English Vinglish review

English Vinglish is a much awaited film through which veteran actress Sridevi makes her re-entry in to the Indian film industry after a gap of 15 years.

It is surprisingly a simple yet heart warming story of a housewife who finds courage to come over a shortcoming. The film begins with the morning ritual of a middle class house where the mother gets up and does her chores cooking every one's favourite breakfast but not finding time to take a sip of her own coffee. Her teen age daughter jeers at her lack of English and embarrasses her in the socially awkward situations they get in to. Her husband  doesn't really appreciate anything other than her cooking skills and subtly puts her down on certain occasions. She gets a chance to visit her sister's family in New york. The humiliation she faces from a rude waitress at New york when she tries to order a lunch opens the floodgates, that is when she resolves to get over this shortcoming at any cost. The rest of the film is about her journey to find self confidence, appreciation and respect. Beautifully narrated, this story will make you silently cheer her through her battle and happily applaud her final triumph.
Sridevi obviously steals the limelight. She plays the role perfectly, calibrating her looks, costumes, body language and dialogue delivery to perfection. Dressed in gorgeous sarees, she inspires charm and grace. Her performance assures her that she has not lost any of her acting genius. The other characters are overshadowed by her presence, but most manage to do a decent job.
The film is not without flaws. The story line is predictable with no surprises. The dialogues in most places lack wit and intelligence. Even the presence of Amitabh in a short sequence is terribly wasted. There were many occasions for some awesome one-liners but the director had not bothered. Stereotyping in the form of a feminine looking gay professor, idli loving Tamil guy add to the boredom.
Despite the flaws,the debutant director had to be congratulated for giving us a wholly entertaining film where she proves that human emotions can give enough drama for an interesting film and that violence, gore and skin baring are not necessary for commercial success.

what is " Gangnam style"?

If you are not from the age of dinosaurs , you would have surely heard of 'Gangnam style'. Are you wondering what is it all about?
Well, Gangnam style is a single by a Korean rapper Psy. It is at present one of the top 20 videos in yotube. The video has gone viral and people from all over the world come to watch it. The tune is very catchy , doesn't leave your head and the choreography is funny.

The lyrics apparently talk about a nice guy and a nice girl who know to go wild when they have to. Most people who watch the video are clueless about the lyrics and yet it doesn't stop them from enjoying it. They seem to have their own reasoning of the song.

Here I try to state what I think this song means

Never stop dreaming (Psy dreams about a girl on beach)
Just ride on life (Psy does the horse dance)
Inspire others to ride on life (Little boy does horse dance)
Sometimes life throws thrash on you , dance as if you don't care (Psy dances as trash and white creamy thing is thrown on him)

Embrace your identity and don't fake (Psy admires a tattooed guy at the sauna)
Life is a board game with momentary ups and downs (Psy sits besides guys playing a board game)
Even if there are explosions all around , life goes on (the board game guys killed in explosion)
Ride on life (Psy does horse dance on ground, boat and buildings )

Enjoy beauty ( Psy gets an eyeful of a girl's bum)
Vanity comes and dances with you, Dance but don't give in to temptation, send it off (Guy in bright yellow suit comes in a red jaguar and dances with Psy)
Sometimes life corners you and screws you, Don't give up (Guy does pelvic thrust dance over Psy in elevator)
Sometimes you meet your dream person in unlikely places  (Psy meets girl in metro)
Ride on life with your loved ones (Psy does the horse dance)

Be original, surprise people (Psy dances in water as  older guy watches surprised)
Ride on life with loved ones  (Psy does the horse dance with girls)
No matter how high you fly, place your feet on ground, be in touch with reality (Psy makes rap moves in black suit wearing sunglasses but when zoomed out, is sitting on a WC)
Ride on life with friends (Psy does horse dance with people from all walks of life)
Out dance vanity (Psy dances around the yellow suit guy)

Life goes on (Psy says 'Opa gangnam style' with explosions in the backdrop)

Now watch the video and if you want dance like no one is watching!

Diamond necklace review

Director : Lal Jose
Lead actors: Fahad Fazil, Gouthami Nair, Samvrutha Sunil, Anushree
Cinematography: Sameer Thahir
Music: Vidyasagar

The story revolves around Dr. Arun and the three women in his life. Arun comes across as someone nice, enthusiastic and fun loving who quickly impresses hearts particularly those of opposite sex but in reality he is walking on thin ice. The three women that he meets in his life are from different strata of society- Lekshmi who is from a village in Tamilnadu working as a nurse in the same hospital, Maya, a millionaire with a personal tragedy and Rajashree who is one of the many middle class docile girls in India waiting for their princes in shining armor. Arun and his acts catapults the three women and send their destinies spinning. What unfolds is a moving drama that captures your heart.

