Raja's read only memories

Peppered by stellar performances by its cast, Saguni has a beaten-to-death storyline If only politics were as easy as portrayed in Saguni Anarchy prevails the ruling political party — which interestingly portrays the late actor Poornam Vishwanathan as its founder — when its scheming deputy chief Boopathy (Prakash Raj) supplants the chief minister-elect unceremoniously, with some help from his concubine (Kiran, back after a hiatus). He rules the party, and the state, with an iron fist. The camera then swings to the protagonist, Kamalakannan (Karthi) a villager on his maiden visit to Chennai, who, after witnessing its squalor, remarks sardonically, "Busy city, pasi (hungry) citizens." Sounds familiar? Those who grew up in the 70s/ 80s would have sworn that these scenes belong to an MGR's messiah-of-the-masses movie (think Nam Naadu ), or Rajinikanth flick. A man-against-the-system themed movie that manages to punch above its weight due to power-packed ...

If ever a Hari movie, the director of the movies Saamy, Vel and Singam to name a few, were to be shrunk into a bullet-box, it would read as follows: a setting in south Tamil Nadu, with the plot centering on a single town; loud dialogues; knives, machetes, bombs; and melodrama and violence, with the latter in copious amounts. The said characteristics fit the description of his latest movie, Vengai (tiger), to the-T. Selvam’s (Dhanush) efforts to capture the culprits behind blowing up a railway track, sets the tone for Vengai , which is largely set in Sivaganga and Trichy. Selvam’s father Veerapandi (Rajkiran), a dispenser of justice to the locals, has connections with rowdies in different districts; he convinces 50,000 persons to vote for Rajalingam (Prakash Raj, in familiar territory as villain); and government officials report to him for scrutiny of deals done by Rajalingam (who says we need RTI?) – all for public good. Rajalingam simmers with discontent when his attempts to earn...

Appeared in City Express , the daily supplement of The Ne w Indian Express , on 25th April, 2011 It is not too often that we get to see a hero, instead of beating up a gang of bank robbers, pursues them in his bike, does whee lies and dare-devil stunts, all to take their pictures and splash it in the media. It isn’t too often that the viewer gets lulled into expecting something different from such a movie. K V Anand’s latest directorial venture, Ko, sadly is all about this and much more. Ashvin (Jiiva) is a photographer of Dina Anjal , a Tamil daily, whose prowess with the lens would make even a P eter Parker from Spiderman languis h in shame. Renu (Karthika, daughter of yeste ryear Tamil her oine, Radha), a reporter in the same daily, who did “responsible” coverage in Sri Lanka, i s eithe r content playing second-fiddle to Ashwin or pursuing the “scoops” he gives her after an analysis of his pictures, and by decree, falls in love with him. Then there is the political minefield o...