Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaya -First on Net Review - A Santhanam & Powerstar show all the way!!!

Just got back from the premiere show of Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaya, here in Melbourne. After a long time back here to review a Tamil movie. Happy for that, will try to be regular from now on. KLTA directed by Manikandan & Santhanam debuts as a producer with his own production company Handmade Films with this movie. Santhanam, Powerstar Dr Srinivasan, Sethu plays the lead role, Vishaka plays the female lead and the movie has an ensemble comedian star cast with VTV Ganesh, Kovai Sarala, Manohar and guest appearances from Gowtham Menon & Simbu. The movie being distributed by Udhayanidhi Stalin and the whole unit have built up an ample expectation level, which might in turn hurt the movie. Music by Thaman was average, but the only thing which people need from this film is entertainment from Santhanam and Powerstar if they can deliver that then the movie will be a hit. Let's see what's in store for us.

What's it about?
As rumored the film is a remake of the yesteryear classical "Indru Poi Nalai Va" directed by Bhagyaraj, three youths(Powerstar!) trying to woo a girl next door. They do all sorts of gimmicks to get into the house of the heroine. Santhanam will learn music from VTV Ganesh, Powerstar will learn dance from Vishaka's dad and Sethu will be a personal assistant(Malligai saman vangara paiyan) for Kovai Sarala. Then the united friends will get into quarrel on who will love the girl and finally who will impress her is the story. Santhanam has made sure that he will have a package of comedians who can bring down the house. He has done that perfectly in this film.

What's good?
Powerstar Srinivasan as a comedian is a big plus, Santhanam as usual had his pet VTV Ganesh and his iconic witty one liners are available all over the film. Both Powerstar and Santhanam had done a wonderful job. Almost Powerstar has done his real life character in this movie, so it's easy for him I hope (all those over buildups).  Sethu debutante has done a decent role. Vishaka looks bubbly, okayish role and she has done her part.  VTV Ganesh, Kovai Sarala and Vishaka's dad all did their part in their way.

What's not?
Since the film is a remake there is nothing new in this movie, same old story and same old characters. Little changes in the last. The film could have been trimmed a bit more, the songs make the movie lengthier. Nobody could manage to engage the audience during the songs and songs were not a hit among people which will make it a tiring watch.

Final word
Overall a decent family watchable movie for the festive season, with lots of fun. This will be a big break for Powerstar. As usual Santhanam rocked with his dialogues which will keep you engaged throughout the movie. If you are expecting a story, then this not your movie. If you want to be happy for three hours, then this will be your perfect choice. For Santhanam and Powerstar fans, this film is a delight for you!

Rating : 3/5

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Leelai- A neat Urban ROM-COM

Leelai is a Tamil urban RomCom, directed by Andrew Louis and produced by Ramesh Babu, two North Indian actors Shiv Pandit and Manasi Parekh's debut in lead roles. Santhanm the USP for all the small films is here, and he is accompanied by Suhasini Raju in some pivotal role.

Story:

The story starts off with something similar to title. Hero shiv will go on a date spree with two girls and what's new here are both are roommates along with the heroin Mansi at the SRM Engineering College women hostel. Important factor is both the time Mansi will advise her friends not to fall for him, but eventually they will fall one by one in a gap of six months. That's the setup and you guessed it right, film is all about how Shiv and Mansi unite. They have never met each other. They will just have two heated conversation through the phone because of karthi's ditching spree towards her roommates.

What works?

Shiv as karthick and Mansi as Karunai Malar has fitted into the role very aptly, they keep us engaged, and they do add some humor quotient to the film. Santhanam who is back after his super outing in OKOK has done his usual role of a friend to the lead pair. He does make us laugh time and time again. Songs are not classy but have a decent look; they don't make you annoy. Jillendru oru kalavaram was sweet.  Dialogue for this film is  a huge plus.

*The biggest plus which I feel is director haven't added an item song or a glamour scene, he has trusted himself; his script; his characters and not on a commercial formula. He surely deserves a pat on the back for this move.