The team surprises us with their acting, they fit well in to the roles they play. The humour is subtle and the personalities are real, reminding you of someone you knew in your life. There are some dialogues that are witty making you smile and those that let you reflect on life. The climax is heartwarming with no loose ends and it somehow satisfies you that everyone is finally at peace with their own decisions and choices.

There are some logical loopholes- Venu buying Arun time to repay loan looks less believable. Also, knowingly injecting a near fatal dose of narcotic to a terminally ill patient is a criminal offense and the screenplay brushes it off as something insignificant.


Overall it is an interesting film that is really worth watching.

Raana - Rajini's next film

Rajini's next venture is Raana!
This news comes as a delight to Rajini's fans. The director of this new venture is K.S. Ravikumar. The duo has already teamed up in Muthu and Padayappa which turned out to be super hits.
Production: Eros entertainment and Haras pictures ( which is a partnership firm of Soundarya's Ocher studios)
Photography: Rathnavel
Music: A.R.Rehman
Editing: Antony
Art : Rajeevan
Its noteworthy that the technical team of Enthiran has been fully retained for this film also. The heroine of this film is supposed to be Deepika Padugone but there are chances of replacing her with some other heroine. Anushka plays another female lead role. Rajini is said to portray three roles.
Although there were rumours that the film has a storyline similar to Avtar, the team has disclosed that this film will be a commercial entertainer.
 But the fact that the technical stuff of this film is handled by Icube, a company which has received the Emmy for special effects makes one wonder if the film is a science fiction based one?
Raana- which is a name of the Maharastrian royal clan suits aptly to Rajini who has Maharashtrian ancestry. But Rajini is cherished as a son of soil by all Tamils and his film is eagerly awaited.

Manmadhan ambu review

Take an interesting story line, awesome actors, beautiful locations and mess it all up with a clumsy screenplay: you get Manmadhan ambu.
Story
Trisha (Ambu) an upcoming film artist is engaged to millionaire Madhavan (Madhan). The couple fall apart as Madhavan doubts her chastity and character. Trisha goes on a vacation to Europe to soothe her aching heart. Madhavan sends a private detective, Kamal (Mannar)to spy on Trisha. He gives her a clean note. But when Madhavan declines his payment which is supposed to help Kamal's terminally ill friend,the story takes an interesting turn. The rest is all about who eventually wins her heart.
Acting:
Kamal gives a spectacular performance, Madhavan and Trisha do fairly well. But the poor comedy sequence and lack of a tight screenplay spoils the movie. The flash back looks unnecessary.The climax is totally boring. There is a chaotic mix of romance, sentiment and comedy which leaves us irritated rather than entertained.
The location- the European towns are simply awesome. The camera guy knows his work. A couple of numbers are hummable.

Cant stop wondering if the direction is really by K.S.Ravikumar, who is known for his screenplay. Better watch the movie when it hits the small screen on a festival day.

Jimena Navarrete - Miss Universe 2010

Jimena Navarrete of Mexico became this year’s Miss Universe on 23rd August. Navarrete was crowned Miss Universe 2010. On 23rd August the 59th edition of the annual Miss Universe pageant took place at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, US.   Miss Jamaica, Miss Australia, Miss Ukraine and Miss Philippines were the ones who gave a tough fight to the crown and ended up as runners up to the winning position. The pageant had a total of 83 contestants from different countries around the world, but Miss Mexico was the one to reach the finals and win. Her fiercest competition came from Miss Philippines, Venus Raj, who was close to clinching the crown. However, some of Raj’s answers were unsatisfactory in the final stages and placed her some points behind. The fan's reactions to Venus Raj's loss was one of the topviewed videos on youtube. Jimena Navarrete was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, on 22nd February 1988. Before pursuing interest in beauty pageants, she studied courses on nutrition and has previously won titles like the Nuestra Belleza Jalisco and the Nuestra Belleza México. Her answer to the question about internet exposure to young kids was considered a reasonable and smart reply. She sported a glowing red gown that added charm to her beauty.

