continue reading Takkar Review | This Tamilnadu Version of The Transporter Is an Endurance Test

Por Thozhil Review | A Winning Thriller With a Familiar Backdrop and Subtler Messaging

When you look at the overall setting of the movie Por Thozhil, you will be reminded of movies like Ratsasan, Anjaam Paathira, etc. But the film, co-written and directed by Vignesh Raja, knows how to restructure the familiar elements. Vignesh Raja and writer Alfred Prakash deliver a consistently engaging film with gentler messaging by adding… Continue reading Por Thozhil Review | A Winning Thriller With a Familiar Backdrop and Subtler Messaging

Veeran Review | A Sparkless Superhero Movie With Unimaginative Writing

Veeran, the new Tamil superhero movie directed by Maragadha Naanayam fame ARK Saravan, is a highly generic superhero film that is a bit clueless about developing this idea with budget constraints. Minnal Murali, which also had a similar superhero, was fun to watch mainly because it blended the concept with the cultural setting. Here, it’s… Continue reading Veeran Review | A Sparkless Superhero Movie With Unimaginative Writing

Good Night Review | A Lively and Relatable Comedy That Puts a Smile on Your Face

Even though the final act of the new Tamil movie Good Night is a bit flimsy in comparison to the rest of its content, this movie from Vinayak Chandrasekaran is perhaps one of the few films that made me laugh out loud with subtle humor in the recent past. The core conflict is about how… Continue reading Good Night Review | A Lively and Relatable Comedy That Puts a Smile on Your Face

Pichaikkaran 2 Review | Vijay Antony’s Political Resume Is, at Best, an Unintentional Comedy

I wasn’t a big fan of the 2016 film Pichaikkaran starring Vijay Antony in the title role. But the decision to make such a film for the Tamil audience at that point was somewhat understandable. But when it comes to its sequel Pichaikkaran 2, which has Vijay Antony in a double role, producer-writer- director-editor-music director… Continue reading Pichaikkaran 2 Review | Vijay Antony’s Political Resume Is, at Best, an Unintentional Comedy

Ponniyin Selvan: II Review | The Concluding Chapter Is Rich in Craft and Optimal in Grandeur

What was great about Ponniyin Selvan: I was the way how Mani Ratnam preferred story and drama over creating a mere visual spectacle. If you look at that film, it had that tone of a tale that got narrated to us, and the characters and their baggage added to the film’s drama. Shot in one… Continue reading Ponniyin Selvan: II Review | The Concluding Chapter Is Rich in Craft and Optimal in Grandeur

Rudhran Review | Raghava Lawrence Tries to Be Rajinikanth, but He Just Can’t

I wouldn’t say I was unemotional while watching the new Raghava Lawrence film Rudhran. I laughed seeing the action sequences, cried seeing the comedy, and got angry seeing the sentiments. Rudhran is Raghava Lawrence trying to be a mixture of Nandamuri Balakrishna and Rajinikanth, but what he succeeds is only giving the viewer a headache.… Continue reading Rudhran Review | Raghava Lawrence Tries to Be Rajinikanth, but He Just Can’t