Amarkalam (1999)

I have been trying to write this "review" for about 2 hours now, and all my brain can come up with is a mental image of Ajith singing "Shalini, oh meri Shalini" in the tune of "Chandni, oh meri Chandni" while shooting for this film. And no, I do not need deconstruction techniques to tell me that that is all because of how good the golden couple looked together in their only film together (yet) (yes, I am very much aware that Shalu has retired from showbiz, but goddamnit I can't stop hoping that one day she'll come back). 

In all honesty, I wasn't the biggest fan of the plot- I could see the "big" twist coming from miles away, and Ajith's background story made me fairly nauseated. However, what saved this movie for me were Shalini and Ajith's performances, and the songs, AND both these aspects combined. I would say that the movie is worth watching just to see the "Sattam Illatha" song in full context. The "Unnodu Vazhada" song sequence looks and feels like a dream, and reminded me so much of the first few days of falling in love- how everything feels soft and heavenly, just like K.S. Chithra's voice. Also, Raghuvaran's performance is creepy max here, which just makes the climax, and the end (special bonus treat for Shalini-Ajith fans/shippers) that much more satisfying, and kind of makes you forget many of the film's flaws. Speaking of which, this movie also reminded me of Indian cinema's sickening obsession with the glorification of police brutality. Shame.

In conclusion, come back Shalu, and bless us again. 

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