Monday, October 01, 2007

Reel Review - Malaikottai


It's not uncommon for movies ending up as big disappointments when they actually hit the screens after all the extra ordinary
pre-release hype. Malaikottai unfortunately falls in that category.After all the pre-release storm created, the movie doesn't even send down a fresh breeze.

Its high time Vishal tries to free himself from the stereotype role of an angry youth who call smash dozens of bad guys all
the time. Its getting repetitive and this looks like a messy masala inspired from Sandakozhi,Thimiru and Thamarabharani.The way the opening introduction song for Vishal (Anbu) begins, followed by the fight - one gets a hint how the rest of the
logic (if any) in the movie will be. The opening fight sequence has been beautifully shot and Vishal as usual excels in all the fight and dance sequences.

He ends up in Trichy for a month just to sign at the police station as ordered by the jugde in Pattukottai, after he bashes up villians by the dozens in the opening scene. As usual the hero falls in love with the leading lady (Priyamani as Malar) at the first sight. Urvashi is a constable and is the ex-lover of Ashish Vidyarthi who is an inspector and also happens to be Vishal's uncle. Both work in the same station where Vishal goes in to sign everyday. The scenes involving their love life in flash back is a saving grace. Vishal's comedy in the first half doesn't cut too much ice and especially his voice modulation is simply out of sync. Vishal calling Urvashi his sitti is even more ridiculous.

Priyamani with all the overdone makeup and short skirts in the song sequences is a big let down, especially after what one has seen of her in Parutheeveeran, where she literally lived and died the role of Muthzhalagu.

The songs and background music, especially during fight sequences and also when villains are on screen, its a test for your ear drums. Vishal bashes up the villian's (played by Kannada actor Devaraj) brother while he tries to molest Priyamani and sends him to hosptial almost dead, who later he kills himself disgusted with his ugly face. Now its time for the villian to show his might and then the war of wits between the hero and the villian begins.

As is the thumb rule in standard tamil action flicks, it starts raining when the hero meets the primary villian in the climax, and in the end heroism triumphs over the evil. Also, you won't fail to see the half a dozen SUV's whizzing past thecamera everytime the villain is out of his den which has also become a standard feature in tamil movies.

Some puzzling thougths you may have in the end !!!One wonders how could Priyamani think of having a romantic song, when just in the previous scenes they have been threatened
with dire consequences by the villains?What a social service by Vishal - He ends up staying in Trichy to protect Priyamani and one wonders if he was doing anything else - studying, working?
Its hard to believe that this the same directory (Boopathy Pandian) who gave nice musical comedy in Thiruvilaiyaadal Arambam.
Malaikottai, verum ottai!!! Carrying couple of saridons with you is a better option, not viewing is a wiser option.

Turn Ons: O Baby, Ae aatha aathorama (remixed) songs (Mani Sharma) are really nice , fights by Kanal Kannan
Turn Offs: (Too many)Noisy background music, Vishal's punch dialogue similiar to the one by Vikram in Saamy (cant even come close to the original version), Vishal's comedy scenes