MAAN KARATE- Brand “SIVAKARTHIKEYAN” promotes a “Kollywood style”
underdog saga!
Cast: - Sivakarthikeyan *Track
Record:-1) Marina (Pandiraj) 2) 3(Dhanush/Dr.Vimalageetha) 3) Manam Kothi
Paravai (Ambeth Kumar/Ranjeev Menon/Ezhil) 4) Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga
(Pandiraj) 5) Ethir Neechal (Danush) 6) Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam
(P.Madhan)) Hansika Motwani, Soori, Vamsi Krishna, Writer Shaji, Sathish &
Special Appearance- Anirudh Ravichander
& Crew:-Story- A.R.Murugadoss,
Direction & Screenplay: - Thirukumaran, D.O.P- Sukumar, Music-Anirudh
Ravichander, Edit-Aswin,
Producers- P.Madhan - Banner Escape
Artistes 1. Varthapadatha Valibhar Sangam (Sivakarthikeyan) 2. Kedi Billa
Killadi Ranga (Vimal/Sivakarthikeyan) 3.Desingu Raja (Vimal)
Track list: - 1. “Manja” – Madhan
Karky, Anirudh Ravichander 4.44mins, 2. “Darling Dambakku” – Yugabharathi,
Benny Dayal, Sunidhi Chauhan-4.10mins, 3. “Un Vizhigal”- R D Raja, Anirudh
Ravichander, Shruti Hasan-4.04mins, 4. “Royapuram Peter” – R D Raja,
Sivakarthikryan, Paravai Muniamma-3.37mins, 5. “Open the Tasmac”- Gaana Bala,
Deva, Anirudh Ravichander-4.06mins, 6. “Darling Dambakku Reprise Version” –
Yugabharathi, Nivas, Kalpana- 4.11mins
Total duration of songs: - 24.52mins.
The story, backdrop and setting (Screen
play), the premise opens with 4
software engineers of Satyam computers (subsequently the company’s name loses
all its relevance so don’t break your head over it). The 4 are on a road trip
to an exotic hill station. It can be presumed that all of them are living
together (censor missed out on this one big time [sarc.]). While they are busy drinking beer and enjoying life one of
them decides to take a swim in an exotic water fall and chances on a “siddha”
doing some kind of underwater penance. The 4 decide to follow him into the
dense forest and decide to test his powers of penance by asking him to grant a
boon! So far so good but from this moment on the usual brand of nonsensical,
illogical and comical screen play takes over. The Siddha agrees to grant one
boon for which he chooses 1 out of the 4 simple by picking one of the 4 mobile
phones placed in front of him with pre written msgs! Sathish the chosen one “cleverly”
asks for a Dhina Thanthi news paper four months ahead of it being published and
that too, on a holiday. Lo and behold the Siddha materializes the newspaper out
of thin air by swishing his hand (somehow feels like a dig on a real life baba).
The 4 are surprised to read an article in that paper of the future that their company will face closure four
months hence and they will all be jobless and doomed. They decide to Pooh! Pooh!
the whole thing and get back to town. On their return Sathish and his friends
change their mind and decide to use the content of one of the features
published in the news paper and turn it to their advantage. They decide to back
one Royapuram Peter who is destined to win a boxing match and end up making a
huge fortune of 2 crores. From this moment it is all about brand
Sivakarthikeyan (Royapuam Peter) as he is fondly referred to in this film and
is greeted with a roar from the front benchers every time he makes an on screen
appearance. Our hero is characterized as a loafer cum road side Romeo in this
film. As with all his successful & illustrious predecessors he believes that
education, hard work, dedication, etc are not really needed to achieve greatness
in life! Singing, dancing, drinking, ogling (over girls) and last but not the
least falling in love with a ‘fair’ maiden is the ultimate goal in one’s life.
Boy! I wish someone had given me this magic formula for greatness I would have
simply lapped it up and wouldn’t struggle so hard writing reviews and getting
kicked for it! Anyway, our underdog hero falls in love instantly! How? Come on!
Where else does a hero find the love of life but inside an empty mall! How?
Surprise! Surprise! By licking one of the two ice creams the heroine (Hansika
Motwani) gives him for safe keeping. Why? (Spoiler/my lips are sealed). Psst! I
will reveal a little secret. The love is one sided at least for the moment! The
4 trace him and decide to train Royapuram Peter who does not have an iota of
knowledge about boxing.
& the Climax totally predictable from the word Go! Royapuram Peter for the sake of love
faces his final boxing match with (Vamsi Krishna) Killer. Here the absurd kollywood version of unimaginable,
illogical heroism takes over as brand Sivakarthikeyan transforms himself from a
kitten into a roaring tiger! The director’s intention was to deliver a message
that even a meek underdog and a society discard can achieve the impossible but
sadly he overdoes it and takes it to such ridiculous levels as if to say for
the sake of love, a novice can even perform an open heart surgery blindfolded!
