Aayirathil oruvan

Long awaited movie. The expectations went up manifold after watching the trailors. Selvaraghavan is one of the few directors whose movies people flock to see just for his skill alone. This movie was no less. Right from the title, it sounded a magnum opus.

Five minutes into the movie, you can feel that.."wow..this looks different". One thing, it didnt seem your normal tamil movie at all. More like an Indiana jones movie. I can boldly put my neck on the block and say that the first half of the movie, is something you would've never seen in entire tamil cinema history. It has THE BEST adventure sequence to have been visualised EVER in a tamil movie. I was simply amazed at that stone henge sequence and the nataraja shadow. It was simply..WOW. That one single scene has so many inbuilt sequences and logic that it was awesome. The cholas creating the hurdle in such a way that you've to be in the shadow of God (Nataraja, Chola's favourite deity) else get swallowed by bottomless pit (quick sand). Simply awesome. Oray hitch enanna..the first half supposedly happens on an island..anga engenthu desert vanthchi?? seri..athu konjam peria island na kooda..they say its in Vietnam. Vietnamla ethunga desertu?? oru vela Selvaragavanum enna mathiri History fan but not so keen with geography nenakren :D

The story is quite interesting and new. Chola dynasty is in shambles..under attack from the Pandyas on the rise. The last heir to the Chola throne,the crown prince, is sent to a far off island (in Vietnam) along with the heirloom of the Pandiya kingdom. To prevent the Pandiyas from following the prince and to safeguard his life, the cholas set, seven deadly traps on the way to the island. There goes a team, headed by Reema sen with Andrea and Karthi and a whole lot of helpers to trace back the lost trail which was originally discovered by Prathap pothen (Andrea's dad) who goes missing on the process. What happens to them? Did they actually found the prince is told with lot of twists and turns.

Karthi, as the coolie, is a delight to watch. He is so original that, for a minute you forget this is only his second movie. He rocks big time. But i feel the title is not quite right. It should've been "Aayirathil oruthi". Yes. The movie belongs to Reema Sen. She is in complete control of the movie and the entire second half belongs to her. Reema sen is so sensuous,erotic and sexy in the movie and is almost like desi Lara croft :) In a movie which is touted as an archeological adventure and she playing that role, Andrea hardly has any scope in the scenes. She looks cute though :) Partiban vara portions where hyped to the core but falls dud.

The movie looses its sheen from few minutes before the interval. The trio of Reema, Karthi and Andrea go mad hearing some high pitched noise and then the story goes a steady downhill, culminating in the stupidest war sequence you would ever imagine. The second half of the movie, i felt, is Selva's tribute to "Ponniyin Selvan". Neria similarities. Reema sen's character suddenly transforms to Nandini from PS and Karthi becomes Vanthiya thevan. The tamil which is being used is a confused mix of chaste and colloquial and half the words you just pick the meaning from context rather than actual meaning. The war crime atrocities and foreign hand being brought in to fight the natives all have an unmistakable Lanka-LTTE backdrop. I think there is too much of a confusion towards the end.

If the first half of the movie is toast of tamil cinema, second half lets one down. But its sheerly for the class audience. Not sure how many can appreciate that kind of story telling. The worst scene was the war portions. Gun totting Indian army men..that too in Vietnam??!!! when did India begin to have an army base in that country? Ila..avangalaam mercenaries..koolipadai..apdina kooda..playing "Apdi podu" song and making the queen dance for that was heights. Partiban has bouts of "kudaikul mazhai" in between and screws up big time. His character, though, is neatly defined. Climaxla when Karthi escapes with the Chola crown prince, Andrea gives one sad look. I think, that mirrors what many felt after seeing the movie. Such a glorious first half and half baked second one.

Inoru kaamedi ennana..first half went for close to 2 hours..second one got over in one hour plus itself!! And looking at the ending..i felt..Selva must've thought, enuff with this movie. Edutha varaikum lets release sort of desperation must have crept in. The ending is so abrupt. Unless there is a sequel in the making (which i really doubt)..it seems unjustified. It looks as if first half was done by a different director and second half by another (probably azhagan perumal..who comes as an army general). The movie has some very gory and violent scenes, reminiscent of 300 and Apocalypto. It rightly deserves an "A" certificate. Extreme violence in some scenes.

