Ambimama - India

Sometimes I am faced with people who judge me wrong when I am right. I know I am talking on a subject with enough knowledge and emotion, but they think otherwise.
For example the subject is about a Tamil movie. The teens always love some good music and action. I also was like that when I watched Kamal, Rajini and loved Ilayaraja’s music. I enjoyed some movies like Rajini’s ‘Padikkadhavan’ and the song by Yesudoss “Oorai Therunjukitten”.

The Dhanush “Padikkdhavan” movie is also very nice and I like it. But people think I just say it for pleasing them! That’s OK. I like the movie!

Released in USA and nominated for 5 awards, A R Rahman for Music. India Release would be on Jan 23, 2009.

Story:
The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show’s questions. Each chapter of Jamal’s increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show’s seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love.

Trailer

Song - Jai Ho

move your mouse over the video to play next song

All channels and Dailies have started listing the best and worst of 2008. I also start with Top Ten Tamil movies 2008, the easiest to do!

2008 has not been good for the Tamil film industry. There was confusion again as star actor films flopped and small budget films with new faces were hit. The viewers no longer could be fooled by masala and obscenity.

My choice of the good ones: 
Subramainiapuram
The main attraction was story and scenes set to Madurai of the 1980s. Sashi decided to produce the film himself after failing to get producers. Director Sashi Kumar was the assistant of Ameer and Bala who produced Paruthiveeran. The film turned out to be the hit of 2008. One song ‘Kangal Irundhal’ became a hit but the limitations of James Vasanthan has been exposed.
Anjathe
Director Mysskin’s Anjathe February has made people still talk about it. This is his second hit after Chithiram Pesuthadi. This is a crime thriller and the film’s success is also due to performances by Prasanna, Ajmal and Naren.
Yaaradi Nee Mohini
This Dhanush hit is a remake of the Telugu runaway hit, Aadavari Maatalaku Ardhaale Verule.  Director Selvaraghavan’s screenplay and Dhanush made the movie a success. The original Teleugu version had Venkatesh and Trisha.
Saroja
Directed by Venkat Prabhu of Chennai-600028 fame Saroja was a hit. The mild humour and incidents is really different (Oru Vidhyasamana Kathai in the real sense).The biggest compliment Venkat Prabhu got was that it was projected to compensate the distributors’ losses from Rajni’s Kuselan!
Poo
The film’s success is mainly due to Parvathy’s performance. Moserbaer’s Poo is based on a creative Tamil story written by Tamilselvan.
Dasavatharam
It is difficult for any actor even to do a double role. Lot of technical and acting skills are required. To imagine performing in 10 roles is huge. Though some of the roles are boring, overall the film Dasavatharam is Grand. Commercially, the film was a huge success.
Vaaranam Aayiram
The young Surya as son with Sameera Reddy is better than the father role. Vaaranam Aayiram is director Gautham Menon’s tribute to his father. Though lengthy and narrative the film is not boring and the songs are good in music and video.
Santosh Subramanium
The girl from the movie ‘Boys’ Genelia’s cheerfulness is infectious and this movie has an entertaining story and worthy of family viewing.
Poi Solla Porom
A Hindi remake Khosla ka Ghosla is all about a middle class man trying to buy a home. After a long gap Mouli entertains with Boskey and Cochin Hanifa.
Alibhaba
Sudden twists and turns is the feature of this film.
Dhanam
The movie is not a hit but the challenging role by the heroine of ‘Pithamagan’ (Vikram’s love in the film) is worthy.

The Failures
I hear many movies with Ads and Promotion failed. Like Thenavattu, Aegan, Pandhayam, Dhaam Dhoom,Seval,Kadalil Vizhunden,Uliyin osai, Nepali, Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan and Bheema.
Shankar’s movies always make news. More if it stars Tamil superstar Rajnikant. Eindhiran shooting is in progress. I do not want to see Rajini doing stunts and tricks like Arnold or Jackie. I am bored of Rajini, his styles and stunts in politics and movies. But that will be in 2009.

I have chosen films that I heard about or forced to hear and view. Sure I have not seen some of the bests of 2008, but sure wish to see them in 2009.
For those people who have time here is the list of Tamil movies in 2008 and reviews. Click on the link below:
http://www.koodal.com/tamil/movies/reviews

There have been remakes from Hindi to Tamil and the other way. But with a special touch and simple comedy the film Poi Solla Porom is running full house and is a silent hit with no big promo, TV and Media Ads. Just the smiles and laughter of viewers and saying “Watch it on the screen, You would love it”.
The film is a huge success due to the great comedian Mouli, supported by Boskey, Cochin Hanifa and Delhi Ganesh.
Poi Solla Porom is a remake of the Hindi movie Khosla ka Ghosla.

Of all the movies, Patti Mandram and Star interviews on Tamil channels this Diwali, Gounder Sivakumar’s personal sharing of his life on ‘Mother, Wife and Daughter’ was touching and there were messages for me to stay happy, loving and lovable. Sivakumar had been a Tamil Cinema hero for decades and father of actor Surya.

His early childhood, his mother’s hard work and love towards him was emotionally narrated by Sivakumar. His Gounder Kongu Tamil dialect was very sweet to the ears. To him Diwali is not a celebration time, as all hard working days are Diwali for him. When he took a nice saree for his wife after fourteen years, she was surprised by the sudden change in his behaviour. His life is always punctual, sincere and he lives for his family. So a special need to buy a special saree was not expected by his wife. And how much does he love his two sons and a daughter!

Though it is common to see such kind of Love in the human lives throughout the world, a stage sharing by an actor is welcome. In show business, it is rare to see such a disciplined man. And he admitted for all his hardworking and punctuality, he was the most ill-tempered and angry man towards his wife! Though late in admitting, a welcome attitude.
Apart from his some years of his belief in atheism due to his contact with DMK in his early life, all his prayers were answered due to his Faith in Prayer. His speech has been released as DVD.