Raavanan and What People said

Okay, so there was a tonne load of hype around Mani Ratnam's so called Magnum Opus Raavanan/Raavan. Much before its release, the hoo haa was about its star cast. Who wouldn't talk when you see India's Most celebrated, doted Miss Universe and her hubby toy and Kollywood's experimental heartthrob all in one frame? Of Course there was more. ARR's Music to Mani's thoughts... Couldnt ask for more,could we?

Anyway getting into the movie... Considering there was so much hype around the fact that the movie wasnt good and that Tamil was better than Hindi. Firstly we shouldnt compare. No point comparing Abhishek a.k.a. 'dad and wifey will beat u up' bachchan and our very own 'sethu - pithamagan- anniyan' Vikram. There just isnt any comparison cos A cant match V in his acting experience or anything at all.

I will speak about the movie in ten points.

1. Right from Title to credits this movie holds you
2. There is nothing Kandasamy like in this movie (though i dont know what that bak bak or dan dan was doing there)
3. Vikram as Veeraiyah , is oozing with character. It isnt just plain acting. The look in his eyes when he dances, the way he enjoys Raagini's presence around him, how he challenges Dev and how he is Veera with a charm is totally cool! Probably that is an understatement too!
4. The scene where Raagini jumps off the cliff and Vikram follows suit to save her .. when Usure Pogudhey starts in the background, Santosh Sivan takes over... Those stunning shots, the brilliant locales... there isnt a word i can say to explain my love for it!
5. Prabhu and Kartick do 100 % justice to their roles. Prabhu lives up to being Shivaji's son. He never seems odd in any role, not as singam annen!!
6. Dev seemed lost, taught and konjam stiff. Something was amiss. even when he finally reaches to Raagini the romance is missing . Damn it, learn it from Veera!!! He didnt even lay a finger on Raagini but I could SO see the love in ' enga kooda irundhudunga...seriya?'
7. The story is well laid. It works around the right path and ends well. Mani Ratnam's screenplay. The less said the better!!
8. Brilliant Music & RR!! I think Rahman waits for such movies and then dives into them and creates something thats nothing short of Magic.
9. The movie isnt slow! Its actually so quick that you dont notice the interval coming or the end.
10. This isnt a dark, inaudible movie ( as many say , mani Ratnam's movies usually are) This film was well lit doing a lot of justice to all the locales, sets and reactions.

A special Point to add is that towards the end there aren't many characters. Post Interval , one by one the characters in the outer ring of the story are slowly removed. In the end you dont see Gnyanam, Singa annen, Hemant... no one. Just the three characters. Raagini., Dev and Veera. Keeps it tight!

Mothama paatha, a lovely movie to watch. Seriously. Now Raavan awaits.