DASAVATHAARAM - My First Movie Review
Rocking, glitzy, fabulous, great, brilliant, neat, knowledgeable, kingly, astounding, victorious… Well, just ten one-word praises will only mean injustice to the ten-in-one person!
Dasavathaaram – the most expected Tamil movie of the year (I guess Kuchelan will not have a hype tantamount to Sivaji!) was released last Friday in theatres across the globe – and why not for a global hero! Ever since the project was announced there has been a hype and hoopla surrounding it. And undoubtedly, Kamal has lived upto the expectations. But his 11th avatar as that of story-writer and screenplay would evoke a mixed response. I was of the fear that his thoughts (that are mostly one step higher than a normal story-teller) would dominate the proceedings. But then, he has given space to commercial aspects as well, of which Ravikumar is a master!
The film starts off in the 12th century with the then chola king – Kulothunga cholan II gets frenzied with saivism and dictating his people to follow suit. One man – Rangarajan Nambi, opposes him but in the process loses his life along with the Govindarajar statue. That was history. The film then moves to the 21st century to the month of December, 2004, days before the Tsunami, where Govind, one of the scientists (in the US) is involved in the creation of a bio-weapon. Soon, the bad guys are after that. The action shifts to Chidambaram as the bio-weapon reaches there. Govind and Fletcher (an ex-CIA) lock horns in their look-out for the weapon. The RAW comes to know of this and an officer Balram Naidu starts to chase the two. These are the 3 main characters that hog the limelight. The remaining 6 characters are only fillers who help in the completion of the Dasavatharam!
The make-up has been exceptional in almost all the characters except for the lanky Kalifullah – where it’s slightly overdone. Anyways, Kamal has shone in all of them. I liked those of Bush and Krishnaveni! [This film cannot be compared to Michael Madana Kamarajan because the 4 were siblings, here it is not so!] Asin as Andal is cute and plays her role well. [I felt she looked more iyengarish than Nayanthara in YNM.] Mallika Sherawat and M.S. Bhaskar do justice to their roles.
Coming to talk of the screenplay, it was fast paced. Thankfully there was no duet between Kamal and Asin. It was predictable of Kamal to joke in a very serious situation – but it doesn’t look too odd! The bullet taking away with it the Cancer is something that makes you say – “Oh God!!” but that can be put aside as it is quoted a miracle! [What cannot happen in the miracle-filled world of cinema? Maybe, they didn’t want to kill ‘another’ Kamal] There are few other loopholes too. (For eg: Avatar Singh, the singer, gets ill in the Chennai Airport, but is treated in a hospital near Chidambaram!) But then, those don’t seem as too much when you keep watching Kamal! As a dialogue writer, he has shown (and shone) his penchant for punning – something from the school of Crazy Mohan! And no one will forget his last line in the narration about his belief on God’s existence! Moreover, the dubbing he has done to the 10 characters shows his commitment! Hail Kamal!!
Music – It is better not reviewed. Only four songs appear in the film (leaving out the Ulaga nayakane song which was there only for Ravikumar to show up his face!). Mukundha and Kallai mattum were listenable. I wonder why Kamal wanted to bring in Himesh when there’re are better people here. What was the point in Hariharan showing his singing skills in such a (situational) song? On the other side, Devisri Prasad has done well with the Background score. In the Mukundha song, which I presume as written by the great Vaali, he could’ve described all the 10 avatars of Vishnu. But then, when he tells about Koorma using the lyrics – “Koormamagha Mannil Thondri Boomi Thaanai Meettai” I guess he is wrong – factually. To my knowledge, it was Varaha avatar that saved the world and Koormavatar was taken - while the Devas and Asuras were churning the ocean – to prevent the mount from submerging!
Ravivarman’s camera needs a special mention. The 12th century scenes were picturised excellently! There were many other examples. However, the much-hyped Tsunami scenes were a let-down. That didn’t make any eye-brows rise!
Overall, it’s a nice film with all ingredients – well proportioned and would make you enjoy throughout. But DO NOT EXPECT SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY other than Kamal and his avatars! But please do watch the movie in the theatres!
