Paper ADs with theater lists of Movies This Week in Kerala - All in one Post

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Vishwaroopam - Movie Review from Kerala

Kamal Haasan's Vishwaroopam is a film against Terrorism, against Al-Qaeda and not an anti-Islamic movie as many religious parties claim it to be.

Vishwanathan (Kamal Haasan) is a dance teacher with female traits living in the US and Nirupama (Pooja Kappor) is a his wife, a nuclear oncologist. Nirupama  who considers this as a marriage of convenience hires a private detective so that she can find some reason to get divorced and be with her love, her Boss.

One day the private investigator while following Visu from a Mosque/Muslim payer hall gets killed and  both Visu & Niru gets captured by few members of a terrorist outfit headed by Omar (Rahul Bose) who wants Visu dead desperately.

Who is Visu, why was he in a mosque, what the story between Omar & Visu etc. forms the rest of the story.

The biggest plus point in the film is of-course Kamal Haasan - The director, awriter, Lyricist etc - He, as usual, simply excelled in all departments. For the true fans of the star the movie will be a real treat. Kamal as the Kathak dancer in the first 30 mins was a scream, even the minutest expressions and body movements got people rupturing with cheers and applause. The 'Vishwaroopam' scene that soon follows will make fans scream their thought out [eventhough the action sequences was a bit over the top considering his standards]

His direction wass top class, was able to give the feel of a Hollywood movie, better than any other Indian movie in my opinion. Kamal the director was very well supported buy the D.O.P Sanu Varghese with some breath taking visuals. Editing and BG score also went hand in hand, eventhough i felt the movie could have been little bit more cripier.

Pooja Kumar was very good as Nirupama, got all the expressions even the slightes one correct.Lip sync was almost perfect, kudos to the dubbing artist too. Andreah had a small, cameo like role, so as Shekhar Kapoor.

Rahul Bose was terrifying as Villain in both avatars in the US and Afghanistan.

Kamal could have seeked the hel of somebody while directing the 'US Marine Coprs & FBI in action' sequences. For thos who frequent Hollywood movies, might find it average attempt. The supporting cast from US too were not up to mark.

VFX was average, especially the motion capture used in 'Kamal doing acrobatics' in Afganishtan

The script could have been more tighter, too many unnecessary pause, long shots etc in the film. Its not a start to end thrill ride like Dasavatharam. It gets to documentry mode often in the Afghan episode.

There is no spoon feeding in the film by Kamal, so you have to watch it carefully to understand things more clearly. Don't know how the core-mass audience of TN will receive the film once it releases there.You can find few loop holes in script as well.

Every religion will have good and bad people, in Vishwaroopam we have a Muslim Secret Agent fighting against Alqaeda terrorists. So its a story of Good vs Evil. Learn to see a movie as a movie and don't get too serious.

The Locations US, Canada, Jordan & studios in Chennai, Mumbai have been utilized brilliantly.

The interval scene & climax seemed haste and abrupt and lacks the twist or shock that usually associate with most films now a days.

Verdict: Watchable for Kamal Haasan and the Hollywood like making

Rating 3.25/5

The ending clearly indicates a Vishwaroopam 2 happening in the near future, where the mission shifts to India.

It was an experience to watch a film from Kerala, with the theater full of (about 90-95%) Tamil people, who were fans of Kamal, Rajni, Vijay, Ajith etc.

Kerala Box Office 2012 So far - Hits & Misses - Exclusive Data

For the first time 10 years Malayalam films release count in a calendar year has crossed 100 [figures till October 19]. Til now about 120 films has been censored and among which 110 has made it to the theaters. In early 2000's it was with the help of 'Soft Porn' films Mollywood used to acheive this target, but today the scenario has completely changed. In the coming months we are expecting atleast 20-30 new releases which will make 2012 biggest year in 25 years.

Not just the release count but the total investment has also gone up. Last year it was about 200 crores, this year it will cross 300 crores for sure. The biggest budgeted, @ 20crores according to various media sources (UnConfirmed), 'Casanovva' released earlier this year. Revenue wise it has been a great year for Kerala Goverment and state owned Cinema Halls. It was due to Government's stern measures that Online Piracy of new release movies has been completely vanished. Plus the decision to grade theaters based on facilities forced theater owners to renovate their movie halls . All these helped in bringing  more people to the cinema halls.

The Result is evident in the Box Office performances of films released in 2012. According Kerala Film Producers Association about 14 films has earned the HIT tag so far, with Mayamohini being the biggest (2nd biggest ever after Twenty 20).

