I felt like watching Stephen Spielberg’s AI again.
These two movies have a lot of similarities. AI was directed by Stephen Spielberg whose movies sell almost because of his brand image. It is the same case with Aayitha Ezhutthu. (AE from now onwards) Mani Ratnam brand image is very strong in India... at least in South India.
AI was hyped up a lot. It generated a never-before-seen pre-release enthusiasm. Aayitha Ezhutthu followed the same lines. Everyone worth his Indian salt was waiting for AE to release.
AI disappointed everyone big time. AE follows the same path again. It was not like a Mani Ratnam movie. The subject would have been treated better by RGV.
AI goes on and on and on without ending. Half way through the movie, you doze off. AE is exactly the same experience. You don’t know why Siddharth and Trisha are needed in this movie. Their love story drags and drags and drags without any memorable scenes. Perhaps Mani wanted to fill the third dot in Aayitha Ezhutthu.
As said earlier Siddharth is redundant in the movie. What was Mani trying to tell the audience by having a slightly younger version of Surya’s character? Madhavan and Surya have well etched roles which are brilliantly executed by these actors. However Siddharth did not know why he was there in this movie. He was hopelessly clueless.
Ah! That brings me to Esha Deol. WHY? WHY? WHY? Of all directors in this universe, why did Mani commit the royal sin of imitating David Dhawan’s formula of One Heroine per hero?
Surya’s character does NOT need a heroine. She did not have a meaty role. Heck! She did not have a role at all. She teaches French? What is the importance of this French teacher?
Same cannot be said about Meera Jasmine and Madhavan. Meera fitted seamlessly into the bigger picture. She was needed to bring out the humane face of Madhavan who is mostly evil.
By the time the third flashback ends, you are squirming in your seat... looking at your watch and praying silently that the script should pickup momentum at least from then onwards. Songs are a big let down. The songs are good for listening. However they slow down the pace of the movie considerably. The cinematography is breath-taking however. Check out “Hey Goodbye Nanba” song. Fabulous camera angles.
The final clash on a crowded Napier bridge is out of the world seriously. It was probably the best fight scene I have so far seen in an Indian movie. But hey! that doesn’t make up for the other 90% of the movie.
In short, you must watch this movie whether or not you are Mani fan to learn how great directors can goof up at times... To err is human. The movie has flashes of incredible brilliance possible only in a Mani Ratnam movie. However these are more like exceptions.
Please don’t assume that I prefer David Dhawan over Mani. This movie is miles ahead of the rest. I wholeheartedly agree. However this is a pale shadow the vintage Mani Ratnam. This is garbage compared to his ’’Mouna Ragam’’, ’’Roja’’ and ’’Kannatthil Mutthamittal’’.
Even Dil Se was much better than this.
Don’t expect a Pulp Fiction when you go to this movie.
Venu