The year is 2026 - 5 years since my last blog post. I've had other avenues for expression, but blogging is definitely more personal.. my own space in the huge cyber-world.
Going through difficult times. Unbelievably stupid and difficult. My own doing. 'Putting-saniyan-in-baniyan' types. Or in Gautam Menon's style - 'one-way ticket' to hell instead of mere heartbreak city (yes, heartbreaks are minor in comparison to the current soup).
Despite this, I ended up watching a movie twice in theatres. I felt connected MOST of the times. I won't lie, I did zone out in between. But that's not surprising - my body is actually zooming through several parallel universes - like warping through a wormhole. Or skidding at the edge of a gargantuan blackhole.
Will try to list in bulletpoints about the movie experience. Spoilers may be there ahead. But movie would be enjoyable even if you read these before watching. That's how good the movie is.
- If you loved Radhika in Jeans movie, you'd ADORE her in Thaai kizhavi. Madamoiselle's best - she's the icing at the top of the cake... no, she's the entire cake! And it's a cakewalk for the veteran. I wish I could watch the behind-the-scene prepping for this role. May be she mimicked an actual old lady from a village? Whatever, low bow to her for bringing Pounuthaayi into existence!
- Movie is the director's debut?! He's not going to have an easy way ahead - I'm going to look forward to only blockbusters from him. Thanks for setting expectations sky high! And thanks to the producer, Sivakarthikeyan for bringing such talents to the limelight.
- The bgm by Nivas K Prasanna was apt to the T. Several goosebump moments, milked more than their due with heart-wrenching or gut-wrenching music bits! They've used a lot of hit songs from other movies as per the situation - the magic works- they all come together in a fashion that you are at the edge of your seat (unless you've booked the recliner seat :P !).
- Growing up with Tamil movies, you are always used to seeing a male hero in the lead. Even in 'female-centric' movies, there's a popular hero in guest appearance at the least. Here, after introducing Radhika, she quickly goes into inaction and other actors carry the film through on their shoulders. You are left expecting some hero face to crop up on the scene - of course, it never happens. When Radhika returns to action, it's all smiles. We are all the happies!
- Some more directorial brainwaves - naming a character 'Benny Quick', the fevicol flower shop, the karuppasaami lightning moment, Kangaroo adigalar, only-kamal-songs-village-DJ, thooriga-boy, the old man in the photo poses, the 3 daughter-in-laws' character sketch, how the saree-draping style varies from one character to another, the sign language fun.
- Loved the confidence and how the lead actor simply DOMINATED the screen whenever she appeared. Her arguments on why financial independence is so important for women. Yes, she said it. You can't shut it up now...Let it PIERCE your heart!