1.Mayamohini
2.Run Babby Run
3. Ordinary
4. Thattathin Marayathu
5. Ustad Hotel
6. Spirit
7. Grand Master
8. Mallu Singh
9. Trivandrum Lodge
10. Diamond Necklace
11. 22 Female Kottayam
12. Ee Adutha Kalathu
13. Second Show
14. Cobra

Apart from these about 15 other movies have entered the 'Safe' zone thanks to the increasing Satellite rights and low PPP (Production, Print & Publicity) costs

Multiplexes is slowly becoming a trend in Kerala too, more and more families who stopped going to theaters year back have started coming back to movies, thank to them. The Multiplexes at Ernakulam, calicut & Angamaly have helped a boost in collections eventhough the ticket rates are bit higher compared to other cities in India. But with about 20 Multiplexes, by all major movie chains, set to open in the next 2 years its even merrier time ahead.

Most of the Telugu dubbed & Tamil films failed set the box office on fire unlike last year, even though they still continue to get bigger theater count than most straight Malayalam releases. Nanban & Gajapokkiri could be regarded as the biggest hits (so far) in those categories, while Maattrraan took the biggest opening of 2012.

With 2 months to Go Hope that the hit count touch '20'


Source: Kerala Film Producers Association

Image Credits to ManormaOnline

Kerala Movie Releases This Week [Oct 26] - Paper ADs, Posters etc

Allu Arjun's Gajapokkiri [Julai] - Exclusive Movie Review

Directed by     Trivikram Srinivas

Produced by     S. Radha Krishna
D.V.V. Danayya
Redakh Arts [Malayalam]

Story,  Screenplay    Trivikram Srinivas

Starring     

Allu Arjun
Ileana D'Cruz
Rajendra Prasad
Sonu Sood

Music by     Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematography     Chota K. Naidu, Shyam K. Naidu

Editing by     Prawin Pudi
Studio     Haarika & Hassine Creations

Distributed by    Redakh ArtsFicus Inc.

Release date         August 17, 2012

Running time     160 minutes

Country     India
Language     Malayalam [Dub]

Its after 1 year 2 months and 7 days [as the posters say] a Mallu arjun film is releasing in Kerala. Also Positive reports which the original Telugu version 'Julai' got raised the expectations. Allu Arjun has got a huge fan following among youth of Kerala, which is evident from the way each of his films open in Kerala. Huge Excitement was there among the fans as the last 3 ventures of the star were flops here.

Plot

The story is a revenge saga between Bittu (Sonu Sood) & Ravindra Narayan (Allu Arjun), whose paths cross during a bank robbery which Bittu is doing for  Political Leader Varada Raj (Kota Srinivasa Rao). Both men are looking for revenge and the rest of the story is the cat & mouse game between Bittu & Ravi. Illeana plays his love interest, Rajendra Prasad, Brahmanandam etc forms the rest of the cast.

First of all, the film is very much a watchable entertainer, especially when compared to last few films of Allu (Vedam was ruined by the Kerala Producer/Distributor.)

The character of Ravi, a happy go lucky guy, was tailor made for Allu Arjun, kind of role that made him famous here and he did full justice to the rule. Its an out an out Allu Arjun film. Rajendra Prasad was terrific as ACP Sitaram. Brahmanandam, R.Prasad, Allu Combo literally brought the entire house down in many occasions. 

The movie is more of an intellectual thriller/comedy/revenge type rather than the usual telugu mass films with heavy doss action & massy punch lines

The Dubbing was really good, as always Redakh Arts invested lot of money & effort to make it look like a Malayalam movie, which is a great relief. They have even changed the name boards, slogans, posters, wordss etc written in Telugu, seen in the movie here and there, to Malayalam digitally.

The Songs were good, but too many of them proved to be speed breaker. Choreography was good even though not terrific, expected some jaw droppig moves bay Allu. Editing was crisp. Visuals looked fresh kudos to cameraman, Trivikrams Direction was ok. 

The lyrics of the songs were too bad, to attain lip sync they compromised on quality.

The Script even though pretty much entertaining for most of the time and moves in rocket speed, has plenty of holes, more than what you find in a fisherman's net. Many action sequences were not just illogical, but downright ridiculous. The movie loses steam towards climax and director looked desperate to finish the movie some how. There are plenty of 'How the hell did he ....? moments in the film. But the biggest disappoinment was Illeana, in her chakkar to enter & sustain in Bollywood she lose lot of weight and looked anorexic. Lost all her charm, even the famous hips failed to do any magic, her role was half baked and she did an average job too.

