Well done by director Manirathnam. He wants to increase the awareness of public regarding the indian politics. He had chosen best script and done his job well. From the Streets to the Secretariat - by means of youth revolution -The message is clear, but what’s the turnaround time. The question that arises in everyone’s mind as we leave the movie hall.
I have reasons for it. Let’s c the few earlier movies in same categor., Shankar experimented "CM for a day" in his "Mudhalvan"(Tamil) or "Nayak"(Hindi) as well as "Anniyan"( Tamil) or "Aparichit"(Hindi) for all illegal work of citizens, raised voice against hefty fee collection in self-financing professional colleges in
"Gentleman"(Tamil), exposed the hidden traits of government officials who accept bribes in "Indian"(Tamil). There were quite a number of attempts made before on youth revolution, from various cinema factories, combines and creations, and this time from Mani.
If I remember correctly, when those movies premièred, the youth were all fired up as if they have got the initiate a revolt and got to take on the world from then on! And years gone by, there wasn’t any or at least of that sort! What did we gain or accomplished out of those movies. Just a matter of entertaining hours. The questions still linger around me. You might think, "Am I going to write the review and get the hell out of here or trying to be a Granny or some crusader!
Well, the anticipation in me, made me write those with the hope that I can just add more fuel to the fire that Mani Ratnam has tried to create in this Chennai Talkies’ production, "Aayudha Ezhuthu". The movie name "Aayudha Ezhuthu" is nothing but, a Vowel letter in tamil. The shape is like triangle. But there is no connection between three edges. It’s like Screen Play, The Napier Bridge in Chennai, a busy day, haphazard traffic with vehicles racing toward their destinations, Inba’s(Madhavan) jeep too. Michael(Surya), with the charming girl Gita(Isha Deol) at the back of his bike. Arjun(Sidhaarth) pleading to Meera(Trisha) and going behind her.
Where are they heading for?, to meet each other and allow some traces of thrill and topsy-turvy turns in their lives. You know, the Aayudha Ezhuthu(three dots) as such are distant apart and never meet each other technically, but these protagonists(perceived as the three dots) will do and from this moment, it’s a racy track till the end. Inba - a local goondaa is a button in a politician’s remote and would oblige to what he’s asked to do.
And he emerges out on the frame to do one such task for his boss Selvanayagam(Bharathi Raja). He aims at Michael, shots fired, and the camera rolls back. Inba dwells in Kuppam (slums) with Sasi. Anyone will hate him in this movie, for his irritating outfit and looks, for his barbaric acts towards Sasi, which is an accolade for him. But, there is also a feeling that’s left out that Madhavan comes little short to fit exactly to the role of a spoiled brat! - exceptionally for his language sometimes.
There’s nothing going on in between Inba and Sasi other than their private times. Sasi has done well as a wife of a rowdy, but is that a real color of a cheri wife? I have heard different, I mean she doesn’t talk a word against her darling, does not conflict with whatever he does. Michael - a student leader is a revolutionist and would not hesitate to raise his voice against the injustice done to the public or the student community.
Michael to his part on the opening frame gets shot by Michael and the camera rolls back for him to re-live his past. He is annoyed with cheap politicians; their selfish acts and comes to the rescue of the poor people. He believes in young bloods making it to the politics can see India Shining!, which is a welcome thought. Honestly, one gets goose pimples to see Michael and his friends in the Assembly among other Karai Vettis:-). I would like to see this in reality, whatsoever it takes.
Gita, Michael’s girlfriend comes back to Chennai after finishing her studies to join him in his adventurous acts. Isha Deol, though her origin is from TamilNadu, got a lot of references to North, might be fitting well in Yuva. Arjun - a flirt, enjoys his student life to the fuller, goes to bars, discotheque and have fun appears in the screen walking behind Meera saying "I love you" just from the mouth and not from the heart(I told you he is a flirt). And continues to show-off his heroic act(from Boys) to confess his 6-week love to Meera.
The camera rolls back here for the third time. He meets Meera in a club, gets attracted, Acquainted, invites for a chitchat at Coffee Day. and Meera, as coolas a Watermelon for this summer, accepts it and takes it easy and dates with him. She already has plans to get married and settle down in Sivakasi!. Meera tells her probable is an educated and cultured and works abroad. One wonders here, why would she then want to settle down in Sivakasi. Director only has got the answer.
And Arjun has a different tale to tell, his desire to fly to the US for his higher studies. His father doesn’t know of his efforts to go abroad, which is highly unbelievable! Though he got his runway cleared for a take-off, he prefers to stay back after he saves Michael’s life and decides to join him to finally become an MLA.
Out of the three girls in the movie, Sasi is the only one who has got some work to do. I would say Gita and Meera are just used as dolls! But, all of them are magnanimous in exposing, which is unusual in a
Maniratnam’s movie. Typically, the movie wholly rests on the guys from different walks of life and girls just provide fragrance to the flower bunch.
I knew Bharathiraja is a genius among his counterparts in directing a movie, but as an Actor, I don’t see any extra-ordinary that makes him an apt choice for the politician’s role. "Nenjamellam Kadhal", a very good number and one of the popular among the other songs got a disappointing picturization. One second I thought I was watchin’ a Woodstock!:-). One More time Director!, Tamil folks are so thirsty and they need more and more and more. that too from a creator of a "Kannathil Muthamittal", "Nayagan" and so on. Aayudha Ezhuthu - Powerfully written with a permanent marker. Hard to erase.