Okay.. I have been watching so many movies of late that it is not going to be possible to stick to the structure that this blog has known for years. Well, no need for all that drama since it is only a few months or days of activity.

Let me get straight to it.. I really had no clue that this movie was a superhit while watching it. I am not sure if this review would be any different if I had known this info apriori. I really have no clue if artists these days have any time or interest to plan their careers. They seem to be caught up in a mad rush of making fast bucks and then lose their way. Such a brash statement can not become true for the likes of R Madhavan, who has not had it the easy way and has been around for quite a long time now. His assignments always give you the feeling that they are well selected for something unique. Even for a movie like Priyasaki, which was thrashed at the box office, there was still something new for Madhavan, be it making a record for the number of times anyone has clutched on to Sada's waist.

So, Thambi kind of took me by surprise. It was a movie with a message, no doubt. Armed with the usual elements like hummable songs, several of which I had already heard in my car without knowing which movie it was from, fight sequences, sentimental flashbacks, stereotype transformations, and all the good stuff. The message is not unknown by any standards. Even someone watching 10% of the movies I watch, could have caught this message elsewhere. A big element of shame for Madhavan was his overacting in this movie. He has tried to be rough and tough in different ways in his action hero performances. This one is the opposite of Aayidha Ezhuthu. In this one you need to find his face in between his overgrown hair and intermittent rush of blood. He even reminded you of Simbu, although for the latter it is but natural to overact. Maddy, we know you can't act, even if Manirathnam tries, so don't worry about it... just do your thing and we'll watch.

The actress, Booja, left much to be desired. Just another random girl picked out of the reserves in Kodambakkam waiting lists, or someone who paid for an appearance perhaps. The others were not noteworthy. Okay... these many lines is far too many for someone so insignificant.

Director Seeman has worked hard to do something different, but if he had reviewed his progress mid-way, he would realize that he had another Vijaykanth type movie in the making without Captain in it. Too bad. The songs and the dialogues are wasted by the performances!

All in all.. Thambi oru Songee!

Labels: madhavan, movies

Thursday, November 09, 2006 at 4:54 PM