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…
Tag: Karthik Subbaraj
Karthik Subbaraj: Jagame Thandhiram is my first ‘middleground’ film
“Our cinema is creating an impact across the world, and our stars too are acting there now—like Dhanush himself, for instance. A collaboration with a Hollywood star may happen faster than we expect.”
Putham Pudhu Kaalai Review: Sudha Kongara stars in an anthology that evokes mixed feelings
“It’s also fascinating to note that old people are integral parts of this new anthology. It’s a welcome development, is it not, that liberated from the rules surrounding feature films and star-centric cinema, these filmmakers are able to talk about an important section of society that’s damagingly stereotyped, even in the off-chance that they get depicted at all?”
Petta: A reasonably charming tribute film with some unforgettable flourishes
“Narai koodi kizha paruvam eidhi, kodum kootruk kiraiyenappin maayum, pala vedikkai manidharai pole naan veezhven endre ninaithayo?”, which roughly translates to, “Like those aging, with greying hair, who suffer the fate of death, did you think I, like contemptible people, will fall?” Petta is Karthik Subbaraj reminding us that the Superstar hasn’t fallen.
Mercury: A worthy experiment with some memorable stretches of filmmaking
Towards the end, the actual version of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata takes centrestage. It’s quite appropriate not just because one of the characters is a self-confessed Beethoven fan, but because the story in a sense is actually Moonlight Sonata.
Sudhir Srinivasan 