Ravanan (Tamil) -- Worth a Watch

Ravanan (Tamil version, with English subtitles)
Rating: 2.5/5.00
Worth Rs.70/Rs. 70 (reduced rate of Rs.70 as it was morning show and apparently no one is coming for the movie) However, there were some 15 of us! 14 tamilians and me.

After the ear shattering experience of Abhishek as Ravan in Hindi, I wanted to check out how Vikram has done the role. Indeed, Vikram fits the Ravan character better. Of course, he does not come out as a menacing villain, but his love for Ash comes out clearly. In the Hindi version, this was just guess work and one was not sure.

Surprisingly, I found the Tamil version, pretty OK and watchable. In fact to recall, I had called the Hindi version the most boring movie I have seen in recent times. Thanks to the subtitles I could follow the meaning in the songs and the voiceovers. Mani has in fact loaded the songs and voiceover with deep meanings.

As I went through the first half, I could make out why Mani had failed in the Hindi version. In the Tamil version too the same failings would apply. Basically, the movie has a lot of loose ends. One keeps asking why is this so, this is not normal. For instance, there is a face-off between the brigands and the police. The brigands just disappear, with Dev capturing and beating one of them. What meaning or value is this sequence adding to the movie?

While Vikram overshadows Abhishek in the acting department, it is Govinda overshadowing his counterpart. Aishwarya seems competent or at least she has made a good effort to act in the Tamil version. Why the emotions cannot be seen in the Hindi version is a mystery to me. The Dev in both versions are cardboard characters and are dull as cardboard. I personally feel that if Abhishek had done the Dev role, it would have worked better.

I think Mani had started with a great movie outline and a movie with the potential of a Sholay or a Rajneeti. But somehow he lacks the killer instinct to do a great film. His Yuva, Sathiya, Anjali were movies with a spark and some dum. Dil se was a dud according to me, but for the fantastic song (chaiya chaiya). I think he should stick to Tamil movies -- because Ravan has proved to be a unmitigated disaster.

AR Rahman seems more tolerable and appropriate in the Tamil version.

The twist in the end is interesting -- however, not interesting enough to sustain interest. We do not have a cliff-hanger. Mani just takes us to the cliff and drops us -- just like Ravan in the first scene (he did warn us, did'nt he).

I always gauge a reaction to the film from the smiles on the faces of the audience while coming out. There were 6 tamil girls who came out -- all of them had smiles, which seemed to say, we liked the movie. A few others too had the same look. I too had a positive experience.

Perhaps, we can believe Amitabh Bachchan when he tweeted: .gather lot of merited film edited out, causing inconsistent performance and narrative, but what presentation!

In none of the reviews I have noticed this idea -- that perhaps Mani was trying to say that there is a Ravan in Ram and a Ram in Ravan or Ram has turned Ravan and Ravan has turned into a Ram. If this was his original idea -- I think he has truly failed to make this idea clear. I only got an inkling of this idea. That would have made a great film.

Should you watch the Tamil version? Honestly, the Tamil version (albeit in my case via subtitles) was more intelligible and seemed to make some sense. The Hindi version, I think got messed up due to Abhishek or was it the editing or was it Ash? Mani? Of course not! He is God, yaar! (not to me, I am an agnostic or atheist). I am sure you will not get a headache in the Tamil version. Hindi version -- well, it is all bak-bak-bak-bak! And dude -- stick to Dostana type of films.

Raavan -- Most Boring Movie To Date!

Rating: 1/5
Value for money: Rs.20/100

FaceBook Status:
RAAVAN :most boring movie. First half it felt like Mani Sir was hitting me with a hammer on my Sir (Now I know why they call him Sir). AR Rahman helping out with his grating sound! In the climax, there is some whiff of a story. Er Mani-ji, you will get many awards for the films, but here is one from me: Most Boring Film of the Year. Rating 1/5 Value: Rs.20/100. Stay far away!

There is hardly any story in the first half of the movie. You have the forest and you have Beera and you have the screeching and screaming Ragini. Ragini is appropriately named -- one fails to keep count of the numerous raagaas she cries out throughout the movie. Beera played by Abhishek Bacchan is so boring and stale and repeated that one wants to go out and have a Beer-ah! The forest or the locale is in some grey and dark shades and is really frightening. As a member of the audience said, Ram Gopal Verma ka movie lagta hai. (You are still reading this nonsense that I am writing. Well, OK, it is much more interesting than the film!)

I fail to understand why the name Raavan and why all the hungama about being based on the Ramayana. Honestly, it is a great insult to a great, epic story.

