Nootrenbadhu (180) (2011) - Tamil Movie Review

Cast:

• Siddharth as Ajay Kumar/Mano
• Priya Anand as Renuka Narayanan
• Nithya Menon as Vidya
• Mouli as S. V. S. Murthy
• Tanikella Bharani
• Geetha as Jayam
• M. S. Narayana
• Lakshmi Ramakrishnan
• Janaki Sabesh
• Misha Ghoshal
• Sricharan as Sambasivam
• Cees Van Toledo
• Xango Henry
• Manager Cheena

Directed by : Jayendra
Produced by : Kiran Reddy, Swaroop Reddy, C. Srikanth
Screenplay by : Subha, Jayendra
Story by : Jayendra
Written by : Subha, Jayendra
Singers : Tippu, Vidhu Prathap, Ramya S. Kapadia, K. S. Chitra, S. Sowmya, Unni Menon, Sharreth, Ravisankar, Karthik, Shweta Mohan, S Vidhyashankar, Master Aswath, P. Ajith, Master Sharath
Lyricist : Karky
Music by : Sharreth
Cinematography : Balasubramaniem
Editing by : Kishore Te.
Studio : SPI Cinemas, Aghal Films
Distributed by : Ayngaran International

There is something sweet about 180 or Nootrenbadhu, Jayendra's debut film as director.

It has sweet people, sweet songs and a sweet sacrifice, that gives it a youthful flavour. The film has been shot in some exotic locations with all its lead characters wearing designer wear and having expensive lifestyle, mostly in the second half.

Jayendra and his writer Subha seems to be influenced by Mani Ratnam style of gossamer romantic films of the 80's. However the story here is hard to swallow. Despite the director's best efforts though, the film drags along because of a rickety screenplay that leaves you with too many questions unanswered.

It is a languorous look at the agony and ecstasy of love. The film opens with hero doing rituals for a lost soul in Kasi and story is told in intermittent flashbacks. Ajay Kumar aka AJ (Siddharth) is a doctor in US who falls in love and marries Renu (Priya Anand) a happy-go-lucky girl. All seems hunky dory till, till fate intervenes and AJ is forced to leave his sweetheart and settle in Chennai for six months with a new name Manu. He stays with a Brahmin couple (Mouli and Geetha).

Manu's philosophy in life is to live for the day and not to worry about the future. Manu is a do-gooder and messiah of sorts as he starts a mess for his landlady and arranges sponsors for newspaper boys in the neighbourhood! A photo journalist Vidya (Nitya Menen) falls hook-line sinker for Manu after two meetings and soon confesses her love to him. But our hero is in no mood to listen and he decides to leave town. But once again fate intervenes and he is forced to take Vidya with him to US! Now can we expect a twist, as Renu is in the same city?

On the up-side, 180 first half is light and peppy and a major plus point is the pleasant music score of Sharreth. The rhythmic 'Rules Kidayaadhu' and the melodious 'Nee Korinal' are the pick of the album. The picturisation of Rules using a phantom Flex camera captures the magic of each moment in ultra-slow motion.

It has compelling cinematography by Balasubramaniem, especially the outdoor street scenes in San Francisco, rich look thanks to colourist Kevin Shaw and sound designer Tapas Nayak gives it that extra edge.

The entire film is held together by one-man Siddharth. He has given a matured sharp-edged performance bringing out the joys and hidden fears of the character. Nithya Menen glides through her role effortlessly conveying the jovial nature and anguish of a young woman who dared to love the wrong guy. Priya Anand has the more author backed role and wins our sympathies. The guy who plays hero's friend in US along with Mouli fit into their roles.

If the director and his writer had paid a little more attention to the hero AJ's characterisation, it would have worked big time. The film follows the path of love, misunderstandings, heartache and long drawn attempts to define and redefine love.

However 180 is totally different from the assembly line mass masalas that is flooding the screens. The film is worth a look for its superior packaging with a touch of class.

