Enna Avamanam (what a disgrace).
There were just seven people (eight initially, but one guy vanished) for the opening 8:30PM ET show of Unnaipol Oruvan in the U.S. on Thursday at Anil Ambani’s crappy theatre Movie City, Edison.
Of the seven, three didn’t think much of this movie. Yes, all three had seen A Wednesday, the fine Bollywood movie of which Unnaipol Oruvan is a remake.
Enna Kodumai (What Agony)
Compared to A Wednesday (as it inevitably will be), Unnaipol Oruvan is a crude piece of shit with none of the suspense, none of the drama, and most importantly none of the sui generis acting of the Bollywood stalwarts Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher.
Kamal Haasan (in a vain attempt at reprising Naseeruddin Shah’s role) and Mohan Lal (who plays Anupam Kher’s role here, i.e. the Police Commisioner) are podi pasanga (kids) compared to their Hindi counterparts.
Kamal Haasan – Utter Farce
Completely oblivious to our howls of pain, merciless in his cannibalistic orgy of the audience’s flesh, and heedless to our repeated pleas for relief, Kamal Haasan in Unnaipol Oruvan delivers a horribly bad and totally unconvincing performance.
Not remotely credible as the terrorist and comically unconvincing as Unnaipol Oruvan (common man), it’s incredible that this Ulaga Madayan oops Ulaga Nayagan Kamal Haasan is marking 50 years in films. Only in Incredible India.
With his ridiculously phony accent when he slips into English, too much blah blah blah in every call to the police chief, affected gestures and gross overacting, Kamal Haasan just does not allow for the buildup of the suspense and tension the way Naseeruddin Shah did so beautifully in A Wednesday.
When Kamal Haasan’s character tells the Police Commissioner in the first call (??): I’m sure you are aware of the Czech state of the art explosives C4 we felt like crying at the stupidity of it all.
If Naseeruddin Shah was a treat in every scene he featured in in the Hindi version, Kamal Haasan proves to be a torment.
Naseeruddin Shah brought charm and elan even to simple scenes like standing on the terrace of the tall building, calmly replacing a SIM card, disposing off the old one down a long pipe and pouring himself a cup of tea from a flask.
In not one scene in Unnaipol Oruvan did Kamal Haasan deliver the acting goods.
If Unnaipol Oruvan is our reward for supporting this bozo for 50 long years in films, it’s the occasion not for celebration but time to gather the logs for the funeral – of art.
Mighty Poor Execution
Unnaipol Oruvan’s story hews mostly to the original plot of A Wednesday but it’s in the execution that director Chakri Toleti, Kamal Haasan, Mohan Lal et al stumble.
They trip right into the opening scenes, fall flat on their faces into the mud, and never recover.
The clashes between Mohan Lal’s character and Lakshmi’s character of Chief Secretary at the height of a terrorism crisis just didn’t fit into the movie at all. Plain silly.
None of the dialogs in the Tamil version pack of punch of the muscular words in A Wednesday. Completely effete, particularly the conversation between the Police Commisioner and our ‘Terrorist.’
The final scene in A Wednesday had a touch of class. Au contraire, the meeting between the Police Commisioner and our common man in Unnaipol Oruvan at the end had a touch of crass.
As a young boy, Chakri Toleti messed up the pictures in Salangai Oli. As a grown up, Chakri Toleti messed up the full picture in Unnaipol Oruvan.
How’s that for continuity?
Mohanlal – Depressing
A veteran of dozens of Malayalam movies, Mohanlal is a big letdown here.
Anupam Kher brought a sense of urgency to the Police Commissioner’s office during the terrorism crisis adding to the tension.
All that Mohanlal brought to Unnaipol Oruvan was a perpetual frown. And a bad one at that.
Mohan Lal has taught us one key lesson – Not to think highly of all actors from Kerala.
Others – A Joke
As our neighbor said outside the theatre, even the side actors did very well in A Wednesday.
