Banner: Seventh Channel Production
Cast: Kamal Haasan, Jyothika, Kamalini Mukherjee, Prakash Raj, ’Daniel’ Balaji
Direction: Gowtham Menon
Production: Manickam Narayanan
Music: Harris Jayaraj
Cinematography:Ravi Varman
FOREWORD:
I am not going into the story of this movie because its been well explained and illustrated in various reviews around the world wide web.I am not going to be talking about Kaakha Kaakha because I am sick of reading how KK was refreshing and VV is not..
VV IN MY VIEW:
VV is a slick movie that’s been shot with a lot of class and style....It chronicles the life of as cop who tracks down a couple of psychopaths, and how it crosses and affects his personal life..Though the story itself is quite simple, the way it has been executed, needs to be appreciated..
Right from the opening sequence (Many say its the best intro for Kamal in a long time, but I personally feel Kamal’s Jallikattu entry in Virumaandi was way better) Gowtham sets the tone...Kamal is portrayed as a super-cop with brawns and brains, one who avenges his loved one’s death with a quick bullet to the temple, rather than a long winded dialogue..Since the protagonist is portrayed as one with so much power, the antagonists need to be shown with equal might to keep the interest alive..So Gowtham gets himself a couple of twisted, blood thirsty, and probably bisexual baddies, The resulting cat and mouse game sets the plot..
The movie ticks because the story never hams at any juncture...First its Rani’s death, cut to Kamal’s flashback, cut to New york and the crime investigation, cut to the ’Urayadal’’s with Jothika and finally cuts back to chennai leading upto a good finish..
Kamal as DCP Raghavan was excellent (So what else is new eh??)..His comic timing is good as always, I thought he performed the stunt sequences exceptionally well..One thing I was disappointed with was probably his dialogue delivery in some sequences..The dragging way in which he delivered some dialogues, especially when he was explaining his views on the case was a bit repetitive..Having said that I dont see any other actor in the Industry right now, who could have given a better performance than Kamal.I liked the scene in which he grieves Kamalinee’s death in the hospital and the the closing sequences where he jabs the villains about their homosexual tendencies.His screen presence is the biggest plus for this movie and the only reason why its taken such a huge opening.
Prakash Raj does a neat job as Kamal’s mentor..The way he breaks down at the sight of his daughter’s body is the highlight of his cameo..
Jyothika does a good job as well, playing the role of a girl whose life is at cross roads..Some reviews said that there was a lack of onscreen chemistry between Kamal and Jyothika...Buts thats not what the story demands does it?You cant expect a widower and a girl who has just broken out of a relationship to be blushing at the sight of each other....
Baddies in this movie , leave a mark..Maybe overdone in some scenes, but hey , they are pyschopaths, they have their license...
Music by Harris Jeyaraj is top notch..Karka Karka, Manjal Veyil, Uyirile, Paartha Mudhal, 4 good numbers, great job..re-recording is loud in some sequences, but neat overall..
Cinematography and Editing gives the slick look to the movie..Ravi Varman is sure to make a name for himself if he keeps up the good work in Dasavatharam..
Gowtham has improvised on his previous project and has packaged thismovie as a taut thriller, Full marks tohim..
BOTTOMLINE:
VV is an excellent movie considering that it belongs to the thriller genre.Its well paced, well shot and is good value for money..
It may not last in your minds for long, it may not have the impact of a Mahanadhi or a Hey Ram! or a Kuruthipunal..It maynot leave you standing in admiration when the credits rolled away as in Anbae Sivam, But it will set the cash registers ringing in a way that the others didnt..
Satish.