Acting: - Sivakarthikeyan as Peter is a combination of Prabhu Deva
and Danush rolled into one. He has learnt the tricks of the trade well. He uses
all his limitations to his advantage
namely his boy next door looks, his lean and wiry frame, his small eyes, and even
utters the right punch line which makes his fans go crazy. All in all he is the
personification of today’s viewer’s perception of a real life hero. In this
film too he makes the right noise bends his back in effecting gyrating and
vigorous dance movements which not only makes his fans whistle but even Hansika
Motwani! He works well with his limited acting prowess but how long it will
impress his fans is anybody’s guess. P.S. Don’t miss out on the infamous “Maan
Karate” dance pose, however ridiculous it may appear, SK fans roar in a frenzy every
time he breaks into it!
Hansika Motwani as Yazhini,
is another north Indian fair skinned import which continues to fascinate today’s
Tamil cinema viewers. The success of this leading lady once again cannot be
attributed to her acting skills but mostly to bare herself and to show off her
contours and colour. Somehow all our directors characterize the fair skinned
belles as unreachable, therefore a prized catch to the dusky/dark skinned
locals. This, in my opinion, is highly racist and a false notion created by
some of our local film makers which makes me see red! All in all she looks like
a live mannequin used for showcasing costumes.
Soori as Tiger Tyson is
once again the joker in the pack. He comes in and creates a stir, some laughter
with his one/two liners and veers the viewers’ attention away from flaws in the
story’s screenplay.
Vamsi Krishna as Killer
once again plays the villain of the piece but this time with a touch of
sentiment, other than the gore associated with him.
Writer Shaji as the Coach
a mere cameo and nothing more!
Sathish and the 3 friends have no major role except as
catalysts and to deliver a few comedy lines in between.
Guest Appearance-
Anirudh Ravichander Wanted
to prove that he is a ‘local’ but sticks out like a sore thumb.
“Neruppu” & the
rest also ran.
Camera: - The first scene the drive up the
mountains the back drop, the valley and the misty mountains were visually well
executed. The song sequences with light flares at the back and pastel soft back
drop was a nice visual touch. The boxing ring and scenes around it were probably
deliberately kept dark or out of focus owing to lack of spectators.
Music: - I deliberately avoid reviewing the
tracks as this is essentially a film review and audio reviews are available in
plenty on the net. 2 of the songs appear to have topped the charts. Most of the
numbers essentially falls under the Kuthu pattu/gana genre. The B.G in this film somehow gives you the
feeling of sitting in the Music Academy or NGS and listening to a Carnatic
instrumental music concert.
Art: - Sets erected during the song
sequences were quite pleasing and adequate.
Choreo: - Stereotyped and nothing more than the
ordinary.
Stunts: - Looked straight out of a Marvel comic
book!
Edit: - Once again a 15 to 20 min cut would
have served the film better.
The punches that landed:
- 1) The opening scene especially the
visuals 2) Some scenes of SK training 3) Acting of the supporting characters 4) A few situational comedy scenes
The punches that missed:-
1) Not knowing
English but speaking fluently in English like competition/arrangement etc 2)
Usage of the word Negro 3) Repeated usage of these dialogues in most films a)
Girls never charge their mobiles b) Girls ditch but boys never do it 4) No
shoppers in the mall 5) The Fart fetish repeated for the nth time in this film too! 6)Lack of spectators in the boxing matches 7)TASMAC
backdrop once again 8) Fetish for ridiculing
the English language and the suit ( Then why wear jeans and tee’s 9) Finally Vamsi in suspended animation parallel to the ground in the final fight scene!
Finally to sum it all
up, a quote: * “Tamil cinema today is run on a mono brand “HERO”, it is total hype
and package but lacks credible content!”
Left, right &
Centre: - The man and his family from Bangalore:-“I am on a two day leave and
so decided to watch the film with my family. Nowadays I expect very little content,
it is more screen play. Anyways we have paid Rs.120/- per ticket so we will
have to necessarily stay on watch a film whether we like it or not!” and he
smiled.
Bottom Line: - Lets for a moment fantasize – In the year 1975 a
comedy film called “Let’s do it again” on boxing was released featuring Bill
Cosby/Sidney Poitier/Jimmy Walker. If one could substitute those mentioned
above with these kollywood actors Pandiarajan/Parthiban or
Santhanam/Shivakarthikeyan, probably this film would have been better served! If
you can lay a hand on a DVD copy, please watch it!
Until next time,
Director Haricharan
Chennai
07/04/2014
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