How True.
Jimmy Shergill, Aamir Bashir and Deepal Shaw brought credit to themselves in A Wednesday. Even the four terrorists, who had a limited role in A Wednesday, turned in a good job.
The bozos in Unnaipol Oruvan just drew sniggers.
God, what was the necessity to introduce that hag Lakshmi here. A total waste of film stock. The woman was tolerable when she was young because there was at least the blossom of youth to ogle at. That grimalkin now belongs in a kennel.
Shruti Hassan = Zero
To write any more about this coasting-on-her-connections little twit would be a waste of bandwidth, your time and ours.
Skip This Movie
Folks, unless you’ve taken leave of your senses, unless money is burning a mighty big hole in your pocket, unless you suffer from mastilagnia, stay away from this wanton insult that goes by the name Unnaipol Oruvan.
Hesitate not to extend the middle finger to this bunch of dilettantes.
Unnaipol Oruvan – Unnaipol Oru Madayan added by SearchIndia.com on
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hey i expected this from u , many from tamil nadu said it is a shit compared to hindi version .
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Very mediocre.
Has Unnaipol Oruvan released in India? We thought it’s releasing on Friday there.
The movie is not released in India. There were some fans show and all happening. Heard good opinion abt the movie..
Anyways waiting for your review
SearchIndia.com Responds:
The review is done now.
Have you seen the Hindi version A Wednesday?
Hi SI,
The surprise element would have obviously gone, since you have watched the original. This is not ‘Sixth sense’ in which the director cleverly hides the clues, which are revealed during multiple watchings.
Tell how exactly Kamal and Mohanlal, who have 6 national awards between them, are podi pasanga, compared to Naseer and Anupam.
” Not to think highly of all actors from Kerala” – How can you generalize?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. True, the surprise element was missing for us (as it’d be for any one who has seen A Wednesday), but the acting and overall execution were so pedestrian in Unnaipol Oruvan that there’s no great drama and no great possibility of building up the suspense, tension or a wow! twist, even for those who have not seen the Hindi original.
Overall, an extremely amateurish effort, unworthy of ‘veterans’ like Kamal Haasan and Mohan Lal.
2. You write: How can you generalize?
In South India, Kerala has been the wellspring of acting talent – Mamooty, Meera Jasmine, Prithviraj (decent actor), Navya Nair et al that one tends to expect more from actors hailing from this state.
So, when you see a mediocre performance like Mohan Lal in Unnaipol Oruvan your disappointment is the higher because of your conditioning to expect more.
is there any songs in the film the audio launch was a big event in chennai?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
After a sleepless night, we remember two songs Allah Janae with Kamal standing on the terrace and the Unnaipol Oruvan title song.
Hey b******s this movie aint too bad.And you call kamalhaasan a madayan.
You really deserve to be shown the middle finger.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
b******s us?
You are probably confusing us with your parents or children.
my friend , even though its not a great effort, its much better than you ve portrayed over here.
And talking about overacting , one instance from hindi movie where anupam kher asks one of the cops on mission whether he got wife and kids and whether he is ready to do the job. 😀 and you credit him with realistic acting. When u post a review,when it starts to become biased for reasons unknown 😀 ,you are slinging mud at yourself.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
More than overacting, the scene you refer to in A Wednesday was overdramatic in its depiction of Jai’s devotion to duty and Anupam Kher’s high expectation from his boys.
There’s not a biased bone in our body.
Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher represent a touch of class while a touch of crass is the imprint Kamal Haasan and Mohan Lal leave on Unnaipol Oruvan.
Just now my friend called me to come to theatre to watch this film but i send this link to him he read and decided to skip the movie .. thanks SI, u never fear to express ur view.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
If you are not familiar with Hindi, we suggest you rent the Hindi original A Wednesday with English subtitles.
