Yuganiki Okkadu - Injurious to Health
(Rating - 2/5)
I was teased by the trailers and intriguing posters. Though skeptical of Tamil director Selva Raghavan’s ability to create a magnum opus, I nodded in agreement when my best buddy invited me for Yuganiki Okkadu, expecting the movie would be at least visually enchanting.
A sense of déjà vu, however, crept in as the show schedule neared because of my bitter experiences with the recent big-budget Tamil movies - Rajini’s Sivaji, Kamal’s Dasavatharam and Vikram’s Mallanna (Kandasamy in Tamil).
Yuganiki Okkadu (Aayirathil Oruvan in Tamil), is no different. Imbecile storyline, unintelligent sequences and pathetic screenplay make it difficult to sit through the 160 minute movie. In fact, I am now concerned about the forthcoming big-budget Tamil movie Robot, starring Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai.
The movie starts on an interesting note where a Chola king along with his people is shown escaping to a distant place in Vietnam, after losing the battle to Pandyas. In the process, the Cholas take away the idol of Pandya’s deity and the Pandyas continue to hunt for it for centuries.
In the 21st century, an archeologist goes missing under mysterious circumstances trying to locate the Cholas, prompting the central government to send a team - led by Reema Sen and including the archeologist’s daughter Andrea, some military officers, and a group of laborers headed by the protagonist Karthi - to unravel the mystery.
The team has to survive seven traps laid by the Cholas to prevent others from entering their settlement. The rest of the film is all about the team’s dangerous journey to the Chola’s hamlet and the incidents thereafter.
The first half of the movie has some interesting sequences and subtle comedy involving Karthi, Reema Sen and Andrea. But hackneyed screenplay and some silly special effects, especially the scenes involving the deadly water-inhabitants, mar the progress of the movie. The scenes in the desert are picturized amateurishly and the make-up is highly inconsistent.
The second half of the movie has some stunning visuals, but again clichéd scenes and weak narration overshadow the special effects. The camera work is good in the second half post the arrival of the Chola king (Parthiban). The scenes are dark and reminiscent of movies such as Gladiator, Beowulf and 300. The narration of the scenes involving Parthiban is not smooth while some scenes are hard to fathom. There are some bold yet crazy and extreme scenes that are typical of Tamil films.
G V Prakash’s background score is brilliant but the songs are loud and hard to understand, thanks to the idiotic picturization. The placement of songs is not convincing either. Luckily, the Telugu version has only two songs, and about 15 minutes of the Chola king's barbaric acts were trimmed.
As for the actors, Reema Sen is bold, Andrea is sexy and Karthi suits the coolie character to the T. But, it’s Reema Sen in the first half and Parthiban in the second half who steal the thunder from Karthi.
Top 5 ridiculous scenes:
1. Reema Sen’s greasepaint is still intact even after the horrendous journey through wild forest and desert.
2. Availability of telephone signals in the mysterious land that is far off from the civilized world. Wonder which network is that?
3. The army using helicopters and reaching the foreign land (Chola's dwelling) in no time. Why didn't Reema Sen's team use helicopters even though they knew of the blockades? Also, involving army in the mission that involves slaughtering of hundreds of ethnics is hard to digest.
4. The climax battle between soldiers and Chola army; AK 47s versus swords and daggers.
5. Graphics after Reema Sen reveals that she is a Chola messenger.
Nonetheless, a decent attempt to raise the bar of Indian cinema, but I suggest you to watch at your own risk. Please refrain from taking kids as the movie has liberal usage of expletives and some erotic scenes.
PS: Tamil websites have given thumbs up to this movie. But after watching the colossal Magadheera and breathtaking Arundhati, and given the overdose of Tamil nativity, the movie is sure to bomb in Andhra Pradesh.
Magadheera – One hour of technical brilliance
If Arudhati has enhanced technical standards of Telugu cinema early this year, Ram Charan’s or should I say S.S. Rajmouli’s Magadheera is a perfect extension to the new trend of using technology to enhance visual experience.
The one hour post interval episode takes you to a whole new world. First rate art work combined with excellent graphics and superb digital correction make you sit and watch the 16th century A.D saga in awe.
The camera work by Senthil, who also worked for Arundhati, goes with the mood of the story. The stunts and action episodes are breathtaking, but MM Keeravani’s background score failed to match the intensity in some scenes. This can be the only minus in the technical department. I apologize for my comments and I take my words back after watching the movie for the second time. MM Keeravani's music in unmatchable. Background score during certain episodes - Charan touching Kajal's hands and during action sequences in the flashback- really elevates the scenes.
The other one and half hour in the move is okay with a lot of loose threads. However, the director covered it up with some beautiful love sequences between the lead pair.
