R.Panneeselvam, the director of the well-received 'Renigunta' comes up with another novel and unique script with '18 Vayasu' with the same crew of 'Renigunta' backing him. Produced by S.S Chakkaravarthy with his son Johnny in the lead, this film evoked curiosity with a unique psychiatric syndrome as a theme. Having such themes is not new, since Tamizh cinema fans are accustomed to watching such theme-based films, like 'Sigappu Rojakkal', 'Guna', 'Aalavandhaan', 'Anniyan', and even the latest '3'. What's peculiar here is the theme of clinical lycanthropy, which involves a delusion that the affected person can transform into, has transformed into, or is a non-human animal !
To start of with the cast, the protagonist and heir of the producer, Johnny has done a good job indeed with his character. He is suited for the role of a mentally-affected person and kudos to him for imbibing the body language of animals very aptly. The last stunt scene where he fights like a bull, must have been very painful and exhausting for him. This chap deserves some appreciation for his hard work. Newcomer Gayathri looks okay and homely but she needs intense acting course if she wants to be successful in her career. She looks uncomfortable in her role and is not entirely convincing. Rohini plays an important role but was wasted with very little screen timing. Kannada actor Sathyendran, plays another mentally-challenged person and evokes laughter at times with his antics but tends to go overboard. Yuvarani, J.S, Sevazhai, Krishna Davinci and others make up the cast.
This film has a compilation of talented and interesting technicians behind the film. Sanjay Karan's artwork is minimalistic with little props except for a couple of bazaar sets used for songs. Anthony is behind the editing board, and he tries to keep the pace of the film from not slowing down, but he was unsuccessful largely, thanks to the slow direction of the script. Rajasekar has done a brilliant work with the stunt portions. As this film needs special detailing, he has done his homework very well and brought out the maximum output from Johnny, in executing the stunt scenes. The bull-like fight in the climax, was the best. Great work ! Shakthi, is the man behind the camera and he too has done some wonderful job with interesting low-angles and close-ups. He has managed to capture the dry and dusty landscape the script demanded and maintained a yellow and dusty color tone for the film throughout, except for the night scenes. Also, with the correct length, Shakthi manages to picturize the fights properly and ensured that the hard work done by the stunt choreographer and the protagonist, does not go waste.
Popular hip-hop and rap music artists and producers, Dinesh Kanagaratnam and Charles Bosco duo are the people behind the music of this film. If you keep in mind of their previous works, this album will be a little surprise for you. Most of the tracks in this album are melody numbers, which they are not popular for. "Entha Ulagil" is a good melody number picturized against the lead pair, where the protagonist meets his heroine for the first time and its love at first sight with bazaar sets around. "Aanum Illa" is a song picturized on transgenders and transsexuals, in a night backdrop along the long street with hawker stalls. An unnecessary song in the story line. "Enakkena Nee" is a joyful number, picturized on the lead pair with small number of dancers thrown into with round-trolley shots used mostly in real locations. The pick of the album "Unnai Onru" was picturized in the now unavailable-for-shoot, Madurai Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal with minimal props and simple costume designs, shot in a typical dance number with plenty of dancers. "Podi Podi Pennae" is a number, picturized on the protagonist, on the run and has strong lighting and dusty tone throughout.
R.Panneerselvam, excited and enthralled us with his previous 'Renigunta' because of the unique stunt scenes and the exciting chase. But here, though the idea and concept was novel and unique, the direction and scripting lets us down big time, due to the bad handling of the director. Except for the lead protagonist, the rest of the cast members have poorly conceived and etched characters, which makes them look like caricatures. There is no cohesion and proper flow in the screen play. Though the songs were nice, they are wrongly placed and makes the screenplay to lag in pace. As the film progresses, boredom sets in with the viewers having no idea of where the film is progressing. Many questions go unanswered and characters go missing for no obvious reasons.
'18 Vayasu' is a tedious affair, with slow and lazy screenplay and a bad direction. After watching this, the viewers would definitely wonder, "Is this film from the same guy who directed 'Renigunta' ?"
Ratings: 2/5 STARS
BY:TAMIL
To start of with the cast, the protagonist and heir of the producer, Johnny has done a good job indeed with his character. He is suited for the role of a mentally-affected person and kudos to him for imbibing the body language of animals very aptly. The last stunt scene where he fights like a bull, must have been very painful and exhausting for him. This chap deserves some appreciation for his hard work. Newcomer Gayathri looks okay and homely but she needs intense acting course if she wants to be successful in her career. She looks uncomfortable in her role and is not entirely convincing. Rohini plays an important role but was wasted with very little screen timing. Kannada actor Sathyendran, plays another mentally-challenged person and evokes laughter at times with his antics but tends to go overboard. Yuvarani, J.S, Sevazhai, Krishna Davinci and others make up the cast.
This film has a compilation of talented and interesting technicians behind the film. Sanjay Karan's artwork is minimalistic with little props except for a couple of bazaar sets used for songs. Anthony is behind the editing board, and he tries to keep the pace of the film from not slowing down, but he was unsuccessful largely, thanks to the slow direction of the script. Rajasekar has done a brilliant work with the stunt portions. As this film needs special detailing, he has done his homework very well and brought out the maximum output from Johnny, in executing the stunt scenes. The bull-like fight in the climax, was the best. Great work ! Shakthi, is the man behind the camera and he too has done some wonderful job with interesting low-angles and close-ups. He has managed to capture the dry and dusty landscape the script demanded and maintained a yellow and dusty color tone for the film throughout, except for the night scenes. Also, with the correct length, Shakthi manages to picturize the fights properly and ensured that the hard work done by the stunt choreographer and the protagonist, does not go waste.
Popular hip-hop and rap music artists and producers, Dinesh Kanagaratnam and Charles Bosco duo are the people behind the music of this film. If you keep in mind of their previous works, this album will be a little surprise for you. Most of the tracks in this album are melody numbers, which they are not popular for. "Entha Ulagil" is a good melody number picturized against the lead pair, where the protagonist meets his heroine for the first time and its love at first sight with bazaar sets around. "Aanum Illa" is a song picturized on transgenders and transsexuals, in a night backdrop along the long street with hawker stalls. An unnecessary song in the story line. "Enakkena Nee" is a joyful number, picturized on the lead pair with small number of dancers thrown into with round-trolley shots used mostly in real locations. The pick of the album "Unnai Onru" was picturized in the now unavailable-for-shoot, Madurai Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal with minimal props and simple costume designs, shot in a typical dance number with plenty of dancers. "Podi Podi Pennae" is a number, picturized on the protagonist, on the run and has strong lighting and dusty tone throughout.
R.Panneerselvam, excited and enthralled us with his previous 'Renigunta' because of the unique stunt scenes and the exciting chase. But here, though the idea and concept was novel and unique, the direction and scripting lets us down big time, due to the bad handling of the director. Except for the lead protagonist, the rest of the cast members have poorly conceived and etched characters, which makes them look like caricatures. There is no cohesion and proper flow in the screen play. Though the songs were nice, they are wrongly placed and makes the screenplay to lag in pace. As the film progresses, boredom sets in with the viewers having no idea of where the film is progressing. Many questions go unanswered and characters go missing for no obvious reasons.
'18 Vayasu' is a tedious affair, with slow and lazy screenplay and a bad direction. After watching this, the viewers would definitely wonder, "Is this film from the same guy who directed 'Renigunta' ?"
Ratings: 2/5 STARS
BY:TAMIL
No comments:
Post a Comment