Karuppu Movie Review: The Problem with Gods

Whenever god takes on anyone, the battle is usually, almost unfairly skewed. That’s why the coolest idea in Karuppu is when god is challenged not to exercise his super-powers in enforcing justice. The question Baby Kannan (RJ Balaji) seems to pose is this: if Karuppu (Suriya) can use his superpowers, an unfair advantage over humans, why should…

29 Movie Review: A film of tender fragments

Clearly, Rathna Kumar is a poet. You see it in the chapter titles. You see it in how the protagonist Sathya (Vidhu) describes Viji’s (Preethi Asrani) lips: ‘Thiruppi potta Thirukkural.’ You see it in how Rathna films a song around the beauty of physical intimacy, and in how he seems particularly interested in the woman’s…

Aaranyakaandam Review: Righteousness is a luxury

Edhu thevayo, adhu dharmam, Aaranyakaandam says at the beginning and at the end. Righteousness is whatever is necessary at any point. It means there can be no objective morality in a world that isn’t an equal playing ground. For some privileged and comfortable enough, a belief in virtue and righteous behaviour may be possible. For some others, survival…

With Love Review: Expressing Love without Expectation

I truly believe that in every good film, there lie delicate moments that lay bare its soul, moments where you know you’re in the presence of beauty. With Love has quite a few of them, and it’s these moments that truly make this film for me. Yes, the premise is clever, and keeps things energetic….

Parasakthi Review: A passionate argument, a distant film

At one point in Parasakthi, someone observes that language isn’t merely a tool to express thought. It is thought itself. Languages aren’t clothes you can change for convenience and still remain the same person inside. Each alters you. To suffocate one language or impose another, then, isn’t simply a superficial shift. It is a demand for transformation. It…