Mane No 13  

Genere: Horror/Thriller

Rating ⭐⭐

After watching a very good release, in theatres, last Friday, I needed some antidote to get out from that hangover. This movie is a perfect escape mechanism. If the movie is good, hours doesn't matter. Otherwise, even less than two hours that you spend, needs grit to sit through.

As I gave the hint yesterday, the movie did began like I Know What You Did Last Summer. But later, no one knows what runs in this film's director ViVy Kathiresan's mind. A group of Techies, rent a haunted house 'Mane No 13' after two years of their hit, and murder of another friend Ahalya. Then the comedy begins. Yes, they should have added Comedy also in the movie's genre. The noise, which we are made to endure as horror, is very predictable as one after another is killed by an unseen enemy. With a written note for a change on the time when the next killing would take place. By this time if you want to quit, don't. Because the director has twin suspense for you in the store. If you can't predict the first suspense, then there is another jolt. Just wait. 

The characters led by Ramana are just OK. Same with other technical aspects too. But, if the filmmakers think audiences can be fooled by the false narratives as shown in this movie, then better they learn to respect the movie lovers' expectations. Miss-able. Even if it is streamed on a OTT. 

The two stars that I have given here are one in advance for all the audiences who decide to watch this movie even after reading many reviews, and another one for the cinematographer, who every now and then tilts his camera upside down. Thank you for the special effects. 

Ends/-

Anantha Subramanyam K

                                                                 ACT 1978

 

Rating✪✪✪✪

 As a Cinema Buff, the scene, where in the midst of a famous bank robbery in 1972, in Brooklyn, Sonny Wotzik comes out to take the Pizza and also pays the delivery boy with tips. Played by Al Pacino in neo-noir crime drama Dog day Afternoon (1975)

 

How much have we yearned for similar plot and execution in sandalwood all these years! There is a scene in Act 1978 where Yagna Shetty tells her negotiator to pay the BESCOM bill and Paint Zebra Stripes on a Road hump. Well, if you think this is a silly demand, then aren't we all victims of such civic apathy and remained mute spectators for way too long?

 

ACT 1978, the movie, deals with serious anomalies in government departments. After losing her father, husband and hope, victim Geetha, pregnant and in pain, decides to take the entire department staff as hostages with strapping a live bomb with the help of Sharanappa, a wise old man. As the drama unfolds, the story deftly deals with the dilemma that government agencies face following the demand by Geetha that has many legal hurdles. With a sharp but factual presentation on how society and media behaves under the circumstances.  

 

Monsore and team have delivered an engaging saga and achieved what many directors and production houses failed even with hero worship, songs and stunts that are so unreal. Though there are certain shortcomings here or there, the focus here is the engagement from the beginning to the end which scores the most. With good background score and cinematography. 

 

In fact, there is a clear question to each one of us on how you deal with an issue? With violence, or the Gandhian way ? Visualizing with of the contradicting characters. As the final countdown begins with the ticking time bomb about to explode, the audience will be left shattered at the end for sure. Not to be missed, B Suresha's silence that is so deafening. 

 

ACT 1978 is an excellent watch for the family and a lesson or two in self introspection for all.

 

Anantha Subramanyam K

                                              

                                   Soorarai Pottru

 

4/5

 

Soorarai Pottru is it a Biopic or a Fiction?

Well, the answer lies in the life and tale of Captain Gopinath whose experiences in realising his dreams were no less than a fiction, but a drama in Real Life. And when the story is inspired by events that made Deccan Air a reality with Suriya as the lead, then you are bound to have a bon voyage, yeah with a lot of turbulence before a smooth touch down.

Suriya is Nedumaran (Maara) is a socialist by chance and  aviator by choice. And the movie is all about following the heart , come what may, to open up skies for the common man. The struggles and obstacles to achieve this dream forms the exhilarating journey from the first frame of the movie till the end.

The characters surrounding the protagonist are equally interesting and leave their mark on the viewers. Be it the parents, friends or his foes, every one has had their presence  throughout movies as the story oscillates between present and past with good screenplay. Suriya’s partner in the journey Aparna Balamurali is a perfect match only adds to the exploits of a daring couple ready to take the plunge with or without Bungee Rope!

All said and done, the making of this movie has taken a bit too much of cinematic freedom too. The best scene in the movie is in the airport where the hero cannot take flight because he falls short of airfare and the desperation followed is a sureshot award winning performance. In reality, does that happen that way? Or, just bargig into the President's office and the president calling him in because he is a Maduraikaaran. Well, that’s cinematic freedom and will be enjoyed by the audience for sure.

Overall, it’s a great team work led by Sudha K Prasad with BGM, Editing & Visuals all complimenting each other. It would have been great to watch the drama unfold on the big screen, but it was equally good on my TV screen also.

Anantha Subramanyam K