Wednesday 2 October 2013

ITHARKKU THAANE AASAI PATTAI BALAKUMARA ("WELCOME SUMAR MOONJI KUMAR")

October 2, 2013.

Cast: Vijay Sethupathy, Aswin Kakumanu, Nandita, Swathi, Soori, Pasupathy.

Director: Gokul.





Film after film the trust that we have on Vijay Sethupathy keeps increasing and that continues with this film as well.

Sumar moonji Kumar (Vijay) a happy go lucky jobless fellow has only one mission in his life; to marry Kumudha (Nandita), almost everyone in his street is irritated by him. Bala (Aswin) is almost the opposite to Kumar, an frustrated guy who is dissatisfied with his career and love life. Renu (Swathi) is Bala’s love interest.

IABK plays out in three tracks till the interval; Sumar moonji Kumar’s life, Bala’s life and the murder of a local goon; after which the everything gets connected. Of these three the track involving Sumar moonji Kumar is undoubtedly the best one mainly because of the excellent performance by Vijay Sethupathy that is well complemented by the very good writing and direction.

It is a clearly a comeback for Gokul after the Rowthiram fiasco and he has made full use of the star value of Vijay Sethupathy with a script that seldom loses momentum. The track involving Aswin and the murder seems a bit stretched with a few unnecessary scenes as well as characters but something that works in favour of the film is that when the screenplay switches to Sumar moonji Kumar the audience completely forgets the other two because of the laugh riot at offer.

The script clearly shows Gokul’s intention to make this a laugh riot as is clear from the really funny dialogues mouthed by the characters even in serious situations. But perhaps the choice of Aswin is a bit debatable as he seems to struggle a bit at being natural in a lotta scenes which dulls certain parts though Swathi tries her best to lighten up the same.

The songs are passable with one or two being nice and the background score does not harm the film’s proceedings as such. There are a lot of scenes in the night especially in the 2nd half and the cinematographer shows his class with excellent lighting and angles.

Pasupathy who comes as the mediator to bring a solution to Sumar moonji Kumar’s menace really entertains and the scenes involving him and Vijay Sethupathy are cracking with humor. Equally good is the character that takes Vijay Sethupathy and his friend to a godown offering liquor.

Ultimately IABK belongs to Vijay Sethupathy who simply excels as the irritating yet adorable Sumar moonji Kumar. This is definitely his best role after Pizza or may be even a better one considering the ease with which he plays the character that is someone so different from his real self.

I am giving a generous 3.25 for IABK. Except for a few scenes this one sets the screen on fire. Brand Vijay Sethupathy is growing!!

Rating Scale (Out of 5)

Less than 2                   -           Unwatchable.

2    to 2.25                   -           Below average.

2.5 to 2.75                   -           Average.
       
3    to 3.25                   -           Good.

3.5 to 3.75                   -           Really Good.

4    to 4.25                   -           Great.

4.5 and above               -          Extraordinary.


BESHARAM ("BAKWAAS!!")

October 2, 2013.

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Pallavi Sharda.

Director: Abinav Singh Kashyap.




It is one thing to try out an average subject with a hero specialised in creating magic out of nothing from his screen presence and antics alone and entirely another thing to try out a below average subject with a hero who has not risen upto that level as yet!

Well, if you are wondering which films I am talking about it the first one is the super duper hit Dabbang and the next is the second film by the same director, Besharam!!

Babli (Ranbir) is an orphan who is a small time car thief. He falls for the middle class girl Tara who sees red everytime she sees Babli. By mistake he steals Tara’s car for a Hawala Don (Javed Jaffrey) and later upon realising it’s Tara’s car he sets out along with Tara to steal it back. He is chased by a police couple played by Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh.

While Dabbang had some kind of story be it very predictable Besharam goes a few steps down with no story whatsoever and a much worse screenplay to make things unbearable. The son playing the hero and the parents playing a police couple who are trying to track him down; how interesting a screenplay can one make out of the situation; well the writer here has the answer- a screenplay that is so boring to the core that one can sit through the entire film without a single laugh!!

When the first 30 minutes of a film is packed with a horribly executed chase sequence 3 bad songs and dialogues which are meant to be funny but far from it in reality, you would need no more description about how the movie is gonna fare.

Tara is so furious at seeing Babli that he insults him in front of her colleagues in spite of knowing he is an orphan. Her fury reaches the breaking point later on when she realises it’s Babli who stole her car!! But right after a few “touching” dialogues from Babli Tara’s heart suddenly melts like an ice cream and if it’s just sympathy that you are expecting from her she is gonna surprise you. Yes folks it’s the ultimate silliness that ensues- she falls in love with Babli!! Guess the writer forgot the fact that we are not in the 1970s anymore. And in the ensuing song you see a sulking Babli being consoled and wooed by a smitten Tara!!!

It is better not to get into the area of fights and background music which are one of the worst you have seen in the recent hindi films.

I am giving a generous 1 for Besharam. This is so very disappointing from someone who entertained us to the core with Dabbang!!

Rating Scale (Out of 5)

Less than 2                   -           Unwatchable.

2    to 2.25                   -           Below average.

2.5 to 2.75                   -           Average.
       
3    to 3.25                   -           Good.

3.5 to 3.75                   -           Really Good.

4    to 4.25                   -           Great.

4.5 and above               -          Extraordinary.