Its a film that totally depends on the Presentation Technicality. The first half hour run stands indicative of whats up for the remaining two hours show. The legend, Mani Ratnam has attempted to present a simple story in three different dimensions.
This type of experimentation was carried out earlier by Jeeva in his movie ’’12B’’ and was successfull too. But Mani stands out of the crowd in well-defined characterisation, presentation with his excellent core team comprising of A R Rahman, Sujatha, Ravi K Chandran, Vairamuthu and etc.,
Inba is a fearless, and passionate hooligan role played by Madhavan. For him, its relatively a new character. Both his outlook and and acting justifies the character.
Michael is also a fearless but matured and intellectual post gradute student who is well respected by his fellow students and the professors. Surya does this role. Whoever watched Surya in his first film ’’Nerukku Ner’’ would know how much this person has grown as an actor. He has expressed the depthness of the character in his every gesture. Infact, he dominates the screen. Actually Surya’s role is the one that unifies the other lead roles of the film.
Siddharth(Arjun) is a teenager, charming and loving person. He aspires to fly to US for his higher studies. Enjoys going to discos, and flirting girls.
Respectively, all of them are equally supported by strong female lead roles by Meera Jasmine, Isha, and Trisha. Among the female lot, Trisha is so cute and attractive. Not to forget the crucial villain role played by the veteran ace director Bharatiraja. Excellent dialogue delivery and his outlook gives a strong characterisation as a political leader. Since Bharathiraja is failing to deliver as a director in the recent past, he can hopefully take up villain/character roles which suits him well.
A R Rahman’s music a BIG plus to the film. ’’There was no plan of having any song sequence in this film. But I wanted to justify the work of Rahman’’ said Mani, in one interview to a reginal channel. Truly, the music is so sensational and amalgamates very finely with the situations.
Kudos to Sujatha for his remarkable intellectual dialogues scattered across the film like ’’love is all about X and Y chromosomes’’.
The significance of the movie is, it portrays naturalism everywhere. Strong characterisation. Picturaisation is absolutely special. Cinematographer Ravi K Chandran deserves an equal appreciation.
With all said, there are few things that reminds some of Mani’s earlier movies which are inevitable. Paricualarly the core scene where Madhavan shoots Surya on the Napier’s bridge reminds me about the Shalini meeting with an accident in ’’Alaipayuthe.’’ Though the situation and scenes are absolutely different, the way its captured and the graphics used are so natural and one can easily draw parallel between them.
Some care could have been taken in dialogue delivery of Meera Jasmine and Trisha in few places, since it was tough understanding their dialogues. The climax is not impressive and lacks punch.
Similarly, Surya refusing to take up higher studies in abroad university is same as ’’Udhaya’’ which was directed by Mani’s assistant. Even the scenes and situations are same.
Well, as a whole movie is fresh in all aspects. Such experimental movies should be appreciated whoever be the director.