Definitely worth a watch to see real actors like Naseeruddin Shah/Anupam Kher, not these impostors Kamal/Mohanlal.
couldn’t help laughing after reading your review, Super!!
Did you observe kamal’s fake accent?. He was trying to roll his “R”s. :).
Sad to see mohan lal in a crappy movie But he was absolutely superb in ‘Company’ as a police commisioner.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Did you observe kamal’s fake accent?
Yes. Made a brief mention of it in the post too.
Just can’t understand the necessity for that phony accent.
2. Where did you watch it – North Bergen or Edison?
In Edison, there were just seven people in the hall. If you watched it in North Bergen, did the audience numbers hit double-digits?
People have to see A Wednesday to grasp how awful Unnaipol Oruvan is.
3. You write: Sad to see mohan lal in a crappy movie ..he was absolutely superb in ‘Company
Will watch Company. On our list.
[Trash Talk]
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You’ve been Exterminated!
not yet watched a wednesday movie , planning to download now and watch it .. BTW, most of the websites are raving abt UPO ..
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Some of the same web sites that now rave about UPO once gave glowing reviews for Villu.
For example, Sify described Villu as a rip-roaring rocker.
check out the sify.com/movies/tamil review its just opposite to your opinion, like the back ground score by shruthu haasan is good, superb performences by lead actors etc.
I am sure most of tamil audience didn’t know that it is a remake and they can’t see A wednesday so why would they bother about the acting of Kamal haasan is not upto the marks set by nazarudeen shah??
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: check out the sify.com/movies/tamil review its just opposite to your opinion
Yeah, Yeah. Here, read what Sify said about Villu:
After reading Sify’s review of Villu, we can’t take them seriously on anything.
2. You write: I am sure most of tamil audience didn’t know that it is a remake and they can’t see A wednesday so why would they bother about the acting of Kamal haasan is not upto the marks set by nazarudeen shah
If the Tamil audience is unaware of A Wednesday and the remarkable performances of ‘nazarudeen shah’ and Anupam Kher, it’s their loss.
In a small way, we’re trying to alert people to the existence of A Wednesday lest they be misled into considering what Kamal Haasan and Mohanlal do in Unnaipol Oruvan as acting.
Whatever the duo may have done in Unnaipol Oruvan, it certainly wasn’t acting.
Bottomline, Unnaipol Oruvan is a piece of trash, unworthy of your time or money.
The minute I listened to Kamal’s “Mr. I G R Marar” accent, I decided that it was wise to invest my hard earned 200 bucks in some other good film. Out of the recent lot, Eeram is the best bet. I’d rather spend 100 bucks on watching Eeram again rather than watching Unnai Pol Oruvan. Truly, Kamal is a great actor, but it doesn’t mean that he can do nonsense in the name of acting.
Naseerudding shah portrayed the anger of the COMMON MAN beautifully in A Wednesday, but having seen brief scenes from Unnai Pol Oruvan, I can easily conclude that Kamal Haasan’s character doesn’t even carry shades of the common man!!! I guess this film will be a hit anyways!
Mr.Kamal, you are great actor, why waste your precious time in doing ridiculous things! And for Heaven’s sake, which common man would speak with an accent like MR. I G R Marar, I guess you would have known about the State of the Art explosives.
Wow! He can’t even think of the fact that no common man would be easily able to comprehend the meaning of the words “State-of-the-Art”. By the way, the words mean “of the highest technology possible”, Kamal must have had no clue that no common man can get his hands on such advanced explosives.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: The minute I listened to Kamal’s “Mr. I G R Marar” accent, I decided that it was wise to invest my hard earned 200 bucks in some other good film
You are infinitely wiser than us.
Wish we had done the same.
2. The whole notion of explaining explosives to a senior police officer is nonsense.
3. You write: I guess this film will be a hit anyways!
We won’t be surprised. Anything is possible in Incredible India.
