In Theatres This Week: A Preview

This Friday is going to be an important day for Kollywood. The last time we verified, we were told 11 films will be releasing on March 6. On an average, only about four movies hit theatres every week. The number decreases further, if films of popular stars and big banners join the race. So, the release of 11 films on the same day has piqued trade pundits’ curiosity, for Ajith’s Yennai Arindhaal, Dhanush’s Anegan, and Sivakarthikeyan’s Kaaki Sattai are still faring well in theatres.

Among the 11 releases, Siddharth’s Enakkul Oruvan is the only film that is produced and distributed by a well-known entity – Thirukumaran Entertainment, Dream Factory and Radiance Media. A couple of moderate budget films feature famous stars and the rest are made by emerging directors and producers.

A roundup here:

1. Enakkul Oruvan

Enakkul Oruvan, the Tamil remake of the crowd-funded Kannada film Lucia, triggered interest since the time the project was launched in 2013. Directed by debutant Prasath Ramar, the movie has Deepa Sannidhi and Shruti Dange pairing opposite Siddharth. Although it’s technically a remake, Prasath Ramar told us in this interview that it’s his interpretation of the original, and that he has looked at it as a love story with a fantasy element.

The film is titled after Kamal Haasan’s yesteryear film which explored reincarnation. CV Kumar observed at a press meet that the crew couldn’t think of a title that could be more relevant. This year, after Kaaki Sattai, Enakkul Oruvan is the second film to have borrowed its name from a Kamal Haasan movie.

The psychological thriller follows an insomniac projector operator, who slips into delusion. Siddharth, who dons dual roles, appears voguish in one part. He particularly looks stunning in the Prabalamagavey song, which he has rendered himself. Those tuxedo and winkle-pickers duly complement him. In another part, he appears as a diffident, dark young man with adorable bunny teeth. Enakkul Oruvan is Siddharth’s 25th film as an actor.

While talking to Silverscreen a few months ago, Siddharth said that he considers Enakkul Oruvan one of the most significant films in his career, after Jigarthanda and Kaaviya Thalaivan. Enakkul Oruvan has given him more scope to prove his prowess as an actor, as he is the only lead, unlike the other two films in which he shares screen space with Bobby Simha and Prithviraj.

The most exciting aspect of Enakkul Oruvan is its music. Santhosh Narayanan, the favourite music director of Thirukumaran Entertainment, has composed some quirky, lovely tracks. The album is a great mix of songs that have come out of experiments and tried-and-tested methods. Santhosh revealed at a press meet that the track Endi Ippadi features sounds of popular video game themes. The number Vathikuchi is rendered by veteran Manicka Vinayagam, whose rustic voice gives an all new spin to the track that otherwise sounds modern. And, Poo Avizhum Pozhudhil has got so much soul.

Enakkul Oruvan is produced by CV Kumar, who is known for supporting talented young filmmakers and ambitious offbeat projects.

 2. Thoppi

TV personality Murli Ram makes his acting debut with Thoppi. The romance that’s filmed in some virgin locations in Tamil Nadu seems to be a tribute to our memories of Mynaa. Also, cinematographer Sukumar, who worked in Mynaa, has handled the camerawork for the film.

Each frame is green and chilly.

Murali Ram is the grand nephew of filmmaker GN Rangarajan, who made movies like Kalyanaraman and Meendum Kokila. The actor plays a rural ruffian in Thoppi which is directed by Yureka, who had earlier made Madurai Sambavam and the controversial Sigappu Enakku Pudikkum.

3. Serndhu Polama:

From the looks of it, Serndhu Polama is going to be a typical Vinay film. There are two heroines, and the movie has been entirely shot abroad. Remember Unnale Unnale?

Serndhu Polama is a romantic musical, says Wikipedia. Directed by Malayalam filmmaker Anil Kumar, the film has Madhurima and Preethi. There is a surprise, too. Thambi Ramaiah wears all sorts of cool clothes in Serndhu Polama. Some trendy tees and funky hats. Also, he speaks English. Like a boss. At a press meet, we were told that a girl from New Zealand plays Thambi Ramaiah’s girlfriend. The film was shot in picturesque locations in and around Auckland.

4. Romba Nallavan Da Nee

The comedy starring Mirchi Senthil and Shruty Bala is directed by A Venkatesh, who made films like Dum, Kuthu, Aai, Bhagavathi. Interestingly, Venkatesh’s Sandamarudham released just a couple of weeks ago.

The Romba Nallavan Da team recently held a press meet and told us how delighted they were about the film by wearing a sash that carried the movie’s name (they didn’t walk the ramp though.) Romba Nallavan Da Nee features a lot of TV personalities: Robo Shankar, Swaminathan and Imman Annachi.

5. En Vazhi Thani Vazhi

There is always something grand about RK’s film. He shoots his songs in fancy places and his movies explore social issues. Also, he likes playing a cop or an advocate. And, almost always wields pistols. In En Vazhi Thani Vazhi, he is a police officer a la Honest Raj. Shaji Kailash and RK collaborate again after Ellam Avan Seyal. Their last outing was a moderate success.

En Vazhi Thani Vazhi seems to be a commercial entertainer. Some crucial parts of the film were shot in Jordan, where the crew was detained for trespassing. Then the team had to hold a private screening of the movie to the police officials, who finally let them go.

We attended the audio launch a couple of months ago, and what grabbed our attention was a song that was reminiscent of Vijay’s Neeya Pesiyadhu from Thirumalai. The duet is shot in a beautiful desert, where Poonam Kaur, clad in a black dress, is seen making wild moves. RK then adjust his shades, jumps across Poonam, and swishes his coat. Classic, we think.

6. Maha Maha

Maha Maha features a whole lot of first timers, except Anupama Kumar. Mathivannan Sakthivel, an Australia-based Tamil, plays the lead, and has also directed and produced the film. Most part of the romantic thriller is filmed in Australia. Ilaiyaraaja’s nephew Pavalar Siva (son of Pavalar Varadarajan, Ilaiyaraaja’s brother) has composed music, and the first CD was received by Ilaiyaraaja. According to The Hindu, there are three songs in Maha Maha and all are pleasant.

 

Four other movies hit the theatres on March 6: Thavarana Pathai, Inji Murappa, Iravum Pagalum Varum, and Aaya Vada Sutta Kathai. Only Iravum Pagalum Varum‘s cast is a little known. The film has Mahesh of Angadi Theru fame and Ananya. The film, said to be a romantic comedy, also has director A Venkatesh playing a cop.