Music pathi solliye aaganum. GV, take a bow. Nejamavay he proves to be one jeevi. Second halfla, its his BGM, which keeps you interested in many a place. My favourite song, "maalai neram", has not been included :((( "un mela aasa thaan" song chaancela :) Reema and Andrea..thuli kooda vekka padama nadichirukanga. And karthi also shows no inhibition :) Most of the second half is shot in some cave like place. Athu set peicea..real locationa..kanday pudika mudila. So authentic it looks. Ennathaan pudu pudu song vanthalaum..Vaathiyaaroda "Adho antha paravai" ku thaan major applause.

Overaala solanumna..first 25 oversla 250 for no loss adichitu 300ku all out agara Indian ODI team mathiri iruku. First half mattum pathu thadava paakalam. Skip the latter part. But a brave and glorious effort nevertheless. I wish this movie comes as a novel.

avvvvvvvvv...padatha vida review perusa poochay :D solpa adjust maadi

Comments

Unknown said…
Phasssstt! :D *rubs her eyes* Ipoo odi poi padikkaren :P
Aarti said…
Hmmmm.. interesting mix of spices is what the movie seems to be!! seri, pakara annikku pathukalam....am in no hurry :D


A twitter friend's review -http://rvinay88.blogspot.com/2010/01/aayirathil-oruvan-all-filler-no-killer.html
Priya said…
Appo oru thadava parkalam illaya. Haven't watched yet.
Carpe Diem said…
neenga ena epa paru movie parthitu vanthu story solringa ..i dont want to know the story..my long awaited movie..so intha blog a naan padikala :P
TheUncanny said…
I second carpe diem...Gils, u shud probably put a spoiler alert for ur movie reviews... :)

I'm going to watch the movie in another 2 hours time..so, naan skipping the reading the post..hehe..
vandhu naan pesikiraen!!!
lovely review as always Gils.. din seem long one bit..its sad that the second portion is a let down.. i dont know if I will ever get to watch it, but ur review does pique my interest..
Ramesh said…
Gilsu - 40 varutam minaaliye vandithuthe ?? Ippatham pakaaringala ?? MGR top class illa ? Jayalalitha kooda. Appo amma konjam slimma irundhanga !! :):)

Unnai naan santhithen, nee aayirathil oruvan ....
Divyapriya said…
ungalukku mattum thaan indha padam pidichirukku pola :)) naan innum paakkale, but paakka thaan poren...enna thaan irukkunnu naanaa paathu therinjikkaren :)
lostworld said…
Thumba channagidhe review!! ;-) [I decided to switch to kannada after reading your last line]

Ayyo.. Naa ippodaan Ponniyin Selvan padiche mudichen..I'm definitely going to watch this movie. The moment I read the word Cholas/Pandyas in your review, I was taken back to the book! It is one of the best books I've read. Can't believe the movie has a Vandiyathevan-like character. Just for that I'd watch it and yes, I like Selvaraghavan too ;-D
TheUncanny said…
watta climax!!!!..

Hats off the selva dude!!!
Carpe Diem said…
u liked it uncanny??!!..one of my friend saw and said it is nice and different movie.. Am waiting to see it. India vanthu nama makkal oda parka poren...:D:D:D
RamNarayanS said…
Yaenga islandkulla desert eppadi vandhudhunnu queschan ellaam kaekkareenga? Mysore kitta Talakaadu paaththirukkeengala? AvvalO manal (sand) eppadi anga mattum vandhudhu (or varudhu), though Cauvery flows there and downstream as well. ippadi ellaam kaelvi kaekkapadaathu.

Poondhu velayaaditteenga. Thumbaa channaagiththu nimma review. Almost ellaa kadhayum sollitteenga. From the review, I feel it has some influence from one of the older Indiana Jones movies.