  She received a diamond crown which is covered with over 1,000 lab-created diamonds and jewels and accented by several flawless rubies. The award was presented to her in celebration of her unrelenting campaign to promote awareness and education about HIV/AIDS.

Surya and Jyothika name their baby boy 'Dev'

Jyothika, wife of actor Surya delivered a baby boy at a private hospital at 4.03 am on 7th june 2010. The couple was married on September 11, 2006. They already have a baby girl Diya.
There was a naming ceremony conducted today where the baby boy was named 'Dev'. Dev rhymes very well with Diya.

Surya on an interview said that he is very much a family man and movies are only his next priority. He also said that Diya showers her baby brother with kisses before she leaves for her kindergarten.

Ananthapurathu veedu review

Ananthapurathu veedu review:
When I started to watch the film, I must concede I was not very excited. A haunted house, a creepy old woman, a young couple with a child - I expected a rape victim ghost that wants to revenge the criminals. But I was in for a pleasant surprise.
The movie has a very interesting script that moves fast, the ghost for the first time in Tamil movies are friendly and the story line different.
Spoiler ahead, skip the following paragraph if you are yet to watch the film.
<<<<>>>>>>
Balu moves in to his ancestral home with his wife, Revathy and son Aryan. His parents were killed in a car accident leaving behind their ancestral home as his only memoir. Soon after they move in they encounter the presence of ghosts which turns out to be that of his parents. Soon we come to know that Balu is not here for a vacation but he has run away from his financial issues. Villains who are Balu's money lenders arrive and press him for money. Balu decides to sell his ancestral home. Who will dare to buy a haunted house? But suddenly the story takes an interesting twist.
<<<<>>>>

The movie has many interesting ideas- for once a not very popular but good looking hero and heroine, a lovely wood carved house, the kanyakumari slang, issue of claustrophobia etc. There is never a dull moment. There are neither gory scenes nor are scary or violent ones. The subtle creepy scenes are a breath of fresh air. The villain character is not the routine one but still malignant. There is a heavy feel good factor of parents- son sentiment. Naga shines as a good director, and Shankar proves as a producer who makes good choices. The first song is a beautiful visual treat.

It would have been better if the photos of his parents were shown in eerie black and white pictures rather than the bright modern looking color photos.
A movie worth watching. A good weekend treat!

Singam

Singam -First look
The forthcoming movie of Surya is 'Singam' which is directed by Hari. Surya's 25th film is packed with action, romance and comedy , all the necessary condiments in a Hari's movie. The shooting started in August 3009 and the film is expected to hit the screens in 2010.


Singam- Vijay or Surya?
There were gossips and confusions about who is acting in Singam. Originally Vijay wanted to name his movie as Singam, but the name was already registered by Hari. So Vijay wanted to take up the name 'puli' (tiger ) but that name had also been taken up, so Vijay named his film as 'vettaikkaran'.

Heroine
Anushka shetty is the heroine of Singam. Anushka entered tamil film industry in the film 'run' but did not gain much popularity. Her recent film 'Vettaikaran' with vijay has put her in the limelight. It is widely questioned that will Anushka look good as Surya's pair as she is taller than most heroines but trailers show that they are a hot pair.

Story
The story of Singam has been kept very hushhush by the crew, but it is said to be a police story with Surya as a honest (also goodlooking!) police officer who fights the smuggling activities that go on around Rameshwaram. Surya swept people particularly youngsters off their feet with his looks, attitude and style as a police officer in 'kaaka kaaka'. Expectations soar high with his second film portraying a police officer. It is expected that Hari and Surya will do justice to people's expectations.

Direction
Hari is one of the director who gives 'satisfaction guarenteed' films in kollywood. His earlier police film 'Saami' was a box office hit. His films with Surya, 'Aaru' and 'Vel' were fairly successful. his latest film was Seval with Bharath which was fairly successful. He will not disappoint the fans with 'Singam'

Shooting
The shooting of the film which started last year had taken place in Tirunelveli, courtallam, ambasamudram, Tuticorin  and later in Hyderabad and Vishakapattinam.
Other notable persons in the film are Nasser and Prakashraj. Comedy is by Vivek.

Song leaked out?

The music for the film is by Devi Sri Prasad. In this film he remixes a song from yesteryears, which is Rajinikanth's 'pothuvaha en manasu Thangam'. The song 'Singam naan singam' was leaked out by a few websites, the assistant to the music director was first suspected but now the music director has approached the cyber crime divison to seek help.

