Old, crass and hostile Dheena. Thalapathi. Vaali. Padithal Mattum Podhuma. Thirupaachi. Enthiran. Kanchana-2. Singam. Annamalai. In chronological order, Sakalakala Vallavan makes references to these films by borrowing either punch lines, background music, or songs from them. Director Suraj more or less rewrites the popular adage ‘If you can’t find a way, make one’ to ‘If…

Nothing magical here Idhu Enna Maayam will go into the annals of history for inventing a new position in hockey — the pinch-hitting batsman. In one unintendedly hilarious scene, Arun (Vikram Prabhu), a proficient batsman, thumps his chest and steps into the hockey pitch when his college badly needs him. He figures that “both sports…

Small joys One of the opening shots of Naalu Policeum Nalla Irundha Oorum (NPNO) is of a Thirukkural inscribed on a bus stop. It’s Thirukkural number 131, and it talks about how important virtue is, and how it must be guarded with one’s life. The village, Porpandhal (awfully similar to Porbandhar, the birthplace of Gandhi,…

Takes a long while to get going There’s a 15-20 minute block of Yaagavarayinum Naa Kaakka early in the second half that’s thoroughly riveting. I’m talking about the sort of filmmaking that leaves you on the edge of your seat, gasping for breath. The scene’s about a group of friends who make the disastrous mistake…

Reeks of mediocrity Kaaval begins rather ambitiously. It points out, Ramanaa style, that between 1995 and 2014, as many as 34,436 murders took place. If the title didn’t make it obvious enough, this statistic helps you understand that the film’s going for a cat-and-mouse game between policemen and the koolipadai (contract killers), which it claims…