// Reema and Andrea..thuli kooda vekka padama nadichirukanga.

:-) :-D
gils said…
@kuruvi:

:) kuruvikay kanna katricha :D :D

@rt:

unga birend kaari thupitaanga..avlo mosamileenga
gils said…
@pri:
thaaralamaa one time pakalam..ana sec half konjam mattera irukum :D

@carpe:
naan kathiaya fullalam solamatenga :D naan solirukarathu outline matumthaan...the movie is a visual treat...neenga paathutu solunga
gils said…
@uncanny:

:) spoiler alert podra alavukelam onumileenga...review is abt the way its taken...how its told na solala :D

@acjl:

u better skip it :)
gils said…
@thalaivar:

kalakiteeeenga thalaiva...vaathiyaar padam all time classic..athukelaam equalay kedayathu :D

@bavna:

:) neenga pathutu solunga epdirukunu :)
gils said…
@lostworld:

//Thumba channagidhe review!! ;-) //

avvvvvvvvv...maathadu maathadu malligae

//Ayyo.. Naa ippodaan Ponniyin Selvan padiche mudichen..I'm definitely going to watch this movie. The moment I read the word Cholas/Pandyas in your review, I was taken back to the book! It is one of the best books I've read. Can't believe the movie has a Vandiyathevan-like character. Just for that I'd watch it and yes, I like Selvaraghavan too ;-D//

hmmm..sec half neenga konjam "kalai" kannoda paakanum :D :D aprum enna kuthamsolapdaathu ipovay soliputen
gils said…
@uncanny:
watta climaxa!!! oatta climaxu...ending abrupta iruku.

@carpe:

:)neenga india varathukula ending mathiruvanga nenakren :)
Swaram said…
Sooper cool review Gils.
I sometimes find movie reviews boring to read, more than a few movies :P but this ws really nice :)

LOL @ the comparison with India batting ;) ;)

Indiana Jones type - awesome!
Feel like watching but wonder hw much of it I will understand.

So, u liked Reema Sen the best is it ;)
gils said…
@rammmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:

alo saar..neenga nisargadamava solreengala? antha padathula vara deserta parunga..u wl know..

//Almost ellaa kadhayum sollitteenga. From the review, I feel it has some influence from one of the older Indiana Jones movies.//

nope..naan kathaiye solala :) neenga padam parunga u wl know :)
gils said…
@swaram:

:) reema sen looks nice...but andrea is cuter :)
PM said…
In all the reviews , they say that Ponniyin selvan influence is there...Athukkagave naan padam paarkalaamnu irukken.
//:) reema sen looks nice...but andrea is cuter :)//
Reema sen enakku theriju was looking good only in minnale, Andrea - I agree....
//Nataraja, Chola's favourite deity)//
I remember reading somewhere, that it is Lord shiva...
Interesting review on the whole....
Shruti said…
I am commenting without reading your post! The reason - Mundhirikottai madhri padatha pathutu review potra! Even the climax is included in some! so thrill poidum!
So let me watch the movie, come and read ur review and ll give marks! Ogay?
gils said…
//In all the reviews , they say that Ponniyin selvan influence is there...Athukkagave naan padam paarkalaamnu irukken.//

hmmm...its definitely not for family audience..so usaaarungoov
gils said…
@surutti:
climax pathi potrukena!!! unaku avlo puriutha intha postu! :) hmmm...padam pathutu sollu how much of the story is revealed in this post nu :)
Vidya said…
Shobha oda blog ethu pa?
gils said…
viddie:
mailed u
Annam said…
review padikum pothu padatha paartha peelu irukula
me the last! padam thiruttu casettela vandha thaan paaka mudiyum.. :) adhulayum graphics sariya varadhu.. enamo poda madhava..
Unknown said…
ஆயிரதில் à®’à®°ுதி- Reema Sen :) though 2nd half was dragging.. a very brave attempt by Selva..i saw it in FAME cinemas in Pune..trust me machaan.. it was like kamala theatre expereince.. house full show inga.. 1st day..
lostworld said…
Tag done ..pls to read;)
lakshmi said…
Loads of flaws in this movie.. I was totally disappointed.. :(.