VT Vijayan is the editor and K.Kathir is the art director. Priyan handles the camera of the film.
Tamil movie Singam is being produced under the banner of Studio Green and Big pictures.

Singam movie will mark the entry of Reliance Big picture in Tamil Cinema.

Asal - a round up

Asal
 The ultimate hero Ajith is almost ready with his next film Asal which people believe may hit the screens for Pongal. The film is directed by Saran, who has already paired up with Ajith in films like Amarkalam. The film is produced by Ramkumar and Prabhu brothers. Prabhu also plays an important role in the film.

Ajith
After Ajith's successful ventures like Billa and an average venture like Aegan, this film is going to be crucial in Ajith's career.  Ajith has always made magic when directed by Saran, so his fans are very optimistic. Ajith has personally commented that Asal's screenplay is engrossing, this from an artist who is known to weigh his words. Ajith is often found in functions with a big moustache that somehow enhances his charm and graces his age. Ajith also looks confident and optimistic about the film.

Villains
 It was a pleasant surprise for Tamil fans when it was said that the villain of Asal is Suresh of 'Panneer pushpangal' fame. Suresh gives an entry after a break of more than ten years, it is worthy to note that he was a chocolate hero in the 80s. Suresh has commented that the portrayal of his character by Saran has stunned him and is unique. There is another villain who is the good looking Sampath, who is having a successful run these days.

Heroines
It has created a wave of expectations ever since it was announced that the the heroines of the film is Sameera Reddy, the posh one and Bhavana, the homely one. Sameer has been a breath of fresh air to the industry and Bhavana has done some down to earth roles that were very adorable.
Sameera plays the character of an executive in the Indian consulate in France, the screen play has required her to mouth some French dialogues which she did with the expertise of a native, as she has learnt French ever since her school days. There was a rumour that the charismatic Sameera has stolen the limelight from Bhavana, but Bhavana has retaliated saying that her role is equally important and that she has two duets with the hero. Well, we will know only when he movie hit the screens.

Comedian
The comedian is Yugi sethu, who is a clever comedian, but has not done a very notable solo comedy yet. This film may be a table turner for him.

Simbu in Asal?
Simbu is a big fan of Ajith and they both share a good friendship. It was first told that Simbu may play a role in Asal, later it was made clear that Simbu does a dance performance in Asal which is going to be a highlight of the film.

Shooting
Asal shooting was going on in Chennai, where there was a set resembling the interiors of Ajith's own house and an office set in Saligramam. The crew also visited Malaysia and France where Sameera's many scenes with Ajith were shot. Shooting in Scotland last May was cancelled due to Swine flu scare. The crew is extra careful not to leak any scene but some shooting scenes were uploaded in you tube. But so far no serious leak of story or scenes has been reported.

The fans are very enthusiastic and are eagerly awaiting their Thala's new film.

Ajith and Shalini's daughter- Anoushka

Anushka in vettaikkaran

Anushka, was born in Mangalore.She did her schooling in Bangalore. She was studious as a child, passed her 10th standard with distinction.

She made her debut in the Telugu film 'Asthram', then went on to make Stalin, Asthram and Lakshyam. In Tamil she starred in 'Rendu'. She also made a great performance in 'Arundati' which was released in all South Indian languages.

She is performing in the much awaited 'Vettaikaran' movie opposite Vijay.

Shruti hasan -Film debut

Shruti has already performed as a child actress in the movie 'Hey ram'. She also has sung a couple of songs in films, 'Devar magan' and 'Avvai shanmugi'. She is a lead vocalist in the rock band,'The extramentals'.

She was signed in a film starring with Madhavan but the film faced problems and ended in shelves. She then was booked in the hindi film,'Luck"opposite Imran Khan. She created sensation by appearing in bikini in th film stills. In Tamil films she is expected to star against Ajith in a forthcoming movie. She created raves when she sang in 'Adiye Kolluthe' in the film 'Vaaranam Aayiram'.

She is booked as a music composer, in her father's film'Ennaipol oruvan'

Shruti - personal profile

Name: Shruti Hasan

Birthdate: January 28, 1986

Father: Kamal Hasan

Mother: Sarika

Born in Chennai, Shruti did her schooling in Lady Andal college.She then moved to Mumbai where she did a course in psychology at St.Andrews college ,Mumbai. She then joined the prestigious Musician's institute, Hollywood . She was living in LosAngeles where she decided to try her skills in acting and came back to India.

Vinnai thaandi varuvaya.