one time wanderer

Why is Dulquer Salmaan going the Bejoy Nambiar way and forgetting the existence of good script-writers?  The problem with Kurup wasn't that it wasn't an interesting enough real-life story: the problem lies with its fictionalisation. The love track with Sobhita Dhulipala was so not needed (the lead pair doesn't have an interesting chemistry either, they're just two good-looking people thrown in together), and neither was the painfully long-drawn out episode of Kurup in the Indian Air Force. Had the focus been more on the investigation and less on the rest of the protagonist's life, it could have been a good watch, but sadly, it all feels messed up and out of place. The performances were decent enough, I suppose: Indrajith, who plays the police officer investigating Kurup's case was the stand-out for sure. Dulquer himself was a lot of fun, but my patience wore thin after a point. Tovino Thomas, who barely had 5 minutes of screen-time, managed to leave an impact. S...

Jai Bhim was easily one of the most powerful movies released in 2021, and it should be made compulsory viewing in all educational institutions with zero delay.  If I had to pick one absolute favourite thing about the film, it would have to be how Chandru (played by Suriya in what is a career-best performance) never gets a back-story about how he landed up as a fiery human rights lawyer and activist. It might sound like the bare minimum, but this is exactly how you avoid an unnecessary hero-glorification arc, and keep the story focused on the fight for justice.  Considering how the movie is almost 3 hours long, staying focused was a challenge anyway, but they pulled it off. There were slip-ups here and there, especially in the torture scenes that were repeated, but overall, the length was not an issue for me.  I loved how the movie treats Rajakannu (Manikandan) and Sengeni's (Lijomol Jose) relationship with all the dignity and complexity that it deserves, instead of making...

This movie somehow fit in perfectly with my mood, which is altogether a rarity: how often has it happened that you watched a movie in a mood that was not appropriate for it, thereby ruining the experience for you forever? But thankfully, The Blue Sky Maiden was just the witty and refreshing slice-of-life film that I was looking for on a gloomy rainy day in Chennai. There isn't really much in terms of plot or character development, but it's kind of the perfect movie to watch when you don't have too much attention to spare. Some scenes were really funny as well- always a bonus. In conclusion, my full-on Japanese art appreciation phase when?! 

How can a movie be relevant and relatable 69 years after its release? Watch Parasakthi to find out. It won't be a stretch to say that this movie was nothing short of a revelation. The story hits as hard today as it must have done back when it was first released: it has multiple anti-caste narratives, addresses sexual harassment at the workplace, shows how vulnerable widows and their children are, and finally, exposes the futility of war without ever directly highlighting the war itself. It really should come as no surprise that the movie continues to be discussed even now, in both academic and non-academic circles.  As for Sivaji Ganesan, I have nothing to say except that I am officially a simp. It's hard to believe this was his cinematic debut (he had worked as a theatre artist previously) because he lives his character so effortlessly. It's the kind of performance that makes you want to look up every single thing the actor has been a part of, honestly. In conclusion, Karu...