Nanna | Movie Review

Plot
Krishna (Vikram) is a mentally challenged guy working in a chocolate factory at Ooty. His wife expires while giving birth to their child Vennela (Sarah). Krishna and Vennala share a very close father-daughter relationship with both taking care of each other. Vennela is taken away by her grandfather when she is 5. Anuradha (Anushka) is a lawyer who helps fight the case for Krishna, and this forms rest of the story.
 
Actors Performance
After Kamal Haasan, if there is anyone else who can play such a challenging role, its Vikram. He is exceptionally good playing the mentally challenged father. He expressed a lot using his eyes for most of the movie. He should be really appreciated for taking up such a role. The showstopper though, was baby Sarah. She was brilliant as the daughter and even overshadowed Vikram in certain scenes. However, the screen presence of both Vikram and baby Sarah is minimal during the second half of the movie. Anushka is good as the lawyer, but I felt something lack in her performance. She was looking really good though. Amala Paul has a minor role and was adequate. Naseer has a meaty role and was good. The guy who played Anushka’s assistant was really good.
 
Story-Screenplay-Direction
Its a simple story about the relationship between a mentally challenged father and a doting daughter, and the consequences when they are separated. Director Vijay, who also provided story and screenplay, had a good story at hand with and ensemble of really good artists, but was unable to deliver a complete package. While the first half of the movie was to establish the father daughter relationship, he tried to infuse unnecessary scenes and create humor. Krishna’s friend doubting his wife for helping Krishna with Vennala seemed absurd. He did not make use of the main performers of the film by limiting screen space for both Vikram and baby Sarah in the second half. It seemed more of Anushka’s film post interval. Also, there seemed to be quite a few loopholes in the script. However, he could generate awesome stuff from little Sarah. The screenplay seemed alright, but nothing great.
 
Other Departments
Music by G. V. Prakash Kumar is alright. Lyrics by Anantha Sriram are mediocre. I could not make sense of even one song in full. Dialogues by Shashak Vennelakanti are ok. Cinematography by Nirav Shah is really good. Its not an expensive film, and the producers made sure to get things right.
 
Analysis
Its a movie to be watched for Vikram and baby Sarah. Both of them are surely gonna top the highest awarding honors for the film. Sadly, there is not a strong story to hold up their awesome performance. A better script could have made Nanna create wonders at box office. Also, there is a lot of Tamil nativity in the film (no offence to my Tamil friends). Overall, Nanna is a decent film and can be watched for its performances.
 
Verdict: 7/10
 
PS: I went for the movie along with my cousin, and we had quite an experience. We had tickets for Sunday’s show and thought it was for Saturday, realized it almost 30 mins into the movie. Luckily we found exactly 2 empty seats in the packed theatre. Once in a life time experience I say.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara | Movie Review

Plot
Childhood buddies, Arjun (Hrithik Roshan), Imraan (Farhan Akthar) and Kabir (Abhay Deol) decide to go on an adventure road trip when either one of them gets engaged. Kabir gets engaged to Natasha (Kalki Koechlin), and Imraan plans a road trip to Spain, for his own personal reasons. Arjun is initially not interested because of his recent breakup, but then agrees to join. There, they meet Laila (Katrina Kaif), and together have an adventure of their lifetime.
 
Actors Performance
The three leading actors play tailor made characters and are excellent. Hrithik looks stunning and does a real good job, especially during the emotional scene. Abhay is good. But the real star for me was Farhan. He was excellent and his comic timing was perfect. Katrina was delicious to look at and did a good job as well. Kalki was perfect as the possessive girlfriend. Naseeruddin Shah plays a cameo and was adequate. And ya, the surprise package, Ms. Bagwathi was terrific!! 😀
 
Story – Screenplay – Direction
From the trailers, I was hoping it to be something similar to “Dil Chahta Hai”, but turned out to be very different. Its a feel good story with romance infused into it while not being an integral part of it. Direction by Zoya Akhtar is good. She seems to have improved from her first venture. Screenplay by Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar is neat and effective. But the film seemed to be a little too long and draggy towards the end.
 
