This section is completely on Thamizh Cinema, Rani’s passion!  When there are hundreds of cinema portals, why another…?  For decades I wanted to save my thoughts on a shareable platform: my journey with Savitri, why is Thalabathi my favorite, so sad about Shoba, serving dinner to ARR, my video collection spree, first one to bring Tamil cinema to the big screen in USA, above all, now that I have my grand-daughter I am reminded of baby Shakila.  As much as possible I hope you will view the field from a different perspective.⇓

1.  Reviews: We have a great chat group where we discuss different topics and dissect a movie.

2.  Female Getups

3.  Anthology movies

4.  Movies on Disability

5.  My favorite Stars and Movies

6.  Celebrities

Reviews as of May 2021

96 just rocked us.  Some felt they should have made out, but maintaining that distance is the best thing about the movie.  For days we were mesmerized with this movie.  Of course, there are many die-hard fans of VS. Nalini* said the best scene is when he shows in mime how he wanted to carry her and tie the thali.

KA. PE. RANASINGAM was another heart rending movie.  Aishwarya’s acting lifted her to a different level.  Stella* from the group was in full admiration.

MOOKUTHI AMMAN was a religious movie presented in a jolly outlook.  RK Balaji’s dialogues were great.  Priya from the group appreciated it. Mythili* writes:  watchable!  Sometimes drags like a tv drama esp with RJ Balaji.  Urvashi is awesome.  Nayan proves again she can pull off being the sole big star.  Unlike other Amman stories with garish and scary makeup, Nayan is a modern and stylish Amman

ANBIRKINIYAL was the best of recent times.  Altho it was a remake of Helen, a Malayalam movie, the real life father-daughter relationship gave it a new dimension.

SOORARAI POTRU was super! Vatsala* is a great fan of Suriya, Kaarthi, and Jyotika.  Well, we were all happy that it found its way to being nominated for the Oscars.  Way to go!

THAEN. Rani:very depressing (I almost shut it off) but so true. Brought back bitter memories of how I suffered for 8 years (2002-2010) with the bureaucracy. And now the neglected Irular community. Wrenches my heart.

PARAMAPATHA VILAYATTU. Review from Mythili:  I saw this movie yesterday with hubby.  Here is my review.  The positives- acting was good.  Having a powerful role for the heroine – glad the movie trend is changing.  The child actress especially stole the show.  Good chemistry between mom and daughter.  Trisha looked good.  Over make up I agree there.  The male actors too acted well.  The negatives – script meandered.  Portions of plot ‘ee adichaan copy’ from Hollywood movie (trunk and car scene).  Violence too much.  Especially towards woman – konjam too much.  Watchable once.

KARNAN Rani:Very gripping. Violence injustice full works. Sure award winner. Long and Heavy. And to think it is based on a true incident. Little touches like tied donkey, the horse, village slang, the spirit of the sister etc. does give a notable dimension.Wow… excellent movie – Dhanush’s acting as usual makes one go through so many emotions – the actors – each and everyone played their character very well. The one scene between the elderly lady n man was so heartfelt. I agree with your details that give dimension to the movie. There are parts I get mad at the main character but also feel his pain and yet want him to do something that is so contradictory to the plot but that’s why I can’t be a director – excellent direction – makes you want to jump into the movie. The songs are beautiful – lovely voices and tunes – the villain’s acting was also praiseworthy- am left with goosebumps – loved it – the bgm is still running in my head. Thank you akka for recommending

[*Participants from the chat group team]

Female Get-up

Many voted for AvaiShanmugi.

*Anju: Kamal’s acting in that movie is so good. I started liking him only after seeing that movie.

*Mythili: I prefer Anbe Sivam because his character did not invite the audience to feel sympathy for his misfortune.  The character accepted his misfortune.  Deeper meaning for me rather than over dramatization of the others.  Best scene for me is when the villain’s brother feels sorry for what he had done and he let’s him go.  Also the accident and the dog.
*Nalini: I love Anbe Sivam – the entire movie is such a feast- from the combination of Kamal and Madhavan to the witty dialogues it’s such a well made movie. Oh I love so many scenes but the best for me is when madhavan realizes that KH has been lying about a son and wife and all that – now I’m going to watch this again!😜

*Ansuya and I held firm that REMO was the best.  ‘The grace and beauty of SK even outshined me’ admitted Keerthy!

Anthology Movies

individual analysis – soon to come!

Movies on Disability

Wait..Wait..Dissection of each is soon to come!

Rani’s favorites

⇑Rani: My ThamizhCinema journey is a long one.  Pasamalar, Aandavan Kattalai, MarakkaMudiyuma and many more in the 60s made me cry so much that I ran a fever for several days. They were to real in my life.

I have named a few above:  I was mesmerized by KB’s direction that I even wanted to become his Assistant!  I must mention EvanoOruvan.  Every 2nd film is about the evils of society.  Anniyan, Nimirnthu Nil were all such great movies but with some masala.  This was down to earth with no cinematic flavors.

⇓I wanted to give Revathi a title “Ilaya Nadigaiyar Thilakam” (of course based on Savitri’s acting) in 1993. She refused.  Next who stole my heart was Mahanadhi starrer, Keerthy Suresh. Have you noticed…Something common about Trisha, Genelia and Keerthy is their lip movement in dialogue delivery.

I admire even the smallest moves in stars and appreciate some gesture.  So it is hard to pinpoint who is my favorite. Given below is Saranya – super acting in Yaradi Nee Mohini and my favorite Velayutham. Muktha in Thamirabarini.  Anupama in Kodi. SaiPallavi from the dance field to silver screen like Amla of the 80s.

When one watches a movie everyday, it is a tough task to select a few.  Same with stars.  Vijay’s movies will always be my favorite.  Madhavan in Naladamayanthi, Suriya in Aadhavan, JayamRavi in Peranmai, Adharva in Paradesi, Jai in Capemaari, etc. and many more are close to my heart.  This web or blog is to deal with not-so-common.  So here are their pictures.

SK is not ShahruKhan but SivaKarthikeyan (seen above is with KNS dancers in 2012).  I liked him from his anchoring days.  Felt VijayTV was biased in giving him too much importance, but from film to film he just proved himself.  Again like Vijay, it is choice of films that revealed the best of him.

I have also liked films starring HarishKalyan, AshokSelvan, AshwinKakamanu. Sethu, Aadhavan are all terrific in mimicry but the best —

I have enjoyed mimicry from Mayilsamy to Sedhu to Aadhavan but I am a die hard fan of these two for more than 5 years: Naveen Muralidharan and ‘A to the Z to the A to the R’…  2021 I am addicted to ‘Paavam Ganesan.’

Celebrities

.

My passion just did not stop with seeing them on screen.  Had different opportunities to interact with them.  My policy ‘they should know me, only then will I click a snapshot with them’.  Just a few above.