Thoughts on Uthama Villain

        Disclaimer : Lots of spoilers

• I wonder why Kamal doesn't want to take direction credits for these movies. I mean it's so clear that he's the man running the show, take the scene where Parvati meets Kamal for the first time. The background is a movie set, which is taken away quickly in a blur, symbolizing how the past is flashing past. Then the symbolism in the shot of Pooja playing the harp. It's all Kamal. 

• Got to take my hat off for Ghibran and Kamal (For the lyrics, not for the acting). Just wow. I was a fan of the music of this movie even before watching it, but now I am able to appreciate the effort and ingenuity that has gone into it even more. Ghibran is just out of this world. I guess Vasanthabalan will be humbled after watching Uthama Villain. Kaaviya Thalaivan is like a school play compared to this.

• Felt really good to see KB sir on the screen in a substantial role. All the supporting actors are adequate. MS Bhaskar has a #win scene where he breaks down competely. Parvati and Andrea have nothing much to do.

• This movie too (like most recent Kamal movies) unfortunately suffers from over indulgence. 3 hours is too long for a movie about a movie star making a movie. 30 minutes can be easily cut from the movie. Also the production values could have been a lot better I felt. Many scenes had tacky graphics and questionable lighting. Maybe Kamal himself should have done the editing and cinematography. ;)

• There is no doubt that Kamal is one of the most talented screen writers we have now, his problem has always been to find a way to tell his story the way the audience wants to hear it. He has had stretches in his career where the symbolism and hidden meanings have been so abstract that half the movie goers don't understand what's going on. But I feel with Uthama Villain he has struck a balance between his sensibilities and what the audience wants to see. So what does he do? He makes a commercial movie in which he makes another movie which satisfies his creative urges. :) If only he can dial down the self indulgence....   

Thoughts on O Kadhal Kanmani

• Let me get this out of the way first. I was one of the few people who thought Kadal was a good idea gone horribly wrong. I thought I liked it, but saw it again after a few months and hated it. I loved Nayagan at first, then thought it was meh for a while, then went back to liking it. Reverse with Alaipayuthey. That's how Mani's movies are for me. Sort of dynamic. By dynamic, what I mean is that my reaction to his movies depends on my mood at that time. I feel OKK is the first Mani movie since Iruvar which I will like irrespective of my mood/mindset. It's a pleasant, breezy entertainer aimed at multiplex audiences. The sort of movie Karan Johar probably started out to make but ended up with < Any movie with Imran Khan >  .

• All the Mani touches are in full flow. The fast cuts, the sparse lighting, the razor sharp dialogues (Vera Enenamo Paathen Bathroom la), the trains, the buses, the cutting_of_songs_to_fit_the_narrative. 

• The usage of environment to tell a story is another thing Mani does brilliantly. The framing in some of the shots by PC is outstanding. The shot of Dulqer through the train door right when the train comes to a standstill is a perfect example. Take the scene where Tara and Adi talk to each other for the first time. In the foreground, we have 2 people who are saying their wedding vows to each other, at the background we have Adi and Tara meeting cute. Their dialogues and the wedding vows are almost in sync but Adi and Tara are talking about how marriage sucks. I found the contrast to be very interesting there. 

• ARR has outdone himself with the BGM and the music. Never thought Theera Ulla will be the song that will stay with me after the movie. Usage of Naane Varugiren and Aye Sinamika top notch. Some parts reminded me of VTV BGM.

• Aye Sinamika's placement is particularly interesting. It starts off when Tara goes away for few days and Adi misses her. The "Nee Ponaal Kavithai Anaadhika" part is played when he is missing her and there are shots of empty rooms, etc. The "Aye Sinamika, Seerum Sinamika" part is played when she is angry with him, Sinam Konda Penn. Perfect. I am particularly glad because of what happened to the songs in Kadal.

• The animation portions are things Mani would have never done before, good to see him moving forward with the times. Also, nothing but good things to say about the acting. Prakash Raj helicopter-shots it out of the park with a masterclass. Look out for the subtle change of emotions he displays when his wife is enjoying Tara's singing. Pure class. Dulquer is playing these chocolate boy characters very well. Hope he doesn't become the Imran Khan of the south.