From ‘Vikram’ to ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, it was a stellar year for Tamil cinema Photo Credit: Collage by Albert Francis J
mudhal ni mudivam ni
Pray, what would we give to go back to simpler times – listening to music at Music World, shopping at Spencer Plaza or strolling the clean Marina Beach? What would we give to go back to the nineties in Madras? with mudhal ni mudivam ni , mnmn, Darbuka Shiva Got us there Packed with an amazing assortment of characters including Vinoth, Rekha and Sugar and an endearing story of love and hope, MNMN gave us a chance to relive the nineties.
ever loyal
is only fair to a film critic if the title of a film contains the word ‘ matrimonial‘ in this. let’s admit it, we’re tired of it pesky businessman (Oh poor farmer) subcastes that turn out to be the work of opportunists. Thank God, ever loyal Melodrama is avoided and M Manikandan wants your sympathy, not your tears. He shows that being a farmer is more of a state than anything. His protagonist is eighty-year-old Mayandi who, as the title indicates, is the ‘last farmer’. Or rather, the “last” among the generation that practices this state. ever loyal It is not about victory but about the battles that are quietly won.
A still from ‘Kadaisi Vivasayi’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
tension
remove the half-baked romance and slight slackness in the second half, and tension Could be one of the best ‘Centered’ dramas of 2022, An impressive debut from a filmmaker (Tameez who acted in Jai Bheem) who is not sure of just what he is going to tell but how. It also helps that we get an insider’s view of the system through Tamizh, a former police officer. This is easily the best film Vikram Prabhu has been a part of since his debut Kumki. And he’s great here. tension There’s a movie you wish was released in theatres.
Vikram
Some of us hardcore Lotus fans felt cheated seeing this Vikramfirst time. It was a long wait of six years to see and celebrate the man on screen. And Kamal isn’t even in the first half! Yes, yes, he gets a flamboyant entry into the now-dreaded interval block. But the disappointment remained there. since, Vikram Watched it five times now. That should explain how we got sucked in Lokesh Cinematic Universe, Hail Agent Tina!
Kamal Haasan and Lokesh Kanagaraj on the sets of ‘Vikram’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Gargi
In addition to many great performances, it’s a movie that gives you perspective, If the system or society judges you, how do you react? How do you react if the media portrays you in a certain way? If your life was turned upside down in one day, how would you cope? Sai Pallavi puts her best foot forward in this Gautam Ramachandran – Director It doesn’t rush things, but still acts like a whodunit; That last half hour can leave you in shock. There are some great performances to watch, especially Kali Venkat who plays a lawyer.
Iravin Nijhal
He is a man on the run, and when he looks back at his life, he realizes how many mistakes he has made. A story like this could have developed any number of ways – but believe Parthiban To make it a labor of love. What could have been considered a nightmare for many filmmakers became a challenge that Parthiban successfully overcame; Thus, it resulted in the making of a single-shot film in a non-linear narrative. just for the madness of its creator and his passion for the medium, Iravin Nijhal worth checking,
Thiruchithrambalam
Dhanush can play a variety of characters on screen and be super confident, but put him in a quintessential Chennai middle-class family setup, and he blends in effortlessly. Here, he is Pazam, an innocent boy who has some complicated relationships: with his father (Prakash Raj), with his best friend (Nithya Menen), and with many others. The director has humour, songs and some good scenes of life Mithun Jawahar’s family drama that reminds you of the many facets that Tamil cinema is truly spot on,
Natchathiram Nagargiraadhu
there are a lot of things that you connect with Pa Ranjit with. A didactic filmmaker is not one. His sixth characteristic comes across as ‘preachy’ and borderline condescending. Leave aside its politics, there is a lot going in its favor. This is Ranjith’s best and purest film ever, Not only what it is about but also what it represents. Be it the visual scope or the way Ranjith uses Tenma’s music, Natchathiram Nagargiraadhu A bold experiment that disrupts our collective conscience and consciousness. You either love it or hate it. There is no middle ground.
A scene from ‘Natchathiram Nagaragirathu’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
vendhu tanidhathu kadu
Gautam Menon‘s films have largely been in the romance or gangster space, which is why its first look has come out. vendhu tanidhathu kadu (VTK) With the lead star Simbu looking completely disheveled, it came as a big shocker. Like the train that Simbu takes – with AR Rahman’s Humble marakuma nenjam‘ playing in the background – This film is also a journey, which is likely to continue In its next installment.
Ponniyin Selvan: 1
Mani Ratnam has never made the same film twice, Although all his films are of a special kind. Has there ever been a filmmaker who has created a body of work that is so vast and so diverse, exploring only human relationships? We doubt it. as in a historical novel Ponniyin Selvan – It’s straight up his alley – Mani Ratnam only cares about personal mobility. The personal, as they say, is political. That interval sequence with Adita Karikalan and Nandini, and that operatic score by AR Rahman, is the pinnacle of Mani Ratnam cinema.