What do we look for in films?
Topic started by mr. orange (@ hse-toronto-ppp3484919.sympatico.ca) on Tue Jan 6 00:32:42 EST 2004.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.
please contribute a short review of a tamil movie (or more than one if you like) that has at least ONE of the following qualities:
1. complexity of story
2. freshness of elements or introduction of somewhat revolutionary ideas
3. characters with depth
4. aesthetic beauty of dialogue or picturization
5. master execution/direction (no 'cheap' scenes, excessive melodrama, etc.)
6. an expert analysis of a social practice or situation, usually subtle and containing many layers.
you may follow this format if you wish:
a) name of movie
b) what quality from the above list does it possess? (or you may add your own element that i may have missed above)
c) list any other comments you may have like impressive techniques or filmic devices employed in the movie, etc.
please remember to keep it concise so it holds peoples' interests.
the idea is for people to learn about good movies they might have missed or to look at a movie through another person's perspective.
looking forward to your submissions...
thanks!
Responses:
- From: mr. orange (@ hse-toronto-ppp3484919.sympatico.ca)
on: Tue Jan 6 00:57:40 EST 2004
aboorva raagangal:
-character depth, complex story, good direction, fresh idea
both the young characters are vibrant and pursue their unconventional love stories. the older characters, slightly more jaded are reluctant, wanting to be practical.
this dichotomy is classic and presented by KB in an interesting way.
the progression of the story is shown as analogous to different parts of a classical song which is also interesting.
the song adhisaya raagam is also one of the highlights of this movie. it's got amazing lyrics.
any other ideas on AR?
- From: hellobrotherr (@ 210.7.93.41)
on: Tue Jan 6 01:46:09 EST 2004
Hai
Yes, there's a lot of character depth in this movie. They are all indeed 'aboorva raagangal'. I will be back to post my selections !
- From: Vidhya shankar (@ 202.88.159.157)
on: Tue Jan 6 02:03:56 EST 2004
Aboorva Raagangal though a very good movie,it had its inspiration coming from Shakespeare's plays and a few english movies which had the habbit of putting its characters in to predicaments.
The Dailogues were typical Balachander kind,mind you they are not "typical Sachin shots",and so were most the scenes and cinematography in General.Aboorva Raagangal certainly not KB's first movie kept on reminding the viewers about his earlier products like sarvard sundaram etc.
In General,for a person who has not read much,who has not seen much of KB's movies,can sit and be amazed at the characterization and a few other aspects of this Movie.I suspect Mr.Orange to be one those.
- From: mr. orange (@ hse-toronto-ppp3484919.sympatico.ca)
on: Tue Jan 6 02:37:25 EST 2004
i admit i haven't seen many KB movies. this one is a good movie nonetheless. whether or not the dialogues, cinematography and general characterization are 'typical' and much like his other movies, they are good as far as this movie goes. the dialogue is witty at times and lucid. srividya's character is a contrast against the other characters in the movie, especially kamal's, who merely takes refuge in her caring and affection in an otherwise unjust and cruel world as he sees it. srividya, in spite of rajini's betrayal, holds no resentment against men (as a weaker woman might have done) and is not reluctant to take in a stranger and care for him even though it makes her vulnerable. it's a selfless act. she's also not looking for a void in her life to be filled by somebody like major sunderrajan is. she is not emotionally dependent on any of these characters, even her daughter although she loves her. there are very few characters like these in tamil movies. given all of this, it's hard to say that AR did NOT have characters with depth.
forget KB, even directors that have won acclaim at an international level have had their signature subjects, style, etc. i'm not saying that's better than experimenting with new things all the time, which a lot of good directors do. but it's hardly valid to look at a director's style in general while discussing a specific movie and what it accomplishes. surely, AR at least holds its own even if it was inspired by a nameless shakespearean source that you've yet to mention. its characters are rooted in indian soil, indian tradition and live indian lives. the whole discomfort viewers feel about the love 'rectangle,' the references to incest, etc. is all absorbed through an indian context.
