WANTED (2009) Movie Review

Puri Jagannath made Pokiri, first a telugu film starting Mahesh Babu and Illeana that became history back in 2006. A year later, dance master Prabhu Deva remade the film in Tamil by the same name with Vijay and Asin. The differences between both the Telugu and Tamil versions were minimal (save for some censorship differences and the different comedy tracks and casting).

Now we have WANTED. Again directed by Prabhu Deva retaining pretty much the majority of the crew from the tamil version. The likes of VIJAYAN for stunts, and top cameraman, NIRAV SHAH (along with S.SRIRAM). This time we have Salman Khan (after a plateful of previous flops) and Ayesha Takia donning the main roles. Mahesh Manjarekar redoes Mukesh Tiwari's lust cop and Govind Nameo does Napoleon's Honest Raj with a sarcastic remarks.

But the man of the match is clearly the latest National Award winner, Prakash Raj.

Yes you read it right, Prakash Raj. Consider this his comeback

to Hindi cinema after that dud, SHART back in 2003(coincidently done by Puri Jagannath) and since then, he has dubbed himself in Hindi too (Also started in big hit multi-star film, KHAKHEE but didn't dub himself in 2004.)

The presentation and story thankfully is not crudely presented like the Tamil version was and bad casting. We really didn't need Vijay to do a mentalkanth dance and body language style while trying to break the fourth wall as well as slapstick with Vadivelu. That's what really made the Tamil version really crappy as if Vijay ghost directed the film.

By the way, Deva sticks to the ACTUAL TELUGU script for the majority while

retaining the Tamil bits. Brahmanadam's comedy track in Telugu is mostly redone (beggars not included) here while Vadivelu's encounter with the lust cop over the phone is kept. In fact, I could easily call this most entertaining. You see Salman and Mahesh Babu were excellent and suited to the gang role like a glove while Vijay just looked like a joker and clearly the outcome was pure comedy. Watch out for their dialogue delivery. But their commitment punch dialogue still retains overall.

Mani Sharma gave some decent music for the original but because Vijay interviened in Tamil, only Dola Dola and Jagadame (ironically the pick of the telugu version, got short lived as a tamil theme track), and Apple item song were reused while we got crud like Pokkiri pongal, Mambazham naa, and that Vasantha Mullai remix. Here, Salman drags in PARTNER hit duo, Sajid & Wajid Khan to whip out the soundtrack. The songs were better, but weren't great. For a film like this, it's strictly okay. Jalwa, Love Me and Dil Leke were my picks. The Hindi soundtrack did a decent job, if not mindblowing.

Deva has done a decent job and this is strictly for the mass and Salman fans and for those who want to chill. In fact, consider this a blessed remake than that crap Ghajini with Aamir "overrated" Khan. Aamir doesn't know that between building a body that looks awkward on him + the old age shows in his chemistry with Asin = Horrible remake. Surya's original was awesome. Here it's the complete opposite. By opposite, I mean ABOVE THE TAMIL version.

Rating: ***.5

Unnai Pol Oruvan (2009) Movie Review

Statuary Warning: Don't go comparing A WEDNESDAY with this film even if you've seen it, byhearted it,etc. There are many changes in UPO besides nativity to suit to the Tamil audiences. So if your going to bash A WEDNESDAY, well then it's useless. Now onto the review.

First off, I want to thank Mr. KAMAL HAASAN for setting up a new TREND in the industry: A Big-Star film where the script/content is king and didn't need to prove that you need MASS MASALA or cliches to make big star films work. Another big thanks is that after a long time (Given that I've seen his movies through subtitled DVDs) is MOHAN LAL, who has acted excellently after a long time. After his last couple of duds, we finally get to see LAL

the performer again.

No need to discuss the film's story itself as I don't want to give anything away (neither to those who have seen A WEDNESDAY!)

But I must confess that the dialogues (Debutant, Ee.Ra. Murugan for the tamil version) were top notch and made the film even better than wednesday. Watch out for the political satire between LAL and veteran LAKSHMI. There is a smudge of English, but given the common man backdrop, it's reasonable. Hope to see him in future Kamal films because this man has penchant for writing after the late Sujatha.

