Quo vadis tamil cinema?

At times I feel the universe conspires to set me up for things that are coming up, which could be as simple as a movie watch. Few days back, saw a movie called “Rocky” (tamil). It was praised sky high by fellow mates and they were calling it a noire film, appreciating the visual impact of each scenes and how they’ve been picturized. Nammaku therinja oray nair, Palakkattu Madhavan nair from Andha ezhu naatkal movie, apdingarappo enna panirukanum? Idhu malayala filma? Illa director malayalia nu theera visarichitu pathirukanum. Evano sonnanna unakkenga poachu buddhi? Apdinulam hindsight, hind leg vachu pin mandaila udhaichalum, what was done was done. The only genre that Rocky would’ve fit in was revenge po**. The movie was so violent, for such a routine story of revenge, that in every alternate scene someone got killed, maimed, beaten and dead – not necessarily in that order. All characters were playing holi with blood only difference being, instead of water pistons it was sickle/knife/machete and instead of multi colored powder mixed water its blood all over, some their own and rest of the opposing party. Possibly getting tired of killing people one by one and in pairs, climax involves about 100 people on each side with the “hero” character stuck in the middle. As the entire clan of henchmen rush towards the hero, he suddenly whips up a machine gun and shoots them into pieces. Looking at the irony or possibly cursing his own fate for having ever chosen such a movie, the main villain, Bharathiraja (erstwhile director of good movies), chops his own neck. Aacha. Ippo adutha movie. 

The same group who had recommended Rocky, were chattering non-stop about a new movie that got released today. “Saani Kaayitham” by the same director. Despite them praising that the movie has been made in an almost similar fashion, the warning bells should’ve clanged in all its glory. But somehow, like my mobile which is always on mute, I missed the signs. Like road rule respecting Chennai traffic, near Sholinganallur signal, who have long gone tone deaf to vehicular honks, I started watching this one. There was a remote arrogance that, no matter how much that director tried, he couldn’t out direct himself, after creating something like his previous movie, that would’ve set Guinness record for most kills on screen and most quantity of fake blood splattered on screen. But wow!!! The director won hands down and showed me my place, in an asylum for mentally challenged. If at all anyone has digestion problem that Eno can’t solve, they can watch this movie. Even within the first fifteen minutes, you are guaranteed an empty stomach. But better place yourself near a washbasin. Some people call this movie, desi version of Kill Bill. Again, “Caution! Wet floor” nu board thaan vaikka mudiyum. Naan thalakeezha thaan gudhippen nu try panna ennatha solrathu. Ipdi post poatu polamba vendi thaan. This movie also belongs to same genre, same noir nu kelmabi varavangalukku, onnay onnu sollikaren, Nair paavam. Vitrunga. Ende guruvayurappa. Kshamikkanum.