4. You write: Naseerudding shah portrayed the anger of the COMMON MAN beautifully in A Wednesday, but having seen brief scenes from Unnai Pol Oruvan, I can easily conclude that Kamal Haasan’s character doesn’t even carry shades of the common man!!!
Kamal Haasan fails twice in Unnaipol Oruvan – fails as the terrorist and fails as the common man.
Me, infinitely intelligent, blah! Any person viewing the latest set of movies from Kollywood is wary of any new tamil movie.
My friends had to literally drag me to the theatre to watch EERAM. I was so angry with them for not coming with me to watch Quick Gun Murugan – The best spoof movie in recent times. But once I reached the movie hall, I was surprised to see the movie was worth every damn rupee that I paid.
Kindly try to watch EERAM at least in Thirutu DVD (Coz you told us several times that the nearest theatre playing EERAM is 1100 miles away) 🙂
And for heaven’s sake, try to watch SHutter(THAI FILM).
Kindly do not watch the English version as it has bad reviews due to insipid performances.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Kindly try to watch EERAM at least in Thirutu DVD
We prefer not to do it.
After all, we are one of the biggest supporters of Kollywood in North America.
2. Shutter – Yes, soon.
This is what I said in one of the comments, in your previous post – ‘A wednesday – can the dasavatharam bozo match this?’
” No, It is NOT going to match the rare gem “A Wednesdayâ€.
Kamal is usually “a jack of all, master of noneâ€. By his tone in the trailer, I can say, he thinks that this role is no difficult for him, and so he would not have made a big effort to bring it up. Shah will be far ahead of Haasan, at the end.
Ultimately, whoever did not watch “A Wednesday†would be praising Kamal’s version, and writing a review of 5 stars.”
Hmmm..!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Yes, you did say that on Sep 15 at 8:14PM.
We’d have been the wiser if we’d listened to your sage counsel, Nostradamus. 😉 .
Just returned from Wanted, another crappy film…Hindi remake of Pokiri featuring Salman Khan.
Oh..Good.. awaiting the review.. of “Wanted”.. [I believe you enjoyed Pokiri]
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Here’s the Wanted review.
Btw, why do you edit the comments in a rapid pace 😉
crap was edited into ‘crappy’, ‘film’ was added, ‘featuring Salman Khan’ was added, Link was given to date-time..!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Wow.
Do you maintain a version count of our edits.
We’re impressed!
We were processing your comments while also simultaneously writing the Wanted review.
the converse is also true.. whoever saw “A Wednesday” would hate this.. unless he is a Kamal fanatic. Who is playing the Jimmy Shergill role? Ganesh Venkataraman? he looked sort of promising in Abhiyum Naanum, which I gave up after watching one half.
I thought you watched http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanted_(2008_film).. mindless action film with no logic.. watch only when you are drunk.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. We don’t remember seeing the English film Wanted. Just checked our Hollywood movie review list too and didn’t find that there.
2. You write: Who is playing the Jimmy Shergill role? Ganesh Venkataraman?
Yes but Jimmy Shergill was far superior. Just no contest between the two.
3. A lot of the Tamil audience may not have seen A Wednesday and will likely not see it.
So it’s hard to convince these Kamal fan-boys that the Tamil version is no patch on the original.
I’ve watched A Wednesday and loved it. My dad has the exact shirt Shah was wearing in the film and I use to tease him about his fav uncle shirt. Changed my mind after watching the film.
I’m going to watch the dumb remake tonight simply because I personally want to see the size of the damage. Watched the trailer, Kamals fake accent made me puke. By the way there is a word in malay which describes his accent;
Poyo!!!!. A Malay slang, used by teenagers and some ‘young’ adults. Offensive, when used intentionally and can lead to quarrels+fights if used for insulting purposes.
1. A liar, or faker.
2. Someone lame/pathetic.
1. “That guy is so poyo, it’s so obvious he’s a wannabe”
2. “He’s the most obnoxious guy I’ve ever met, he thinks everyone revolves around him. He’s so poyo.”
