Aadukalam- A review

For the hardened Tamil cinema goer used to a cinematic experience characterized by larger than life heroes and predictable storylines, certain clichés are immutable - the hero and his associates are always righteous, the villain and his associates always evil and finally the righteous always triumphs over evil. In Aadukalam the director takes these black and white characterizations, fills them with several shades of gray and strings them together in a storyline which in spite of its innumerable twists and turns remains at its core extremely believable. The resulting cocktail keeps you riveted through the end.

The Plot

Set in the rural Madurai milieu, Aadukalam tells the story of Pettaikaran (Played by Jayabalan) the undisputed king of the rooster fight arena, and Rathnasamy (Played by Naren) a wealthy, well connected cop whose devious, determined bids to de-throne Pettaikaran are thwarted by Karuppu (Dhanush) and Durai (Kishore) who are trusted lieutenants to Pettaikaran. The movie then tells the tale of how bravado, wounded pride and intense jealousy wreck havoc on the lives of the protagonists. Interwoven in the story line is the sub plot involving a chance encounter between Karuppu and Irene (Tapasee) an Anglo Indian living in the neighborhood that blossoms (rather predictably) into a full blown poor boy – posh girl romantic relationship with soulful ballads, parental disavowal, failed suicide attempts, et al.

My Take

The biggest strength of Aadukalam is its script. The story consistently surprises with its dramatic “twist in the tale” episodes just when you thought you could foretell the proceedings. Through it all however, it remains coherent, logical and utterly believable. The script is also aided by some splendid acting by the principal protagonists and the entire supporting cast. Whether it is Pettaikaran as the master outdone by his protégé, Rathnasamy as the scheming cop resorting to shenanigans to salvage broken pride or Kishore as the fiercely loyal but easily manipulated Durai, all the actors play their characters perfectly. Ultimately however, this movie belongs to Dhanush, who in his portrayal of Karuppu brings such raw energy to the character that makes for some magical cinematic moments (sample the sequence where Karuppu dances ecstatically after Irene professes her love for him). The only gripe that one had with this movie was for its glorification of rooster fights as a sport in spite of its violence towards animals. Though the episodes involving the actual fights are CG aided, the amount of rooster blood spilt on the screen makes you squirm and wonder if you should call in the SPCA.

The Verdict:

 Aadukalam turns a placid train journey into an unpredictable roller coaster ride. It lunges and lurches, spins and turns with breakneck speed and leaves you feeling giddy at the end.

Dhobi Ghat - A Review

You take a large black and white photograph of a smiling street vendor hawking vegetables in the midst of the hustle and bustle of a busy road. You put the photograph on a caravan and go town to town inviting views. Some see art in the photo, the black and white a metaphor for colorless harshness of the vendor’s life and the smile reminiscent of the endurance of human spirit. Yet some others look at the photo and see….well… a smiling vendor hawking vegetables in midst of a busy road. If you (like me) belong to the latter group of people, Dhobi Ghat is likely to leave you scratching your head, wondering what all the fuss is about. This probably explains why Aamir Khan, a savvy producer, decided to premiere the movie in the festival circuit before bringing it to the masses back home

The Plot:

An anti social artist with a troubled past, a vivacious young housewife with a troubled present, a lost investment banker with a silver spoon, the earnest young dhobi with dreams in his eyes and pain in his soul, their lives, their hopes, their muses, in a city that is always in a hurry.

The movie starts with a view of Mumbai’s sights and sounds as recorded on a handycam and narrated by a newly arrived migrant housewife Yasmeen (Played by Kriti Malhotra). You are then quickly introduced to the other key protagonists: Arun (played by Aamir Khan) a moody, temperamental artist; Shai (Played by Monica Dogra) a NRI investment banker on a sabbatical; Munna (Played by Prateik) a struggler with bollywood dreams who is a dhobi by day and rat killer by night. The film charts their lives as they intersect, form bonds, love and finally lose. Throughout the film you are treated to montages of every day life in Mumbai which comes alive as a protagonist in its own right in the movie.

My Take:

Right from the start, Dhobi Ghat has a documentary, arty house feel to it. While all the characters and  their situations feel very real, the narrative as a whole is un-compelling and fails to keep the viewer involved throughout. There were several points in the movie when the focus on showcasing the everyday life of the protagonists (for instance the sequences involving Yasmeen’s narrative on everyday life in Mumbai) makes the viewing tedious. What makes sitting through such pieces possible however, is the excellent performance from the entire cast. While Aamir’s acting abilities need no endorsement, it is Prateik who delights with his standout and nuanced portrayal of Munna. Finally, for a viewer so used to seeing celluloid stories taken to a logical end, the lack of a conclusion left one wondering as to the point of it all

Verdict:

For a moviegoer fed on an appetite of spicy masala, Dhobi Ghat resembles a salad devoid of dressing – healthy, nutritious but unappetizing