I've spent several years in Hollywood, and I still think the movie heroes are in the audience. -- Wilson Mizner
To me masala films are a complete genre. To call all commercial films masala is a misconception. – Shah Rukh Khan
INTRODUCTION
Tamil film industry is blossoming full time, thanks to many hits and nice films than have one good film out of a 100. Just like every dark cloud has a silver lining, VCD piracy and mushroom-like TV channels have done something good to Tamil Cinema that was unthinkable for quite some time. Good cinema and entertaining cinema is the order of the day. Have you ever seen a year with releases of less than 15 movies for diwali compared to 4 last year? If you do not make good film in Tamil, all the money you spend is going down the drain. Of course there are exceptions when it comes to big actors.
Coming to big actors, Vijat was doing something wrong that Ajith is doing these days. An actor has to act. He shouldn’t write stories or direct the movies at the same time. If you do that, it becomes a mono-act like Yadein and all. He is letting the directors do the direction, these days. The benefits are quite visible in “Thirumalai” and “Gilli”. “Udhaya” was an orphan child due to so many reasons. If Vijay lets the directors direct him, like he did in “Kaadhalukku Mariyaadhai”,“Poove Unakkaaga “and “Friends”, he is all set to be one of the unassailable forces of Tamil Cinema.
Dharani is a welcome change to Tamil cinema. All his movies are very predictable and have immense entertainment values. He is a director who makes films for the whistles he can hear in the theatre. It was so imminently visible in the super hit film “Dhool”. Dharani is all about masala. Three hits in a row is something unique. Though this one is a remake of the telugu superhit “Okkadu”, this one is a formulaic fare twisted with touches of Dharani for Vijay. A.M Rathnam has spent crores for the sheer value of entertainment
Now to the crux of the review
PLOT
Velu (Vijay) is the son of an ACP Ashish Vidyarthi (he is a regular in tamil cinema these days!). He is average in studies but an exceptional “Kabaddi” player. His dad does not like his involvement in the game and wants him to focus on the studies. He is a carefree guy just doing anything to pursue his love. He goes to Madurai for a league match and by chance he encounters Muthupandi (Prakash Raj), who is a local goon, trying to take Dhanam (Trisha) to marry her.
Muthupandi is a big mill owner in deep love with his relative Dhanam and he kills Dhanam’s brothers for their stance against the alliance. Dhanam’s parents quickly(!!!) prepare papers to send her to her Uncle in US. Dhanam goes by walk to escape Muthu’s goons and is caught by Muthu. This is where the hero beats the heck out of Villain
Now, Velu and Dhanam are on the run for their life and Velu does everything to save her. He finally feels his love for her, when he leaves her in the airport to play his national finals.
All is well in the end. Hero wins the national trophy. Heroine returns for her man. All the crimes done by the Hero and Villain are forgotten. You see subtitles running
ANALYSIS
This movie is not about a story. This movie is only about entertainment and masala. The audience get what they want, except for lack of great comedy. Dharani has done an excellent job of packaging this garam masala for the masses. If you keep your logical brain aside and look for only entertainment, this is a great film. This movie has some great acting, good songs, nice visuals, extra ordinary stunt scenes and entertaining scene sequences. You are never let off anywhere in the movie for it is very fast. I guess Dharani is a fan of the movie Speed. It goes in rapid fast manner and you realize that the movie has ended, only when you see the titles. If he has done that, he has done an excellent job.
You need to shoo away logic in the film for you may find it little too much to collate them. You may also see lack of maths. Vijay defies physics of Newton in some of the scenes. The normal chemistry between the Hero and Heroine is missing. The history of the hero’s life is not shown. The geography of the world is not shown in songs. The biological concept of genetics does not appear similar in anyone’s families. The languages are the kings. Hence you are devoid of any study requirements. It may enthrall students also, this way!
Vijay does his best in giving exactly what his fans love. He acts normally (he still needs to refine a lot to become a great actor). Comedy scenes are done in a great manner. He dances very elegantly and his fight scenes are stunning. He has found his hit after Thirumalai in this one and it may still become the biggest hit from vijay in years.
Trisha is growing up and she has done her job well. She is fast becoming the glamour doll of Tamil Industry. I guess she has to focus a lot on her acting, to become someone like Simran. If she does that, she will have the next temple in some remote village built for her.
Ashish Vidyarthi, Persons playing Velu’s Mom, Sister, Dhanam’s mom, dad and brothers have done nicely. Ashish is mellowing down a lot.
Damu’s comedy is bearable and unbearable at the same time. The comedy is not very strong. Dharani should have given more focus to comedy.
Prakash Raj has done a great job in showing his love for Trisha and his dialogue delivery is great. At times, you may feel he goes overboard but he is one of the key element’s in this movies success. The way he says ‘I love you’ to Trisha is something of unique nature. You are in for a real treat
Vidhyasagar’s Music is good and he has given Dharani what he wanted.Couple of songs ‘Kokkarakko’ and ‘Appadi podu’ are hits already. The picturization is also great.
The Choreography is great and Maniraj has done excellent Art direction. The cinematography by Gopinath is great and he captures the essence of Madurai to details. The fight in Mada Veedhi’s of Madurai is something of a stunner and it has been filmed with great pain. The Stunt master deserves a huge round of applause. The action sequences are the best and they are all stunning. They get the benefit the the effort they put in. Great eye catching visuals of action splendor. Rocky Rajesh has done exceptional job. VT Vijayan has done some graceful editing
CONCLUSION
Masala from Madras to Madurai and back. That’s the whole idea of Gilli. Dharani mentioned that he makes films for masses and not for awards. Well, he lives up to his words and rightfully so, in a way. He is all about fast track entertainment with masala all the way. With directors like him for mainstream masala and Bala, Cheran, Charan and other new directors, Tamil cinema is going to new heights.
Gilli is a great masala entertainer – TWO THUMBS UP. GO FOR IT
I Hope you liked the review. Do comment when you have time.
Kalil
Good films flop, atrocious films do well. Uncertainty is the only certainty in this business. – Madhuri Dixit
The 'human situation,' in all its guises, is what good films are all about, and technical skill counts for nothing if it is used only to manufacture films which have little to do with humanity. - Edward Dmytryk
