Sudhir Srinivasan

Kaatrin Mozhi: A risk-free, saccharine remake

“The years roll by, but our jokes continue to target obesity, dark complexion, unattractiveness, homosexuality… Oh, and there’s one later about erectile dysfunction.”

Sarkar: Vijay propaganda hinders this film from realising its potential

“He talks of America’s language becoming English instead of German, France becoming a republic from a monarchy, Hitler acquiring dictatorial control over the party… It’s the sort of list you’d expect to see on WhatsApp a week before elections, sent by well-meaning friends. And much like many such noble lists, all the examples cited in this one are entirely wrong.”

Vada Chennai: A gritty, even if rushed, gangster drama with unforgettable stretches

“In the other murder sequence, you have two novices undergoing a rite of passage of sorts. The event is the equivalent of two young lion cubs hunting a weary hyena. It’s fascinating to see as they, full of vigour and inventiveness, wake up to what they can actually do. It’s a sequence Santosh Narayanan’s music stands out in.”

Aan Devathai: An interesting premise that deserved more nuanced treatment

“Bank loans aren’t the problem; people who make horrible financial decisions are. Food delivery isn’t the issue; people who over-rely on them are. Nursery schools aren’t the problem; parents who make no time for children are. “

NOTA: This coming-of-age story doesn’t live up to its early promise

“It’s tempting to think of a Mudhalvan, whose protagonist too gets forced into the Chief Minister seat. And just as with that film, it’s important that you don’t really question the practicality of it all. These films are targeted at the impractical idealist, I suspect, resides in all of us.”