So all in all GP is a one time watch and a perfect entertainer for Allu Arjun fans.

Verdict: Above Average

Rating 2.75/5

Box Office: - Film is getting mixed response, so should be above average or Hit at max

Kerala State Film Awards 2011 - Complete Winners List

Jury Chief

Minister for Cinema, Sports & Forest

Kerala State Film Awards 2011 - Complete Winners List

സംസ്ഥാന ചലച്ചിത്ര അവാര്‍ഡുകള്‍ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു


BEST ACTOR : DILEEP (VELLARIPRAVINTE CHANGATHI)

BEST 2ND ACTOR : FAHAD FAZIL (AKAM, CHAPPA KURISHU)

BEST ACTRESS : SWETHA MENON (SALT N' PEPPER)

2nd BEST  Actor: FAHAD FAZIL [CHAPPA KURISHU, AKAM]

2nd BEST ACTRESS: NILAMBUR AISHA

BEST MOVIE : INDIAN RUPEE

MOST POPULAR MOVIE : SALT N' PEPPER

BEST DIRECTOR : BLESSY

BEST 2nd MOVIE : IVAN MEGHAROOPAN

BEST SCRIPT : BOBBY-SANJAY

BEST COMEDYACTOR : JAGATHI SREEKUMAR

BEST BACKGROUND SCORE : DEEPAK DEV

BEST MUSIC: SHARRETH

BEST SINGER (MALE) : SUDHEEP

BEST SINGER (FEMALE) : SHREYA GOSHAL

SPECIAL JURY AWARD : Dr. BIJU (AKASHATHINTE NIRAM)

BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR : SHERRY (AADHIMADHYANTHAM)

Eecha - Exclusive Movie Review from Kerala 3.75/5

Directed by S S Rajamouli 

Produced by Sai Korrapati (Telugu) Prasad V. Potluri (Tamil) 

Written by S. S. Rajamouli Janardhan Maharshi Crazy Mohan (Tamil) 

Starring Sudeep Nani Samantha 

Music by M. M. Keeravani

Cinematography K. K. Senthil Kumar 

Editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao 

Studio Suresh Productions Vaaraahi Chalana Chitram (Telugu) PVP Cinema (Tamil)

 Distributed by 14 Reels Entertainment

Release date(s) July 6, 2012 

Running time 133 minutes 

Country India

 Language Malayalam [Dub]

Eecha – The Fly

Eecha is the Malayalam Dub of Telugu Tamil Bi-lingual Naan E/Eega. The Film has been dubbed from the Tamil version.

 Expectations

Expectations were high among those who watch Telugu movies & those who have heard about SS Rajamouli, the Maghadheera director.  Rajamouli is the Shankar of Tollywood with no flops so far & all his films turning out to be Blockbusters. With Magadheera he raised the bar to a next level. So much excitement was there to see what has he done this time. The title of the movie also gave rise to curiosity among people.

Story

Is a simple revenge story that we have seen many times before in Indian cinema. Hero in love with heroine, Villain also in love with the Heroine, Villain eliminate hero, hero is reborn as ‘Eecha’ (Fly), Tries to get his revenge. Will he succeed, what happens to the heroine forms the rest of the story.

It’s an out an out Rajamouli film. His dreams, his vision & passion is clearly visible in the film. Even though a simple story the narration makes the film worth every single penny of yours. It’s not a serious movie, it’s a fun movie suited more for the families and especially Kids.  The  animation is top notch, VFX works are very good matching Hollywood standards. Performances are also good. Sudeep did an excellent job as the villain; the scenes where the fly troubles him are outstandingly enacted by the Kannada Super star where he has to imagine the fly attacking him and act, it’s hard to believe that there was no fly there. Nani has a cameo length role, Samantha looked pretty and did a decent job, Music was good, so as the Background.

The Fly will be loved by kids for sure, the things that it do are sure to bring down the house. It’s a perfect treat for the entire family by Rajamouli – Its rip roaring fun

Positives

Rajamouli

VFX, Animation

Entertaining Script

Sudeep

Scenes between the fly & sudip

Music, Background

Camera & Editing
Eecha Item number @ the end 
Santhanam Comedy track [even though unnecessary]

Negatives

Dubbing

Ages old story of Revenge

Verdict

Go with your Family & Have a blast- you will love this Fly & the next time you try to kill one Eecha you will definitely think twice

Rating

3.75/5

Box Office - Blockbuster in AP, Above Average in Kerala, Super Hit in TN

UTV's Grandmaster - First DAy Celebrations - Exclusive Photos & Videos from Kerala