It is said that the most complex thing to explain and make others understand is the relationship between a man and a woman. Gautham Vasudev Menon yet again takes this idea of portraying this complexity staged out in 3 phases in his inimitable style with the master composer. A complete tribute to Ilayaraja.
A story of 2 simple individuals, Varun (Jiiva) and Nithya (Samantha) who are childhood friends, as kids grow up in the same apartment community. They grow up, live, share, argue, relinquish on each other in different phases of their life knitted tightly by Raja's music.
Gautham kicks off the movie with capturing brilliant moments in the form of inter college cultural where the classic "Nee thaane En Pon Vansantham" from Ninaivellam Nithya is performed and brings goosebumps instantly for its sheer musical brilliance despite of Gautham's flat singing.
The lively moments during the school days, be it school tuition center or the conversation on their separation during holidays, are extremely nostalgic and is sure to enthrall even if you are not directly involved in such experience. Vanam Mella song is brilliantly used to portray the puppy love. Had it not been sung by Raja himself, I thought it would have been an all time classic on screen as well. Nevertheless, it is still very good for its sheer musical brilliance. The song also surprising has a third interlude that is not in the original song to transform the school days to "then-present" college times.
The lack of audacity during their school days to express themselves freely is compensated during their college days. This phase had the best part to me, be it the proposal in rain, Sainthu Sainthu song and the way it is picturised, their lunch at a crowded hotel, the moments in his terrace, their separation to end it all, and everything is incredible till we are shown those memories in a flash during the climax to realize it.
Their inexplicable attraction, towards each other unites them every time they break up unable to resist their egoistic terms, slowly reduces when Varun goes to IIM and their ego graduates to next level which leads to an emotional climax.
Jiiva and Samantha are outstanding in every phase and shot in a sensitive intense drama with only handful of characters. Jiiva, the more established actor of the two, plays the complex portrayal of Varun so easily that one would not even realize and it is not a surprise for me to see Jiiva portraying this role with ease for an actor of his caliber. The same will probably apply to Nani in Telugu version as he is a fine actor as well. However, I was totally surprised by Samantha who comes up with a brilliant performance by a female lead for a while. Her transformation from a gawky teenager to an adult unable to overcome her ego, failing to express herself, facing a daunting darkness of losing Varun completely from her life in the climax, is simply outstanding. Samantha also dubbed with her own voice in Tamil and did a great job. Perfect lead casting. Santhanam is a scream as usual but do not have a major presence in an otherwise intense narration.
I never loved Satru Munbu more till I watched the film and its intense climax. The pain and agony that Samantha has to portray was unbelievably captured by Raja in his song even before the movie is shot. It is only going to become a reference material for everyone from director to the actor to get inspired. What a song...Take a bow master.
I really liked the way the movie is shot and stayed true to its content without exploring extravagant locations focussing only on the human emotions. Kudos to cinematographers MS Prabhu and Om Prakash.
This movie is simply an ode to Ilayaraja and the fan boy in Gautham glorified Raja's music in a way where no one did for a long time. The movie is propelled and narrated through music and the songs could not have been placed appropriately than this and becomes a perfect example of how the story and music should blend.
Katrai Konjam, Muthal Murai, Yennodu Va Va are all brilliantly shot. The songs are used as background score in many places and Raja underlines the necessary scenes with brilliant score. Shot in a pace to accommodate enough pauses to increase the intensity of the narration, Raja goes classic way of providing more silent shots and fills with beautiful music only at the impact points. Music is the quintessential part of the film and in fact it is no understatement to say it is a perfect tribute to the Maestro. Thank you Gautham Vasudev Menon.
Verdict - 3.75/5. Barring few negatives like any other good attempt, Goutham Vasudev Menon has delivered a classic along with the Maestro and good lead actors. Must watch !!!
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