Other Departments
Music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is very peppy and catchy. The background score by S-E-L and Tubby is really good. All songs are shot well. Hrithik excels while dancing for Senorita. He’s so damn good, that you forget to watch the other two guys. Editing by Anand Subaya could have been better. Dialogues by Farhan Akhtar are witty. Cinematography by Carlos Catalan is awesome. The underwater shots and shots at San Fermin (Bull run) are incredible. Skydiving shots by Joe Jennings leave you breathless. Beauty of Spain is captured in every frame. If Harry Potter was graphic visual feast, this one is scenic feast. Productions values are superb. Credit to the art department for perfectly recreating the La Tomatina Tomato festival.
 
Analysis
The first half of the movie is really entertaining and witty. Post interval, the film seems to drag towards the end. Plus points are excellent performances by the lead actors, entertaining first half, and awesome cinematography. On the flip side, the movie is a little too long and draggy towards the end (almost 3 hours). Overall, its a good watch. It might be liked by the elderly more than the youth. A few might find it preachy and therefore dislike it. It all depends on your attitude towards life, cos you see, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara! Go watch it, its a feel good film.
 
Verdict: 8.5/10
 
PS: I recently watched the movie again, this time with amma, and then forced dad to go watch the movie along with his friend. Everyone loved the movie. This friend of Dad, Chatla Sreeramulu garu, happens to be a high profiled gentleman with connections to the Telugu film industry (He trained Ram for Devadasu). He enjoyed the movie so much that he couldn’t stop talking about it for the next two days!
Post the watch with amma:
 
Amma’s Verdict: 8/10
 
Edited after second and third watch 🙂

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 | Movie Review

Plot
Now that Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has the Elder wand, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) sets off his search for the remaining three Horcruxes with Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint). They end up at Hogwarts and the final battle begins. He then discovers that there is one more Horcrux to be destroyed and you know what happens next!! Well, if you don’t, go watch the movie 🙂

Artists Performance
Every character seems to have improved with age. Daniel, Emma and Rupert come up with mature performances compared to their previous outings. They do look very odd as adults in the ending though. Alan Rickman (Snape) surprises you with his acting skills (watch the second movie to understand what I mean). All the other characters are all right. Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange) overacts as usual while in her shoes.

Story – Screenplay – Direction
Having covered the first 25 chapters of the 36 chapter book in Part 1, I was honestly hoping that they would stick to the book. But instead, Steve Cloves (Screenplay) chose to cut it short, and moreover, modify it. The final battle between Harry and Voldemort is picturized very different from the book. There is no mention about Dumbledore’s Secrets and Lies. Being titled Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, strangely there is not much discussed about the Deathly Hallows. They do not even disclose what the Third Hallow is. Director David Yates tried to infuse humor into scenes which were meant to be serious (I don’t know if its intentional). He does a better job compared to his last three films, but I believe he could have put in much more effort. They chose to convey a lot of the story through expressions which I don’t think really worked. Overall, the effect was missing in the end.

Other Departments
Music by Alexandre Desplat is mediocre. It was sad to watch gripping scenes with such dull background score. Cinematography by Eduardo Serra is of top-notch quality. Editing by Mark Day is pretty decent. The graphics stand out and it is a visual feast. The 3D effect was ok.

Analysis
Being the final chapter of the series, a lot is expected from this movie and it definitely lives up to its expectations. But a lot more could have been done with it in my opinion. The climax seemed to lack the punch required and left me wanting more. People who read the book might be a disappointed. Overall, it’s a better ending to the movie series than what I expected it to be. Go watch it whether you are a Harry Potter fan or not!

Verdict: 8/10

PS: This being my first review, I know I sound kinda amateurish. I hope to improve on it soon. Next review on ZNMD coming by evening 🙂