Flaw No1 : When all those ppl(Reema, Andrea, Karthi et al) toil n suffer so much to reach the destination, all the army ppl land there safely thru helicopter uh, even those ppl cud have done that la.. bongu atam.

Flaw No2 : Why those 3 when they landed there ran mad, I mean is that coz of that disturbingly loud noise, that is stupid.

Flaw No3: How come suddenly tiger appeared on Reema's back.

Flaw No4: Climax romba chinna pulla thanama irunthathu.. Scene where Andrea gets the key :). I cudnt help but laugh.

Good attempt, but director failed to execute it properly.

Ithelam enna yosika vaechathuku karanam Sathyam thaan, i dint get vanilla donnette (Ponathae athukaga thaan) which increased my kadi n made me to think like this. :(

Ana Gilsu... unga review padichu i was so very impressed, that i booked tickets adutha sec i read ur post..

Neenga matum kaila kedachinga gali...
gils said…
@pikaali:
padam paathu kathai kooru :D

@nagz:
vaada vaa :) epdikira?
gils said…
@kedi:
ultiamte tamil site parunga..already irukum :D

@lostworld:

semma tag..jus chkd
gils said…
//Ithelam enna yosika vaechathuku karanam Sathyam thaan, i dint get vanilla donnette (Ponathae athukaga thaan) which increased my kadi n made me to think like this. :(

Ana Gilsu... unga review padichu i was so very impressed, that i booked tickets adutha sec i read ur post.. //

alo.en review fulla padicheengala..fisrt part nallaruku sec mokka solirunthene..ungaluku first part kooda pudikalaia??
RamNarayanS said…
// alo saar..neenga nisargadamava solreengala? antha padathula vara deserta parunga..u wl know..

Nisargadhaama Kodagu (Coorg) kitta illa irukku! Island formed from Cauvery.

Naan sonna place is near Mysore. Temples buried in sand, once in 12 yrs they excavate the temples for the "pancha linga darisanam". They did it last year. See Wiki for Talakad. It doesn't look like the river did it. The sand is so fine grained (can't be used for construction) and the place is full of cashew groves.

//Almost ellaa kadhayum sollitteenga. From the review, I feel it has some influence from one of the older Indiana Jones movies.//

>> nope..naan kathaiye solala :) neenga padam parunga u wl know :)

pinna ennaaththa sonneenga. Nerayya situation ellaam solliyaachu. situ + some extras = padam.

Idhu "A" padam vera. Paakkalaam, when time comes for a chance to see it. :)
gils said…
// situ + some extras = padam./

:D :D apdileenga..all stories can be rolled into oneliners..but visuala pakrathu and screenplayla thaan padam evolvesngarthu en pheeling. and this movie esp is a visual treat in first half..atha pathi naan perusa onum solalanu thonuthu. if u see it..u wl enjoy it even more..sec half marana mokka nu many felt...storynu solla perusa onumuila...and its not just A..neria scene X rated :) so familyoda poi pakaratha avoid maadi.
vimmuuu said…
Ohh, I loved the movie though I watched the cut version ! If you had seen it on the third day, even you wouldve watched the cut version. hehehe. Im eagerly waiting for the DVD; I just hope they dont have the scenes cut there ! They had cut about 20 mins of the movie, you see !!

First half as you mentioned is mind blowing !!! Chancey ille !! no Indian movie itself that way, I can say ! Second half drags; but thats how it should be, le ? I mean, everything gets unfolded slowly in the second half and culminates in a powerful climax, in my opinion that is :) anaaaalum, ivalavu varshamaaa pandya naattu pagaye manasile vachikkitte irukkiradu konjam over, le ?? :D :D :D
gils said…
@vims:
avvvvvvvvvvv cut versiona!! no wonder it felt so weird... :( i want to see the full version :(((((((
gils said…
except for the war portions and the gladiator fight scenes..i like the movie overall..its pretty gud :)

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