Sathi Leelavathi - Thoughts

Having just recently started reviewing Tamil movies, Sathi Leelavathi was an interesting addition to the mix, as it was the first non-blockbuster, being a drama comedy at the core. It was brought to my attention by a friend who said it was an older comedy, worth watching, as it starred Kamal Hassan in an impressive comedy role. Going into it I had very little in terms of expectations, assuming it would be a run of the mill comedy.

As the movie opened and things kicked off, the first thing that hit me was the dated look the movie had. Not having watched an older Tamil movie like this in ages, it quite stood out. Also worth mention was the seemingly low budget feel, a clear contrast to recent blockbusters I had watched, and the non mega-star status surrounding Kamal Hassan. In fact, his role was more in the form of a supporting actor, providing comic relief to the plot. The bulk of the movie focuses on a married mans interest in a younger unmarried girl, who in turn is in pursuit of a wealthy man. The plot is very simple, and the execution is also pretty straight forward and almost stereotype. Don’t expect twists and complexity; Sathi Leelavathi is indeed quite simplistic. While some parts of the narrative are not intended to be funny, sophisticated audience groups will find scenes funny, due to its almost laughable dialog and execution. This is very apparent in the opening sequences of the movie, where the lead character makes an effort to pursue his lady interest. The quality comedy really kicks in wherever Kamal Hasan is present, and is at its peak towards the closing of the movie. The humor is largely situational in nature. If you’re in the mood for a casual watch, which is fun and somewhat dated, Sathi Leelavathi is worth checking out; just don’t expect something standout. Listen to it like it were on the radio while doing something else and you’ll still have watched the movie.

In short most of the performances are poor to average at best, with Kamal Hassan being the only exception, who is undoubtedly in a different league. He plays Shaktivel, a doctor who is the college classmate of the lead character. As usual his character portrayal is remarkable and Kamal Hassan lives the Shaktivel character; bringing to life the nuances and animation in a manner that perhaps even the real Shaktivel, if there were one, would not be able to outdo. Ramesh Aravind plays Arunachalam, the married lead in pursuit of the younger pretty girl Priya, played by Heera Rajgopal. Ramesh does an okay job, his performance often leaning towards overdone. Heera’s performance for most part was below average; though going by memory I have seen her do better. So I’d think that this was one of her early movies, where her inexperience was evident.

The content I was sampling was a lossy DivX rip, of medium bitrate, weighing in at around 1 gig for a 2 and a half hour movie. Video looked dated, with colors looking dull and severely lacking vibrancy. Clarity again was poor to average, especially in today’s day and age of high-definition. My guess would be that the original content in itself was not of superior grade, with the DivX compression further degrading it. Sound was presented by means of a 2 channel stereo soundtrack. Dialog which was vital was clearly audible, but nowhere near the fidelity of a modern 5.1 dedicated center channel presentation.

My Recommendation: Dicey (A comic Kamal Hassan from the mid 90’s)

Unnaipol Oruvan - Thoughts

Unnaipol Oruvan (Someone Like You) is certainly worth mention, as it’s the first ever Tamil movie I’ve decided to review. While I wasn’t keeping track of it around its release in 2009, I got my first whiff of it a few months ago when I saw bits of it on cable TV while having dinner. Realizing that it came across as quite sophisticated and interesting, I decided to get a hold of it and check it out. In Unnaipol Oruvan an individual of unknown origin or connections makes threats to the I G of police regarding bombs placed across the city. In exchange for details on their locations, he requires the release of 4 specific terrorists. His agenda and his motive remain key questions as the plot unfolds. Interestingly online research pointed to the fact that Unnaipol Oruvan is a remake of the 2008 Bollywood / Hindi movie, A Wednesday.

To those familiar with Tamil movies, expect to be shocked; there are no song and dance sequences, and similarly there are no fight sequences either. Yes, at this point most average Tamil movie goers would be in a state of alarm. In short Unnaipol Oruvan is aimed at advanced audiences, who are looking for something intellectual. In my opinion from a narrative perspective Unnaipol Oruvan is near perfect, with the plot being strong, and the execution and delivery being faultless. Even without the usual drama by means of songs, fights, and special effects the movie is immensely gripping, and carries its weight flawlessly. In addition the movie has a very real and everyday feel to it, which audiences should be able to relate to easily. It feels modern, current, and not over the top like many blockbuster movies. The level of detail given to every scene, and the strong dialogues are memorable. If you aren’t in the mood for a serious movie experience, you should save Unnaipol Oruvan for another day. That said, it is one of the best Tamil movies I have ever seen, and though it’s a gripping suspense crime drama, it’s not gruesome in anyway, and should appeal to a wide audience, as long as they are looking for substance.

The success of Unnaipol Oruvan largely rests on the excellent performances all round. Leading the ensemble is Kamal Hassan, who is known for his stellar performances. Whether it be emotion, or dictating terms, he does it with a level of realism that’s unquestionable. Pay attention and you will wonder whether he lives his roles or just acts them. Mohanlal plays the I G of Police, also doing very well, coming across as fair, grounded, and logical. He is so convincing that Id go out on a limb and say that if the Chennai police force were in his able hands, I’d rest easier every night. The supporting roles of Arif and Inspector Sethu are played by Ganesh Venkatraman and Bharath Reddy respectively. Though those are unfamiliar names, their performances are impressive, and the way their individual characters develop through the course of the plot is commendable.

I was lucky to get my hands on a solid HD 1080p rip of Unnaipol Oruvan, from a Blueray source. Video was clear and sharp. Colors were bright, and on a widescreen HD TV, it was a crisp enjoyable presentation. Facial detail was phenomenal in the close-ups, but some outdoor scene looked slightly over exposed. Sound was presented by means of a 6 channel 5.1 DTS surround soundtrack. Dialog was perfectly delivered through the center channel, and there was suitable use of the surround stage in multiple scenes. Technically Unnaipol Oruvan was just right, leaving literally nothing to be wanted, while not being overdone.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A near perfect crime drama that sets the bar for Tamil cinema)