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I’m going to watch the dumb remake tonight simply because I personally want to see the size of the damage
In our case, we’d watched A Wednesday twice. Once on DVD and recently again via streaming to refresh our memory. And the difference between the two versions was so stark.
Pl let us know the response to the movie, i.e size of audience, when you go.
Dear Reviewer,
Looking at your review, and the manner in which you reviewed it, shows obviously that you’d trash ANY movie that Kamal does. I might be wrong, but I wonder how was your reviews of Dasavatharam and Vetaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu…
It’s your opinion to review the movie of course, but you really should re-look the manner in which you do it. Calling a multi National Award winning actor names as well as dissing yet another Kerala multi National award winners performance is juvenile…
And seriously, you should go look up the meaning of the word ‘crass’…. I wonder what was so crass about the Tamil version’s ending compared to the Hindi original..?
Try to review the movie independently of the remake, instead of making comparisons…
i did the same watching it
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Try to review the movie independently of the remake, instead of making comparisons…
In our not so humble opinion, when you are doing/watching a remake, comparisons with the original are inevitable. And that’s the way it ought to be.
2. You write: Looking at your review, and the manner in which you reviewed it, shows obviously that you’d trash ANY movie that Kamal does. I might be wrong, but I wonder how was your reviews of Dasavatharam and Vetaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu…
Not true. We found Salngai Oli and Anbe Sivam to be decent. Dasvatharam and Vettaiyadu Villayadu were crap.
3. You write: Calling a multi National Award winning actor names as well as dissing yet another Kerala multi National award winners performance is juvenile…
Madayan means fool or idiot in Tamil. Very appropriate usage in the case of Unnaipol Oruvan given the quality of the remake.
If calling a fool a fool or a spade a spade is juvenile in your lexicon, then we stand guilty in your Kangaroo court.
4. You write: And seriously, you should go look up the meaning of the word ‘crass’.
With few exceptions, anyone who’s watched A Wednesday would find Unnaipol Oruvan crass.
SI:The review is done now.
Have you seen the Hindi version A Wednesday?
Yes…. I have seen the movie and loved it a lot . Was a welcome change from the usual masala movies that bwood churns out one after the other. Anyways I will watch the same on monday. I just cannot even imagine Mlal and Kamal to be so bad as you said. I hope you are wrong
#Mohan Lal has taught us one key lesson – Not to think highly of all actors from Kerala.#
Thats absolutely not true. You cannot judge Mammootty and Mlal by seeing just one movie. If they are not good, they will not be in the industry for more than 30 years
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: You cannot judge Mammootty and Mlal by seeing just one movie. If they are not good, they will not be in the industry for more than 30 years
Longevity in India often has little to do with talent.
Take a look at Aishwarya Rao, Priyanka Chopra, Ajith et al. Despite being around for so many years, they’re still clueless in the acting dept.
Most Indian movie stars can’t act. Period.
Btw…. just now saw your twitter link. following u
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Thank you.
Yesterday i saw both the versions back to back (Tamil first), undoubtedly Hindi was better.
But Tamil was not rubbish too,
Here everyone guessed the twist (simple logic, an actor of kamal’s stardom and fan following can never be a terrorist in tamil cinema) perhaps it would have been better if both interchanged their roles. Initially there were talks that prakash raj and pasupathy are going to act, but later kamal bought the rights.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
If you’d seen the Hindi version earlier, your impression of the Tamil remake may not have been the same.
I am seconding rockyinluv’s comment: Mohanlal is a great actor, period! I won’t stand anybody comparing him with some other actor. Some people have innate talent, it can be expressed only when the script has scope and the director permits. With a megalomaniac like Kamal in the lead, I am not sure what happened in the sets.