Magadheera is a director’s dream and Rajamouli should be really appreciated for the making such a wonderful movie. Of course, the production house Geetha Arts for investing more than 50 crores in creating this technical marvel.
As far as actors, Charan is simply superb. He looks cool in long hair and cow-boy hat. His horse-riding sequences are a treat to watch - reminiscent of Mega Star Chiranjeevi. He looks manly in the role of a gladiator. The character is etched carefully and gives him enough scope to showcase his prowess in sword fights. His dances are too good and costumes very good.
Kajal is cute and looks gorgeous in the princess garb. The way she offers herself to the man in Charan is nicely shot.
The villain in this film gets enough footage unlike in many Telugu films where he is just limited to shouting and uttering powerful dialogs.
The whole auditorium went mad at Chiranjeevi’s brief appearance post Bangaru Kodi Petta song.
Direction by S.S. Rajamouli is inconsistent some times. He seems to have concentrated more on making the one hour period episode flawless, while ignoring certain basics of film-making in the remaining movie.
The comedy sequence involving Brahmanandam fails to evoke laughter. Certain graphics for fire effect are pale and Srihari’s jeep episode in the climax is pathetic.
Top Scenes:
1. Charan’s horse riding after discovering his lady love
2. Charan killing 100 people
3. Charan’s confrontation with Sher Khan
4. The race / battle for princess’ chunni in the desert
5. Discovery of the old sword along with the villain’s skull in the climax
P.S. Chiru still carried the same style and charm and the writer just went crazy in the hall.
Arundhathi - Movie Review (Rating 4/5)
Watch the movie only in a 70mm theater equipped with DTS or Dolby sound system.
Technical Marvel
A 5-minute Arundhati trailer showed during the movie 'King' caught everyone's attention immediately. The visuals created deep impact and made me wait impatiently for the movie release. The posters further invigorated my desire to watch the movie termed 'magnum opus' by its producer Shyam Prasad Reddy, who is credited to have brought first rate graphics to Telugu film industry through films like Ammoru and Anji (which won the National award for best graphics in 2005). Though Anji won him a National award, the film bombed at the box office and Shyam lost huge money. However, it didn't stop him from producing another hi-fi movie and after 5 years, he's back and back with vengeance.
To put it straight, Arundhati is a visual delight. The excellent and intelligent use of special effects take audience to a whole new world, perhaps never entered by any Indian movie. The audience come to know from the very first scene that they are in for a huge treat and the treat gets bigger and better and by the end of first half, people are sure to wonder like Alice.
Shyam gets brilliant support from Rahul and Senthil. Senthil Kumar's Cinematography is amazing. Visual effects and graphics work by Rahul Nambiar are breathtaking and are on par with Hollywood standards (barring one or two scenes). Koti's background music and re-recording surprise everyone. He has done a superb job. Art director Ashok should be commended for giving grand backdrops that elevated the flashback episodes. Editing is slick. I literally doubt director Kodi Ramakrishna's contribution to the film as Shyam Prasad Reddy takes the credit for screenplay and story. However, he can treat this as his best work till date.
Glam-doll Anushka is brilliant and majestic as Jejamma, the brave princess. No other current generation artist could have rendered such royal feel to the character. May be Shilpa Shetty with her height could have suited, but again the emotions part would come into equation. On the flip side, Anushka isn't convincing while performing the drum dance. But the way she injures Sonu Sood during the dance sequence is good.
Sonu Sood as Aghora is superb. P Ravi Shankar, who dubbed for Sonu Sood, should be commended for the effort. There are many scenes in the movie where only the voice is heard and the modulation by Ravi Shankar is brilliant and sends jitters down the spine. Shiyaji Shinde plays another important role.
Arundhati is different and shows how passionate Shyam is about his film making. Squandering money in the name of grandeur is simple, but making the grandness look grand is something only possible for very few. Directors like Raghavendra Rao and Dasari Narayana Rao, who have made over 100 films and are now making third grade films, can learn the art of making big films by watching Arundhati. This movie should also serve as a lesson to directors like Shankar and production houses like AVM, who had spent about 50 crores for producing a mediocre movie like Sivaji.
For Telugu audience, who have got bored and tired of watching run of the mill stuff, this is a huge relief. A film they can be proud of. Heavy dose of violence might put off a few people but the film cannot be made without violence. The second half seems a bit lengthy but you wouldn't mind watching a couple of minutes more. Dubbing in some scenes is not proper and care should have been taken to avoid this. The last 10 minutes could have been handled more efficiently to give the movie a fitting end.
Top scenes
Anushka entering the deserted palace for the first time. Observe the DI.
Aghora getting freedom.
Aghora in Anushka's house before interval.
Shiyaji Shinde showing Satan in air.
Tormenting of couple at the start. The re-recording is brilliant.