The other actors, Abhiyum Naanum's GANESH VENKATRAM (Rough cop, Arif Khan), ANUJA IYER (TV Reporter), and a few familiar faces from Kamal's past works (R.S SHIVAJI, duty officer & longtime favorite, SANTHANA BHARATHI as Karamchand)have done well for their limited screentime. Even the music by Haasan's daughter, Shruti K. Haasan is used efficient and doesn't overlap with the dialogues as most cliched Tamil movies have. The title track and Allah Jaane appear with the latter being the pick of the lot.

But one of the biggest highlights of this version was the climax outburst by HAASAN. No way does NASEER ever compare to this scene. Especially a certain dialogue in that scene relates to what happened recently to HAASAN.Very noteworthy!

One last note, big thanks to debut director CHAKRI TOLETI and Camera MANOJ SONI for making this remake top notch.

Unnaipol Oruvan is a must watch, even if you've seen WEDNESDAY, erase it and see it's sheer brilliance added by HAASAN, the cast and crew.

Rating: ****.5

Why Rajinikanth is Mental?

(From Kollywood-today)

Superstar Rajnikanth has been making high waves throughout the World and that’s the magic of his charisma. A great man who is worshipped and respected by many, an entity being an inspiration for zillions in the World regarded as ‘Mental’. How dare do the magazine happen to be so atrocious in commenting on him. Not alone us, here we have one of the leading journalists who earlier worked in Junior Vikatan. Over here, he brings about his working experience and how the scenario has changed today.

Mayavarthan in his blog has printed the following the statements…..

“There were times when I worked there in the magazine of Junior Vikatan when I respected it with all my soul. My insatiable passion for journalism was sprouted over there, since I could learn the best ethics. The officials working there kept it a point that any individual, be it a big tycoon or a small time petty shop owner, none must be hurt with personal intentions. But today, I feel ashamed that the officials have turned unsaturated in their works. I have been observing the magazine for past few days and they have been personally attacking the name of Rajnikanth.

Earlier, one of worst lame named Kavitha had penned an article that carried these lines, “I Think (Rajnikanth) is still mental… Let me request him to keep his holes shut..” It was really a great shock for me to read that article.. Let him be a good or bad person, none has the rights of insulting an individual with such harsh and filthy words. But the girl is so intelligent, since she has stated these lines in English with the entire article in Tamil. Of course, she has thank herself for few wouldn’t have understood it. If she had published the same lines in Tamil, then things would have been different for her.

Immediately after reading this article, I had mailed them stating that they published such kind of stories only hear it from them that I am using abusive words. If so, is it right what they have done?.

In the recent article, Junior Vikatan had a series of questions for Rajnikanth. One among them stated “Rajnikanth have you been steady in any of the statements?” Earlier, you opposed Jayalalitha and then you felicitated her as ‘Dhairya Lakshmi’ (Courageous God). I wanna ask the reporters who penned this question that whether they are sure about they have asked.

Yes, Rajnikanth opposed Jayalalitha for her improper works as a chief minister and then when she made up for it committing good deeds like Rain Harvesting Systems, Banning piracy of Tamil movies and many more, he came up with the statement that its great for a woman to do such bold things alone.

I am asking you people, is it anything wrong what he has said????

Junior Vikatan has lost all its brand making such silly stories and I regret for being a part of the journal….

Another person in his blog has stated that Ananda Vikatan has bee earning revenue using the name of Rajnikanth. It would either singing appraisals of him or by degrading him.

Cho Ramasamy has stated that Rajnikanth has been clear in his statement during his speech. The blunder he committed was that he wrongly used the word ‘Kick’…. He actually meant that those the problem creators must be kicked and not the innocent people over there.

Sathya Narayananan, P.A. to Rajnikanth has stated if they to had to provoke the fans of Rajnikanth against the journal, then things would have been completely different. But Rajni sir doesn’t like it.

If you are more interested to catch up with the exact words put forth by the blog writers, you can check out at the related blogs.

http://www.kollywoodtoday.com/news/why-rajnikanth-is-mental/