Cop chasing a criminal has been done to death in hundreds of movies. Here we have one more attempt. That too by a very boring copy, Vikram as Inspector Dev (notice our award winning director's creativity). An extremely boring criminal Beera -- whose antics are most childish and pathetic. At one level, we have Gabbar at 100 and we have Beera at 1 or 0. In fact, we are confused whether he is a villain at all at times. It appears more like someone pretending to be a villain. I cannot even say Abhishek disappoints, as I hardly have any expectations from him. He is another one of our non-acting actors. Ditto -- Aishwarya Rai. Ditto -- Vikram. Govinda does his comic capers and routines -- and fails. Kishen-wa should stick to Bhojpuri films.

The music score throughout the movie is grating and really makes the movie even more worse! The song sequences are idiotic. This is from a musician whom I love to hate -- AR Rahman. Jai ho!

The problem with this movie is that it has a very weak story. Basically, it is a tiny short story stretched into a novel. The cinematography is good, the locales are terrific. The pace and the direction in the movie is uneven. The stunts are awful and nothing new in here. Old wine in new bottle. In how many movies have we seen these same old stunts, bridges giving away, steep fall, and the hero and villain come back to the top unscathed.

Why do we make such bad movies? Why do reviewers like Nkhat Kazmi give it 3.5 stars? Is Times of India influenced by Reliance Big Films? Imagine all the revenue from full-page ads carrying all these stars.

Should you see this movie? Yes, definitely see it if you want to get a free headache! It is one of the worst movies that I have seen in recent times. It is one of the most boring movies that I have seen. Stay far, far away from this movie.

Despite all this, I am sure the film will take many awards. I do not know how Mani Ratnam does it and how come he has such a big following when all he does is make such boring films. Average films that are highly overrated. Well, here is one award from me, in fact the first one to be awarded: Most Boring Film of the Year.

Rajneeti -- Best Indian Political Thriller in Decades

Rating 3/5 (some reviewers have given it 3.5 (Minty Tejpal) and 4 (Nikhat Kazmi) -- I can understand why they did so.)
Value for money: 100/90 (I got Rs.100 value for a Rs.90 ticket. In other words, more than paisa vasool.)

My Facebook status:
RAJNEETI -- 3/5 -- One of the best movies I have seen in decades. Definitely, India's best political thriller to date! A bit too political, a bit long, a bit gory! This film goes directly into my Top 10 film list, and is No.2 after Sholay. If you are looking for laughs -- avoid! Want a behind the scenes account of politics -- go for it!

In a tweet:
Rajneeti is one of the best if not the best Indian political thriller in decades. Definitely, Prakash Jha's best movie till date.

There is much hullaballo about it being based on Gandhi parivar and also it being based on the Mahabharat. Preposterous to associate it with Sonia Gandhi -- except that both Sonia and Katrina speak very poor Hindi. Of course, Sonia has improved over the years. the Mahabharat connection too is very loose -- and one would realize it only because it has been touted so much. Else, it is infact difficult to see the connection.

Good Points
It takes a good 30-45 minutes to get started. Then another 45 minutes to understand the threads. Interval. After the interval -- it is a total political thriller. The machinations of politicians is clearly brought out like never before. Out of a total of 3 hours -- 2 hours is pure thriller entertainment. You never know what is coming next -- neither the characters nor you know where the film is heading.

Bad Points
At 3 hours, it is too long, the start is pretty slow. It is a rather ponderous story -- I think Prakash Jha put in too much of effort trying to base it on Mahabharat. There are far too many characters and it is really difficult to keep track of who is who's brother, father, uncle, etc. There is too much of violence and gore in some parts of the film. Actually, what stops me from calling this a great film is that it has copied many scenes and ideas from Godfather (so must compliment both Anjum Rajabali and Prakash Jha for hoodwinking us by adding touches of Mahabharat to fool us from understanding that it is essentially a Godfather Indian version, set in the political mileu instead of mafia.)

Acting
Ranbir's performance is not exactly award winning -- but very nearly there! In fact, I would not be surprised if he won a few awards. Nana Patekar could have done better. Katrina -- the lesser said the better. Arjun Ramphal -- ditto. Ajay Devgan is good. Naseeruddin Shah has only a cameo part -- and he is there only to add his name. Manoj Vajpai disappoints as many have high expectations of him.

Will I watch it again? Most probably, YES -- despite its length and its problems.

This will indeed be a super hit film! Prakash Jha at his best, entertainment at its best.