- From: Suresh n Kumar (@ 61.2.240.218)
on: Tue Jan 6 16:32:50 EST 2004
Hmm Nice Topic,The key element that i look for in a movie is LOGIC,Flawless logic,especially if its not a comedy.I'll be satisfied if that one element is present though none of the other things that u've mentioned above are present,because its becoming a big ask to expect all or even one of those things in recent Tamil movies.There are a few movies which have impressed me or moved me rather,one of the movies is Raagamanjiri's "Aval appadithan",Directed by Rudariah a Student of the Madras Film Institute.This movie i suppose was released in the year 1978.
The movie has an excellent set of characters,not just the 3 main Characters (Manju played by Sripirya,Arun Played by Kamal Hasan,Thyagu Played by RajniKanth),but all of them display exceptional duplication of people in real life.
Manju is a woman who happens to have a very bad childhood (irresponsible parents etc..),she comes through a path of tainted experiences caused by treacherous people.All her bad experiences shape her to become more coarse with people and their actions.she becomes cold,numb to emotions (or atleast she pretends to be so),a typical woman with a lot of boldness,egotism and eccentricity.
Thyagu is the Manager of the firm in which Manju works,thyagu is a typical bachelor,who doesn't really respect women,"a prejudiced male ass" as the dialogue goes in the movie itself.Hes a person who makes strong opinions about people,most of them in comfort with what his mind wants to accept.He drinks,parties,doesn't want to waste any chance of exploiting a woman's weakness if any.
Arun is a friend of Thyagu's,who comes to Madras to shoot a Documentary on Women and their position in the society,in various angles.Arun unlike a typical bachelor,has an entirely different mindset about women,hes patient and profound .He deals everything patiently and does a lot of thinking before he forms an opinion about anyone or anything.
All these 3 entirely different characters share,or expose rather,a small part of their lives in the same time period,with each other.Manju who works in an Advertising firm comes forward to help Arund with his project.During this period,Arun develops a kind of care and love for Manju,inspite of her relentlessly rude behaviour and negligence.When all his efforts fail to clasp Manju's trust,he decides to save the last bit of self respect hes got and get back home(Coimbatore).Meanwhile,Manju decides to make the move,but realizes that hes already gone.When she hears that Arun is coming back to Madras,she rushes to see him,only to get another bad surprise,Yes! Arun is now Married,and hes with his new wife.At this point when they(Arun,his new wife,Manju,Thyagu) happen to travel in the same car,unequalled exchange of words takes place {{ Manju to Arun's Wife : "What do u think about women's liberation?" , >she shows no sign of reception< Arun Translates it for her: "Pengal sudhandhiram pathi enna nenaikureenga'nu kekaraanga?" Arun's wife says: "Adha pathi enakku onnum theriyadhu" Manju responds with a grin: "adha naaladhan neenga sandhoshama irukkeenga }}.
As the movie ends, a background voice says "Manju meendum irandhu ponaal,aval irappal,pirappal,pirappal,irappal.....Aval Appadithan" (Means "Manju died again,she dies,takes birth,takes birth,dies again...Shes like that" ).
It shows almost all kinds of characters we have around us,the movie doesn't carry any propaganda,it doesn't preach false women's liberation,it shows a few stingy women and a slightly increased proportion of stingy men,which is practically(probably) the right ratio.It deals with everything,little fun,failure and disappointments.The dialogues are very simple and natural and hence extremely pragmatic,which automatically has the maximum effect on its viewers.The picturization is pretty simple and neat,no dramatic angles and garbled lighting.Music is by ilayaraja,2 songs and both too good.one sung my Kamal himself.All of them had shown consummate professionalism and deep maturity in their acting.I would say this one is arguably the best movie every made in Tamil Cinema.
Am not sure if i've told what i exactly had in my mind,i apologize for not being concise,but i doubt not many have seen this movie,atleast those were born in the early 80s.ok then...
Bye
Suresh
- From: genie (@ x1-6-00-0c-6e-1e-7f-9c.k50.webspeed.dk)
on: Wed Jan 7 08:07:16 EST 2004
good story
good songs
good actors/actress
good direction
and glamour
- From: vennai-saamy (@ )
on: Thu Feb 26 20:36:29
mannangatti.
genie, perisa pudisa kandupidichitteenga da saamy!
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