Urumi (2011) - Malayalam Movie Review

Cast and Crew:

Starring: Prithviraj, Prabhu Deva, Genelia D'Souza, Nithya Menon, Arya, Tabu, Vidya Balan, Jagathy Sreekumar
Directed by: Santosh Sivan
Produced by: Prithviraj, Santosh Sivan, Shaji Natesan
Written by: Shankar Ramakrishnan
Singers: K J Yesudas, Swetha, Manjari Babum, Job Kurian, Rita, Reshmi Sathish, Guru Kiran, Shaan Rahman, KR Renji,Prithviraj, Mili
Lyricist: Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri
Music by: Deepak Dev
Cinematography: Santosh Sivan
Editing by: A. Sreekar Prasad
Studio: August Cinema
Distributed by: August Films


Santosh Sivan’s Urumi is a miniature masterpiece of moods, emotions, anxieties ruled by a thirst for revenge. The film unfolds like a ballad and is a sweet and simple fairy tale. The 170 minutes film works to a large extent to its perfect casting, fantastic performances, soothing score and technical brilliance.

Santosh has made it like how a period drama should be made without too much talk about freedom struggle, no bombastic dialogues or playing to the gallery for heroism. His vision and concept gives this epic the feel of a Brave Heart or Gladiator.

It provides us a new insight into the hearts and minds of ancient heroes and shot in locations that reflect the period as everything looks fresh, green and clean and one can feel even the mist. Another major plus is that there are hardly any CG special effects that one would associate with a period war film.

Shankar Ramakrishnan’s script is simple and straightforward and keeps the narrative absorbing and inspiring. The film starts in the present day with a modern don’t care youth Krishna Das (Prithviraj) and his friend (Prabhu Deva) having a jolly good time. A big corporate offers Krishna Das a bomb for his ancestral property in Kerala.

On his arrival in Kerala to sign the papers, he learns the truth about his land and ancestors, which is told in a flashback. A brave warrior (Arya), wants to kill Vasco da Gama, the Viceroy of Portuguese Empire in India. But he is brutally killed by the invaders and his son Chirakkal Kelu Naynar (Prithviraj) is out to take revenge with a golden Urumi, that he makes with the ornaments of dead women and children who were burnt alive in a ship that was going to Mecca. It was set on fire and sunk under the instructions from Vasco Da Gama.

The film is spread between the second and third visit of Gama to India and chronicles a varied version of how Gama could have met a bloody death in 1524 AD. Kelu is supported by his childhood Muslim buddy Vavvali (Prabhu Deva). In the journey he meets warrior princess Ayesha (Genelia), who has her own axe to grind against the foreign invaders. Will they be able to kill Vasco Da Gama ?

The major highlight of the film is the performances of its lead actors. Prithviraj as Kelu Naynar is dashing. You cannot take your eyes of him, it’s a difficult role and he has come out with flying colours especially in the climax scene. Prabhu Deva is there in as many frames as Prithviraj, and is a real treat to watch. He does comedy and romance with ease and the chat song with Nithya is a scream.

However it goes without saying that this is Genelia’s show. She has shed her bubbly image for an out of the world controlled performance and her Kalaripayattu action scenes are thrilling. Nithya Menen looks pretty and is a scene stealer, while Jagathy is outstanding. Amol Gupte, Alex, Robin and others are lifelike. There is also walk in cameo appearances by Arya, Vidya Balan and Tabu.

Music of Deepak Dev enriches the film with Aaro nee aaro, Chimmi Chimmi and the theme music is haunting. A pat for Shankar Ramakrishnan for his intricately crafted script, super editing by Sreekar Prasad without any gimmicks and eye catching beautiful camera work by Sivan and his assistant Anjuli Shukla.

Santosh Sivan has come out with a story of valour with an admirable degree of craftsmanship and clarity. The producers Santosh, Prithviraj and Shaji Natesan can be proud of this epic.

Urumi is a fairy tale fantasy film that has a heart and technical artistry. Go for it.

Verdict- Very Good

Nithya Menon to star opposite Venkatesh

Nithya Menon, the new comer who sizzled in the recently released ‘Ala Modalaindi,’ has been selected for the female lead role opposite Victory Venkatesh for the film that will be directed by Trivikram Srinivas. A couple of day ago, it was reported that Ileana D’ Cruz was likely to pair with Victory Venkatesh for the film. But the latest news is that filmmakers have finalised Nitya Menon for the role.

Nitya Menon, who is now flying high on the success of her debut ‘Ala Modalaindi’, has already bagged some plum offers. And the film is with a big star like Venkatesh is certainly a big offer to upcoming star like her.

DVV Danayya is producing Venkatesh-Trivikram’s film under Universal Media Banner.