Dasavathaaram – the most expected Tamil movie of the year (I guess Kuchelan will not have a hype tantamount to Sivaji!) was released last Friday in theatres across the globe – and why not for a global hero! Ever since the project was announced there has been a hype and hoopla surrounding it. And undoubtedly, Kamal has lived upto the expectations. But his 11th avatar as that of story-writer and screenplay would evoke a mixed response. I was of the fear that his thoughts (that are mostly one step higher than a normal story-teller) would dominate the proceedings. But then, he has given space to commercial aspects as well, of which Ravikumar is a master!
The film starts off in the 12th century with the then chola king – Kulothunga cholan II gets frenzied with saivism and dictating his people to follow suit. One man – Rangarajan Nambi, opposes him but in the process loses his life along with the Govindarajar statue. That was history. The film then moves to the 21st century to the month of December, 2004, days before the Tsunami, where Govind, one of the scientists (in the US) is involved in the creation of a bio-weapon. Soon, the bad guys are after that. The action shifts to Chidambaram as the bio-weapon reaches there. Govind and Fletcher (an ex-CIA) lock horns in their look-out for the weapon. The RAW comes to know of this and an officer Balram Naidu starts to chase the two. These are the 3 main characters that hog the limelight. The remaining 6 characters are only fillers who help in the completion of the Dasavatharam!
The make-up has been exceptional in almost all the characters except for the lanky Kalifullah – where it’s slightly overdone. Anyways, Kamal has shone in all of them. I liked those of Bush and Krishnaveni! [This film cannot be compared to Michael Madana Kamarajan because the 4 were siblings, here it is not so!] Asin as Andal is cute and plays her role well. [I felt she looked more iyengarish than Nayanthara in YNM.] Mallika Sherawat and M.S. Bhaskar do justice to their roles.
Coming to talk of the screenplay, it was fast paced. Thankfully there was no duet between Kamal and Asin. It was predictable of Kamal to joke in a very serious situation – but it doesn’t look too odd! The bullet taking away with it the Cancer is something that makes you say – “Oh God!!” but that can be put aside as it is quoted a miracle! [What cannot happen in the miracle-filled world of cinema? Maybe, they didn’t want to kill ‘another’ Kamal] There are few other loopholes too. (For eg: Avatar Singh, the singer, gets ill in the Chennai Airport, but is treated in a hospital near Chidambaram!) But then, those don’t seem as too much when you keep watching Kamal! As a dialogue writer, he has shown (and shone) his penchant for punning – something from the school of Crazy Mohan! And no one will forget his last line in the narration about his belief on God’s existence! Moreover, the dubbing he has done to the 10 characters shows his commitment! Hail Kamal!!
Music – It is better not reviewed. Only four songs appear in the film (leaving out the Ulaga nayakane song which was there only for Ravikumar to show up his face!). Mukundha and Kallai mattum were listenable. I wonder why Kamal wanted to bring in Himesh when there’re are better people here. What was the point in Hariharan showing his singing skills in such a (situational) song? On the other side, Devisri Prasad has done well with the Background score. In the Mukundha song, which I presume as written by the great Vaali, he could’ve described all the 10 avatars of Vishnu. But then, when he tells about Koorma using the lyrics – “Koormamagha Mannil Thondri Boomi Thaanai Meettai” I guess he is wrong – factually. To my knowledge, it was Varaha avatar that saved the world and Koormavatar was taken - while the Devas and Asuras were churning the ocean – to prevent the mount from submerging!
Ravivarman’s camera needs a special mention. The 12th century scenes were picturised excellently! There were many other examples. However, the much-hyped Tsunami scenes were a let-down. That didn’t make any eye-brows rise!
Overall, it’s a nice film with all ingredients – well proportioned and would make you enjoy throughout. But DO NOT EXPECT SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY other than Kamal and his avatars! But please do watch the movie in the theatres!
posted by Mukunth @ 11:56 AM
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