Starring: Vishal, Aarya, G.M Kumar, Madhu Shalini, Janani Iyer, Ambika, Jayaprabha, Ananth Vaidyanathan
Director: Bala
Banner: AGS Entertainments
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Cinematography: Arthur A. Wilson
Editing: Suresh Urs
Producers: Kalpathi S. Aghoram, Kalpathi S. Ganesh, Kalpathi S. Suresh
Lyrics Na. Muthukumar.
The film is releasing worldwide in nearly 700 screens and it is opening in 17 screens in Chennai city and suburbs. The film is releasing in 350 screens only in Tamilnadu.
The expectations on the film are running high as a multi- starrer has not released for quite some time and especially because of Bala’s direction.
The Telugu dubbed version which is titled Vaadu Veedu is also releasing tomorrowMovie Review
Director Bala weaves characters and movies out of ubiquitous people, considered undesirables by the better offs. Gravedigger, drug peddler, sex worker, cannibal; and Bala could keep pulling out these characters from our everyday life to make movies. And in Avan Ivan, it's a light-hearted zamindar, two thieve step brothers, their foul mouthed moms and an 'everyone knows everyone' countryside.
A sizable chunk of viewers, who have experienced Bala’s movies, consider him crude and heartless in creating his shady characters; but the underlying truth is that, he has implied time and again on screen, that these undesirables too could laugh, love and live like anyone. Bala has been the USP for his movies, but for Avan Ivan, it's also the squint eyed Vishal and the shaggy Aarya.
G.M Kumar plays the dethroned Zamindar, who still rides on the pride that his kingdom owned the landscapes around him. He cares for his villagers like his own subjects, just the way his forefathers did. Stepbrothers Walter Vanangamudi (Vishal) and Kumbideran Saamy (Aarya) are thieves. That’s right! 'Kumbideran Saamy', Aarya’s pseudonym, which he believes will make the pestering cops call him with respect, though they don’t mean to.
Aarya, the younger brother, is an elusive thief with a quick sense of mind, while Vishal is a simpleton, who tries his hand at thievery, with little success. Vishal’s heart lies in plays, acting and dance, which makes him believe, he is more of an artist than a thief. Both the brothers are the trusted stooges of the Zamindar, who lives alone in his humongous bungalow. Though they occupy each sides of the Zamindar, the brothers do not see eye to eye, and Arya constantly sniggers at Vishal for his effeminate side.
Bala’s characters are powerful, but they seem to lack a gripping storyline to play on, compared to his earlier movies. Vishal as the gender-confused individual, movingly brings the man and woman out of him. He also expresses exceptional talent as a reluctant thief, who feels he is better off on a stage performing. Arya as Kumbideran Saamy is witty, assertive and shows no remorse in snubbing his stepbrother. Arya’s coming of age role we can say. Bala always injects an amount of animal into his characters. Vishal’s reptile like moves and Aarya’s baby baboon type movements again prove Bala’s signature.
Like his earlier movies, the 'undesirable', or in this case the undesirable pair, stands up against a bigger enemy. In Avan Ivan it’s RK, who runs an illegal slaughter house. When the Zamindar calls upon the Police and animal activists to raid RK’s illegal trade, RK turns against the Zamindar, which ultimately pulls Vishal and Arya into the melee.
Vishal, Aarya, G.M Kumar, and the veteran actress Ambika, as Vishal's foul mouthed, theft encouraging mother, are the prominent characters in the movie. Janani Iyer as Constable Baby, is of prominence to some extent, but Arya's pair Madhu Shalini's portrayal is vague. Bala's signature climax fighting scene, that seems like the world is coming to an end have been religiously added. Arthur Wilson shoulders Bala's romance for the luscious landscapes of Theni, while Yuvan music combined with Vishal and Arya's dance numbers is straight out of the streets. Avan Ivan is a good watch, but Bala has reused his successfully tested formula.
Verdict: Power packed performance, let down by loose screenplay.
Posted in: Movie Reviews
0 comments:
Post a Comment