What not?

The story was only between hero and heroine in the office, or during the met they have on Sunday's and nothing else. However, director has kept us engaged with that small space, but he has fall short while making cuts in the climax. It was long; it could have been crispier.

Final Word: Leelai has the potential to become the sleeper hit. It's a neat movie so do watch it once.

Rating: 3.25/5

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Oru Kal Oru Kannadi(OKOK): Santhanam as Hero, Villain and comedian.

     
          Oru Kal Oru Kannadi, third instalment of Director M.Rajesh and Santhanam duo after their successful SMS &Boss Engira Baskharan(BEB). It is yet again a comedy entertainer with no substance. Right from the initial promotions, Udhayanidhi has clearly set the expectations that Santhanam’s role will have equal importance in the movie. The immense popularity of “venam Machan” and tall expectations from Rajesh- Satnthanam combo have ensured tremendous opening. With no other big release planned for the next few weeks; Udhayanidhi has found himself as a winner in this.

Cast:

Udhay as “saravanan” and santhanam as “partha” play the role of ticket collector and food dispenser at Sathyam Cinemas. Hanshika plays the role of an air hostess as “Meera” at Kingfisher Airlines. Saranya Ponvannan aptly fits into the role of hero’s mother. Azhagam Perumal plays the father of Udhayanidhi. It is odd that he never spoke a word for more than twenty years with his wife, Saranya,  just because her family cheated him during their marriage claiming that, she holds a bachelor's degree. Aarya; Sneha and Andrea have done guest appearances along expected lines.

Story:

Story is very simple, Just like any other hilarious movie of Rajesh. It is all about how Udhayanidhi woos hanshika; the problems that he faces during the course of it. Udhay will fall in love at first sight in a traffic signal. Eventually, he follows her, leading to a warning from Hanshika and her father Sayaji Shinde, who works as  Deputy Commissioner of Police, Chennai. As always it is Santhanam’s witty one liners which makes the film a happy ride. When udhay settles his problems, Santhanam comes in and spoils the relationship. He does this spoiler act thrice knowingly and unknowingly at different times. Finally, what happens to Udhay is the climax

Positives:

The Unique selling point for the movie is Santhanam; Udhay has sensed it skilfully and he has a keen awareness of what he is capable in his debut movie. Udhay has done well in his debut, the way in which he converses in English with Santhanam was hilarious. Timing sense of Santhanam was impeccable, this time it's not just the dialogues, he woos us with some comic body languages too. Santhanam is really at his peak of his career. Cinematography by Balasubramaniem  was superb; he has excelled in the song sequences.

Negatives:

When you consider negatives, there are myriads of logic loopholes to name a few, one between Udhay’s dad who haven’t spoken to his wife for twenty years will precisely speak on a day, when she went out for few hours without informing anyone, it doesn’t gel at all with the characterisation.  Talents wasted in the form of Azhagam Perumal. Sluggish dance movements by Udhay and Hanshika tests our limits of tolerance.  Harris’s tracks are not so fresh and the tunes sounds repetitive.

Final word:

Santhanam is the Hero,  Villain and The comedian, it is his comic relief which makes us forget logical loopholes and shallow storyline in the film. he just comes in, makes us laugh out loud(LOL) all through the movie. Director Rajesh has made it clear that you should not expect a serious or message oriented story from him; One cannot help but appreciate Rajesh’s guts for remaking the same wafer thin story line from BEB & SMS. It's a movie made for pure entertainment, and it DOES entertain you all the way, on that basis alone it’s a good movie.

P.S: Maybe you shouldn't be surprised if Rajesh casts santhanam alone playing a Triple role, without any other artists in his next venture.

Rating: 3/5

My official review links:
Network18 - in.com : http://www.in.com/news/entertainment/oru-kal-oru-kannadi-is-mindless-fun-22804713-in-1.html
Moviecrow: http://www.moviecrow.com/News/846/oru-kal-oru-kannadiokok-review

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