Banner: Ayangaran International

Production: Karunakaran, Arun Pandian

Direction: SP Jananathan

Star-casts: Jeyam Ravi, Roland Kickinger, Vadivelu, Oorvasi, Ponvannan, Dhanushika, Liyashree, Saranya, Varsha (Magha), Vasundhara and others.

Music: Vidhyasagar

Rating: 3/5

From the filmmaker, who delivered commendable flicks ‘Iyarkai’ and ‘Ee’, here comes ‘Peranmai’ –a desi version of Hollywood superstar’s Rambo. SP Jananathan strikes back with a similar touch of placing a social crisis as central theme blending them accordingly with commercial elements. Perhaps, this could be the best film in Ravi’s career.

‘Peranmai’ doesn’t boasts of an exceptional storyline as we’ve already watched similar films based on ‘one-man army’ (more than hundred times over the screens). Aye! Didn’t we enjoy watching Vijayakanth, Arjun and Sarath Kumar saving our motherland from terrorists? Well, don’t presume this film to be much ridiculous as those films. It has got a perfect narration, interesting elements which go along with little illogicality like a puny girl bashing down a goliath.

The film revolves around Dhruva (Jeyam Ravi), a forest officer raised in tribal community has to train NCC girls. He chooses 5 most arrogant girls (Dhansika, Maha, Liasri, Saranya and Vasundhara) for trekking inside a forest, who are unwilling to work with him. Later they venture into the forest only to witness an appalling scenario as they witness 16 aliens from foreign country having reached there to blow up the Indian Spacecraft that is to be launched.

What unfolds next is a series of ‘thrilling’ moments with a much predictable climax.

Jeyam Ravi does a brilliant job in all aspects. He’s extraordinary over performing daredevil stunts. SP Jananathan has shaped his character so magnificently offering him a milestone. All the five girls have excelled with their top-notching performance. Roland Kickinger makes a stunning show with his gigantic physique. But it really looks weird when a guy like Ravi bashes down him easily. The climax portion of saving the spacecraft is quite ridiculous and Jananathan should’ve come up with something innovatively different….

Roland Kickinger doesn’t get enough scope to perform well. It really makes us wonder why Jananathan had to rope in such a great actor and portray him so flimsily.

Vidhyasagar’s musical score fails to impress us while Satish’s cinematography is excellent.

On the whole, ‘Peranmai’ has got a good interesting storyline, but some of the illogical factors stop the film from getting labeled as ‘excellent’.

Unnai Pol Oruvan

Banner: Raj Kamal Productions, UTV Motion Pictures

Production: Kamal Haasan, Ronnie Screwvala

Direction: Chakri

Star-casts: Kamal Haasan, Mohan Lal, Lakshmi, Tanuja Iyer, Ganesh Venkataram

Music: Shruti Haasan

A challenging face-off between two men involved in events that go unrecorded by law, all in a 100-mins edge-of-the-seat thriller. Isn’t that interesting? If so, just book your tickets for ‘Unnai Pol Oruvan’ right now and go ahead, watch it.

If ‘A Wednesday’ made Neeraj Pandey as the finest auteur of Bollywood, debutant Chakri isn’t an exception, as he does justice with a loyal remake of this masterpiece.

With superstars and best actors detailed in their characterizations, and the disconcerting screenplay making the film engrossing, it is a treat for all the classes.

‘Unnai Pol Oruvan’ marks the unrecorded series of events that took place between 2 p.m. -6 p.m. on a usual day. But, for those who were involved in this drama, it remains as an unforgettable day in their lives.

Well, Raghavan Maraar (Mohan Lal), City commissioner of police, Mumbai isn’t an elision as he admits it on the final day of his service that a stranger walked into his life and swept him off as a Tsunami.

A stranger (Kamal Haasan) on anonymity makes a phone call to Maraar demanding him to release 4 deadliest criminals, or else he would detonate the bombs planted by him at various parts of the city. Assuming this to be a crank call, Maraar doesn’t take it so seriously until the stranger blows him out of waters stating that he has planted a bomb at Anna Saalai police station, which would blast soon.

Things turn out to be serious for commissioner and his entire department. With no options left to save the entire city from getting deteriorated, Maraar ropes in couple of best cops in department to release the criminals. But then, if you had ever thought this would’ve a clichéd climax, you’re erred.

The breathtaking climax would just let you get thrown into extreme with a sudden twist in tale.

First things first All credit goes to Neeraj Pandey for having conceptualized a phenomenal storyline that lets every audience reflect themselves with the protagonist’s role. Perhaps, if you hadn’t watched the original version of ‘A Wednesday’, you would feel irksome over the first 20 minutes with the establishment of each character (couple of young cops, a journalist, an actor seeking protection from the commissioner and so on). But later, once we’re drawn in to the core of subject, it’s a different scenario brimmed with nail-biting sequences.

Debutant Chakri doesn’t strain himself in making changes from the original version. But indeed adds some interesting elements with dialogues.

Kamal Haasan shines with his brilliant performance, while Mohan Lal steals the spotlights with a tremendous show…. It’s worth mentioning that he has got more prominence than Kamal Haasan. His conversations with journalist and entire department are so catchy, especially where he meets the computer hacker. Anuja Iyer as the journalist does her part well, while Ganesh Venkataram is a new guy to watch out for. Lakshmi is okay.

Shruti Haasan comes up with middling effort on her musical score. Nothing seems to be impressive with the background score. Manoj has done an excellent job with his digital cinematography.

Finally, ‘Unnai Pol Oruvan’ is sure to make it big on box office with a long Ramzan weekend. With not so-much money spent for this film, the producers are sure to take a walk with good profit by this weekend.

Verdict: Worth watching…

Rating: 4/5

Producers: Manoj Kumar, Vijay Anandha