I would reiterate the same thing: South India still has some of the finest actors in India: Mammooty, Mohanlal, Dilip, Kamal, Vikram, and Surya. It’s a pity that they are going the entirely wrong way these days.
Vikram and Surya have landed themselves in utter garbage by moving over to commercial films.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
To repeat what we said earlier, Mohanlal in Unnaipol Oruvan seemed to wear a frown the entire length of the movie. Absolutely no comparison to Anupam Kher, who was a gazillion times better in the same role in A Wednesday.
That said, we must acknowledge as we have in the past, that Kerala has the deepest reservoir of film talent in the South.
SI,
I have watched A Wednesday 🙂
Watching A Wednesday and UPO is like 1st nite experience and 2nd nite..of course the 2nd cant replace the 1st, nevertheless you enjoy it.
I have watched A Wednesday.
You avoid some mistakes you committed in the first night and try to better the second one in some aspects… but there is only one first night.
One shud understand their partner’s moanings ( = movie dialogue ), to enjoy the process.
“The clashes between Mohan Lal’s character and Lakshmi’s character of Chief Secretary at the height of a terrorism crisis just didn’t fit into the movie at all. Plain silly” – it ain’t silly, it is about clash of egos of highly powered people
“When Kamal Haasan’s character tells the Police Commissioner in the first call (??): I’m sure you are aware of the Czech state of the art explosives C4 we felt like crying at the stupidity of it all” – what’s stupid abt this?
A good reviewer doesn’t look largely at peripheral issues and goes eloquently attacking them. Without backup there is no substance 🙂
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You Write: “When Kamal Haasan’s character tells the Police Commissioner in the first call (??): I’m sure you are aware of the Czech state of the art explosives C4 we felt like crying at the stupidity of it all” – what’s stupid abt this?
You don’t explain a chisel to a carpenter, an awl to a cobbler or ask a policeman rhetorically if he’s aware of Czech state of the art explosives C4.
That whole first conversation didn’t have the same verisimilitude of the first Naseeruddin Shah-Anupam Kher call.
2. Sure, big egos are hardly an exception. But Lakshmi’s character of Chief Secretary seemed like a caricature of a senior civil servant.
3. As a reviewer, you pick a few elements to show how ridiculous or great a movie is. Which elements are picked are to some extent subjective.
DO YOU THINK THAT IF YOU OWN A SITE, AND WHATEVER YOU WRITE SILLY AND F….Y. IT WILL NOT AFFECT THE FILM. I WATCHED THE HINDI VERSION SUCH A FOOL OF OXES ACTED IN IT…
YOU ARE REAL MADAYAN AND SOUTH END OF A NORTH FACING HORSE!!!
I BECAME MEMBER TO SACK YOU B*****D
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. Use lower case in future. Makes it easier to read your gibberish.
2. You write: I BECAME MEMBER TO SACK YOU B*****D
Go tell that abusive term to your parents i.e. if by the rare chance you are aware of their identities.
3. We are not the owners of this site.
Now scoot.
Hey Mr ,Common man doesn’t mean illiterate,dumb,poor man.Here in this movie, the protagonist happens to be an intelligent guy. That accent was there because he wanted to convince the commissioner that this is not a crank call. And mentioning about the bomb ,he wanted to let him know the damage will be heavy.So they would take him more seriously. And when he cries after telling the story, the difference of the kamal in first half and this cry amplifies the fact that it is just a temporary bold mental make up.for one instance check for kamal hassan wiping tears with his gun,that shows his mindset,violence to wipe tears.
You said “Longevity in India often has little to do with talent” [sic]
BE honest and tell us , whether have u seen any of kamal hassans’ or Mr mohanlal’s movies. HAve u seen Vanaprastham. Have u seen Anbe sivam. Have u seen Iruvar or thevar makan. pls watch the malayalam movie Kireedom or else thazhvazham .
Just respect these veterans at least for the range of roles they ve done.
