This weekend I could get some time to watch 2 tamil movies - those which friends have, a long time, asked me to see. They know that I'm not a movie buff, would read/indulge in music than watch a movie. So I selected these 2 movies - ஆட்டோகிராப் (Autograph) by Cheran and ஆயிரத்தில் ஒருவன் (One among a thousand) by Selvaraghavan for this weekend. For the actual movie stories, better explanations are available in the net (start with the neutral wikipedia and then move on to other reviews)
(1) First about Autograph.
A wonderful movie I saw after another Tamil movie கல்லூரி I saw and enjoyed a few months ago. Cheran is a fine actor without the பந்தா of a movie star but fits into the role like any other common man. Nor does he try to imitate other stars like MGR, Sivaji, Rajni or Kamal which other actors do. This, in itself, makes us interested in the natural story. A different storyline with a thought every person thinks during his time of wedding - Getting old friends to attend it. Though, normally we usually stop with sending invites, calling in phone etc. Cheran goes to the extent of visiting them in person to different places to invite them. His experiences in school where he experienced his first 'love' without realising it via Kamala, the second phase in college where he loves but doesn't have the mettle to convert it into marriage and gruesome acts by fate via Lathika, the third phase, at work, where the girl just chooses to have a different path closer to her heart than a wedded life via Divya - each one of these parts are interesting to watch without any boring scene. Also, songs are apt to the situation. I also liked a few parts not too easy to forget - Kamala's affection and her thrill/anxiety when Senthil visits her home, Lathika in her widowhood crying out her heart - in a mirabai like state, Divya helping senthil during the 2 days of ad campaign when her mother had passed away and hiding it from others (Logic here is doubtful or i might not have watched the scenes properly - did she perform the cremation on the day mother had passed away or she hid it for 2 days without others noticing it?) but whatever it showed to what extent a true friend can act selflessly.
I loved all actors in this movie and no one looked like overacting their part - the biggest asset to a movie after the story line, actors just acting to the role and not like 'stars'.
I would recommend this movie to others anytime :-)
(2) Ayirathil Oruvan by Selvaraghavan
After movies like Kadhal Konden, 7G rainbow colony - yet another attempt by Selva on a subject line others haven't ventured to. This time with history of cholas/pandyas rivalry.
Positive aspects - Movie where you dont feel bored in any scene or would want to doze off for a moment. Visually stunning and audio effects. I liked the part especially when Lord Nataraja's shadow actually shows the path among the quicksand pools. Underlying meaning - life is full of quicksand to pull you under maya, it's Lord Shiva's grace to lift/raise you to the path to reach Godhead. With the shiva mantra in the background, it was apt to feel the 'effect'. a lot of things looked natural - the clash between 2 educated/'urban modern' ladies and what a slumguy thinks about them and vice-versa and the first half was good to watch.
Negative aspects - Second half seemed more like a rush through. Logic, also at several places, seem to fall behind. When the army general could pick up a cellphone to alert the govt and army after receiving his message from Anita - all that GPS stuff and subsequent arrival of troops. Couldn't it be done earlier at every stage to ensure and prepare for safety of dying people?. Even in deserts, forests and seas, modern day GPS is very powerful. Second, portrayal of the Cholas as though they are tribes? :-) A proper research would've shown that the Cholas were at the peak in Culture and Arts. Even if you are cut-off from the world you still could maintain the current level of culture and arts and have refined people? Also the gladiator-like fights in the arena, I'm not aware if the Cholas really had a practice like that and enjoyed them as well. They engaged in fine sword fights and didn't kill innocents in arenas for public fun. Those sections were plain 'repulsive'. And then the black-magic protection which suddenly leaves and make the community exposed? A lot of things like this you'll realise after watching the movie (not during it as I said before - it was visually stunning and audibly engaging). Except for the MGR song and the song sung by the Chola king, others were not pleasing to me. So no comments about them.
On the whole you can watch it once, if you like Selva's movies.
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