RAAVANAN

I know it is too late now, to write a review for this movie. Actually, even before seeing the movie on the second day of its release, I had planned to write one. But then, after watching it, I was in a dilemma on how to go about it. One head - 2 Minds! Here we go.
Why I liked this movie?
Music (read songs) of any film creates an expectation for the film when it will be released. Good the music, more the expectation. Raavanan was one of them, according to me. An ARR-Mani combo is always special (well, I didn’t quite like Guru but for a couple of songs) and it was proved one more time. I don’t know how many liked it, I did. Raavanan had good songs. I’m not bothered if they’re a hit or not.
The Acting - This film has some of the top names - Vikram, Ash, Prithvi, Prabhu and Karthik - and all these have done justice to their roles. Though the first 3 have a meaty role, the last two don’t run out of your focus for almost the whole of the film. Vikram has done a great job, to say the least. You can watch the movie once, atleast for him. No two thoughts on that. Ash is beautiful, said to have taken some risks - twice and performs her role quite well. Prithvi has the unflinching attitude written all over his face. He has obeyed Mani sincerely! Prabhu and Karthik are significant and they get their timings right.

Cinematography - Awesome! Manikandan and Santhosh Sivan have given their best. There are some beautiful shots throughout the film. I’d be unhappy if they don’t get nominated for some of the top honours.

A R Rahman - Amazing BGM. This movie is an example to say why he’s got so many fans countrywide and even worldwide. Usure Poguthey is the one that draws you into mesmerism. I liked Veera, but was disappointed to see that as the title song. (I expected it to be something like a theme song.) The short song at the end is good too, but I guess it’s not in the Audio.

Editing - Perfect! Big B might have his own views about the editing in the hindi version(which I haven’t seen). But, I couldn’t find any faults in the Tamil. Kudos to Sreekar Prasad!

Art - Though the entire film (almost) happens in natural locations, the climax-fight on the hanging bridge stands apart! Try to watch it and you will become anxious about how it was done!

Mani Ratnam - Not for the movie, but for having chosen his personnel well!
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Why I hate this movie?
Mani Ratnam - The story is nothing new (even for a Non-Hindu). Haven’t we watched movies where the heroine is whisked away by the hero, only to be rescued later (by a so-called second hero!)? The screenplay is not as great as you expect in a Maniratnam movie.Even if the director wants to say that this is not (his version of) Ramayana, you can’t stop equating it to the epic! I bet he did it on purpose. Let me share some of those that I felt as very much straight:

> The main plot of the story - Revenge for cruelty done to Raavana’s sister (Soorpanakha/ Priyamani) and that Raavana falls in love with Sita - needs no special explanation.
> Vikram with Prabhu (the bulky) and Munna (the literate) easily equate to Raavana with Kumbakarna and Vibheeshana.
> That Karthik in his introduction as the “Forest Guard” jumps from tree to tree notwithstanding, Prithvi identifies him by his name and deeds. In the Ramayana, as Ram and Lakshman enter the forest in search of Sita, ‘Hanuman’ meets them in disguise but gets identified by Ram!
> As Prithvi and his team begin their search, they meet the injured boatman tied to a tree who tells them to go east! Ramayana - Jatayu, the eagle, narrates the abduction of Sita and tells Ram & Lakshman to proceed south!
> During his sister’s marriage, Vikram is shot by Prithvi from behind a group of dancers, when the former has no idea about the latter’s entry! Ringing bells?? Refer Vali’s death in Ramayana!
> Maniratnam’s Hanuman (Karthik) offers to go and find Ash and when he does meet her, he introduces himself as coming from Prithvi’s camp and what more - says Prithvi did give him something to show as an identity! When Karthik reaches Prithvi after the meet with Ash, what does he say first? - “I have seen her!” Why Mani sir? Whose story it is?
> When Karthik gets caught to Vikram’s men, Vikram wants to kill him but his younger brother changes his mind and thus saves Karthik. In Ramayana, Hanuman gets caught and when Ravana decides to kill him, is advised by Vibheeshana not to do so and thus saves Hanuman.
> Prithvi is shown in deep worry seeing the dress worn by Ash (which he has it hung in his tent). In Ramayana, Ram falls into grief after seeing the jewels of Sita. (Not exactly, but precisely so!)
Almost all the characters in the movie equated to characters in the Ramayana except - who? Ram and Ravana! Though Vikram has been portrayed as a most wanted, the grey shades on Prithvi… err… Ram is not justified. (The grey shades of Prithvi are quite obvious - when he tortures the already injured Priyamani’s husband, killing of Vikram’s brother when he comes for a peace talk etc.)
Maybe only for this reason, Maniratnam could claim the movie as not a version of the Ramayana! But, when you have every other thing pointed to the epic, it creates a feeling among certain sections of the audience that this is how Ramayana would have happened and they may begin to think that Ram does have those negative shades in him and Ravana as a great man who did not want to hurt Sita! But then, how many know that Ravana stayed away from Sita fearing death (by a curse!)? As a filmmaker, there are some responsibilities than misguiding people. Glorifying Ravana by demeaning Ram is totally unwarranted and unjustified!

Finally, this movie is technically good, but watch it just as a film without comparing it to Ramayana! Of course, better than Sura!

Thanks for reading :-)