BIRYANI

A BLAND AND FLAVOURLESS ‘BIRYANI’ -

Critic: Only God and the writer can understand what’s been written.

Writer: Yes! But now only God can understand what’s been written.”

Back story: -  

Cast:- Karthi as Sugan,Hansika Motwani as Priyanka Sharma,Premgi Amaren as Parasuram,Ramki as Ramakrishnan,Mandy Takhar as Maya,Nassar as Varadharajan,Prem as Vikram,Jayaprakash as AC Sampath, Subbu Panchu,Uma Riyaz Khan,Nithin Sathya, ,Sampath Raj as Riwaz Khan,Shanmugasundaram as Kasi Vishwanathan,Vijayalakshmi,Tharika,Sangeetha Gopal,Leena Maria Paul,Badava Gopi

Special appearances by

Arvind Akash as Flash Mob Dancer 1,Ashwin Kakumanu,Jai as Briyani Shop Owner,Mahat Raghavendra,Vaibhav Reddy,Vijay Vasanth,Review Raja,Sam Anderson

Direction Venkat Prabhu, Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja D.O.P: Sakthi Saravanan , Edit: Praveen K.l & N.B.Srikanth, Costumes: Vasuki Baskar Producer: K.E.Gnanavel Raja,Budget: NA.

*The long list of cast and technicians proves the dictum that ‘too many players spoil the plot’ - if not handled well.

The story, backdrop and setting (Screen play):- This film is supposedly a dark comedy/thriller. Does it fall under the genre? Some of the best dark comedies were Dr.Srtangelove, Pulp Fiction, Fargo, Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, and Snatch etc. Soodhu Kavvum and Moodar Koodam could be grouped under this genre as well. Does Biryani match any of these, in my opinion absolutely not!

The Story in Brief:- Karthi and Premji are two very good friends. Karthi - the strong and macho, Premji  -the weak and meek. Karthi, Tamil cinema’s new age eternal playboy, who flirts with all the eligible, pretty and mostly fair skinned ladies. The  entire female population drool over him. Premji on the other hand is the ugly duckling who constantly drools on every single female he sees, but is summarily rejected by every one of them. These two along with a TV anchor, Hansika ( once again the fair skinned heroine and Karthi’s sole property) get involved in a bizarre and complex plot over the killing of the rich and powerful business magnate Nassar.  In this complex plot there is a steady influx of innumerable characters who effectively contribute to the wholesale confusion. Apart from the sister and the heroes friends, there is the local police, CBI, the Villains son in law, a corrupt asst commissioner and lo & behold, even a female hit woman at the epicenter of this plot! The director repeatedly goes back and forth to explain the plot but ends up tying himself and the viewers into knots. He uses all the techniques mostly from his old films like the blurbs, the blobs, and on screen love meters, cartooning and even a ‘realistic’ mask which even a plastic surgeon would be proud of. Then come the item numbers, multiple car chases, the wholesale bashing up of all the available baddies by the supreme Tamil hero. It is absolutely bizarre and I wonder what led the director to pen this script

The first half starts with the camera focusing on a ‘Men at Work’ sign board and pans down to reveal another sign which says ‘Take Diversion’. Was this some kind of ominous sign of what was to follow! Once again for the nth time the film starts with the monotonous narration by Premji one of the protagonists. I would definitely like to take this film as a very bad day at the office for its director, Venkat Prabhu who has managed to give many a hit to Tamil cinema.

Karthi definitely must watch out as this film, especially after the horrendous last one, does not augur well for him. He somehow has not made any honest effort to improve on his acting prowess. In fact his intensity has probably reduced and his mannerisms and voice modulation has become static.

Premji over acts and his very superficial reactions add up to the line of failures in this film. Premji for his own sake should move out of his brother, Venkat Prabhu’s shadow.

Nasser as the self made industrialist is half the time cooling off inside an open refrigerator.

Hansika as the TV anchor looks like the stereotypical ‘Guju’ female who is on a diet. She has very little to do in this film. She just struts around in slow motion trying to look important and  ultimately ends up holding the candle.

In fact Mandy Thakar as Maya the seductress steals the show from Hansika with a typical steamy 'desi' item number. This girl is Kollywood's new item heroine.  Sampath as the tall and Sauvé CBI officer looks rather out of place not because of his lack of performance but because of the weak characterization.

J.P (the asst commissioner),Ramki (son in law) & Subbu Panchu (brother in law) in my opinion were totally unnecessary and wasted.

Uma Riaz Khan the desi Angelina Jolie of Biryani. The only novel idea of the director was to introduce a female hit woman as an action quotient. She has given her best under the circumstances.

Nithin Sathya, Jai, Jai Akaash and Vijayalakshmi are the few of the relics brought in from the director’s previous films.

Characterization of the 2 friends, Far from convincing. Once again drinking and dancing seems to be the one and only pastime and goal in their lives.

The suspense factor, the entry of Maya and the death of Varadarajan. (I have deliberately confused you with their screen names)

The chemistry between Karthi and Hansika fails to impress both on the emotional and physical count. The same goes for

Karthi and Premji’s humorous anecdotes that fail to take off. In fact it is overdone and most times tardy and tiresome.

The not so convincing part The jealous Hansika, Premji’s antics and quips, Karthi’s repeated rolling of eyes and so called macho advances. The extravagant sets erected for the songs to compliment the story.

The second half is the thriller half of the film. The hero and his friend are enticed by a seductress and unwittingly find themselves in a bind after committing a major criminal act. With the la close on their tail and hit woman foiling all their efforts to nab the real culprit the heroine and his friends help the hero nab the real culprit and escape the noose. The final twist is a long drawn narrative epitaph to this drab, dull and insipid film.

The not so convincing part, A rather pseudo usage of  ‘Thala’ Ajith’s name to boost the thin and weak screenplay. The repeated usage of most of the same team of cast and technicians from his previous film has culminated in this fiasco of a film totally bereft of new ideas and concepts. 2 contrived accidents. Narration during the climax.

Shakthi Saravanan The D.O.P has very little to do in this film. The action scenes are standard fare. Glass, tables, furniture and walls breaking. Usage of pipes and sticks, guns etc to bash up each other. The usual car chases. One song using the Broadway musical back drop and setting was the only highlight in this film.

Yuvan Shankar Raja’s background score is adequate but the songs are hardly worth a mention and in my opinion the music in this his 100 th film is best forgotten.

Praveen and Srikanth have more or less done whatever is possible in effecting the cuts but here again an additional  half hour should have been mercilessly chopped off from the total duration. This would have been a welcome relief.

Left right & Centre:-

On my left was a lone gentleman who offered the following comment after the first half ‘ Why do they waste so much money? Probably 15 crores on such a film?’. At the end of the film ‘ The director is totally confused’.

On my right after the first half ‘ better sir’. Better? (‘Better’ means parava illai ) After the second half he and his friend were waiting outside ‘ Sir did you understand this film?’ I said I am a bit confused.  ‘ So are we, Thanks’. He left with a smile and relief written all over his face..

Bottom Line:-  The ingredients alone does not make an excellent ‘Biryani’, It has to be cooked well!

Director Haricharan

Chennai

19/12/2013