And why you ve to use such crap langauge in a movie review my friend.
Sify there in that review of villu targeted masala loviing audience.Only those ppl ll even check those reviews.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: BE honest and tell us , whether have u seen any of kamal hassans’ or Mr mohanlal’s movie
Lazybones, we’ve reviewed so many Kamal Hasasan movies on SearchIndia.com.
Stop asking asinine questions and do your home work.
2. You write: That accent was there because he wanted to convince the commissioner that this is not a crank call.
Ha ha ha, that phony, fake accent was necessary to get the police commissioner to take him seriously. As if all the C4 drivel and the bomb in the police station wasn’t enough.
3. You write: And why you ve to use such crap langauge in a movie review my friend.
We haven’t used any ‘crap langauge’ (sic) in the Unnaipol Oruvan review.
The movie was idiotic compared to the original. And we just highlighted that fact.
Bottomline, Kamal Haasan in Unnaipol Oruvan is pitiful compared to Naseeruddin Shah in the original, i.e. A Wednesday.
And to think this Kamal Haasan fella has 50 years in the movie business. Guess, 49 years were spent snoring.
When you call Salangai Oli and Anbe Sivam ‘decent’, then it’s pointless trying to put across anything to you, dude
Your manner in which you post a review, makes it sound more like an attack…Roger Ebert ( yeah I know you don’t have a clue who he is, and I know you will go look him up and come in here saying that you do ) does not use words like idiot, fool or moron in his reviews…
And when you can actually write that a distinguished actor like Kamal Haasan snored for 49 years…then there really is nothing more to say
And to think that there are people out there who actually agree with you makes it that much more pathetic..
But you really should remove the word ‘crass’ from your review man….that’s not a word that should be associated with a good movie like this, remake or not.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Your manner in which you post a review, makes it sound more like an attack…Roger Ebert ( yeah I know you don’t have a clue who he is, and I know you will go look him up and come in here saying that you do ) does not use words like idiot, fool or moron in his reviews…
SI readers have been familiar with Rogert Ebert long before you developed any hair down there.
You see, since January 2009 there has been four references to Rogert Ebert in the comments section of SI blog – January 19, 2009 (by a SI reader), May 22, 2009 (we cited a review by Ebert), May 22 (by a SI reader this time) and June 22 (from a SI reader again).
So let’s get rid of the superior airs and the supercilious, condescending, sneering, I-know-it-all-you-know-nothing tone, shall we?
Roger Ebert isn’t writing about as mediocre a movie industry as Bollywood / Kollywood.
As we’ve said in the past, our movie industry is peopled mostly with ripoff artistes who wouldn’t recognize acting even if it repeatedly smacked them on the face.
2. You write: When you call Salangai Oli and Anbe Sivam ‘decent’, then it’s pointless trying to put across anything to you, dude
Oh, no. We stand corrected.
Kamal Haasan’s Salangai Oli and Anbe Sivam are greater works of art than Michelangelo’s paintings on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, the Taj (we mean the monument, not the casino Trump Taj Mahal), Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, Forrest Gump, the Pyramids et al. Happy?
Vandatangapa comedy pasanga (here come the clowns).
3. You write: But you really should remove the word ‘crass’ from your review man….that’s not a word that should be associated with a good movie like this
Crass is an appropriate term for junk like Unnaipol Oruvan and we strongly urge readers not to squander money on such fart-imitating-art wannabe movies.
@jamminlogic: That accent was there because he wanted to convince the commissioner that this is not a crank call.
Where is the logic in suggesting that a phony English accent is the sine qua non of intelligence? Is a Commissioner in Tamil Nadu supposed to dismiss those threatening calls where the caller at the other end talks exclusively in Tamil? Are they trained specifically to be that stupid ?
For some reality check, take the incidents on the ground, the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai or some of the past incidents in Madras. Kasab & gang had little or no knowledge of English. The LTTE operatives that eliminated Rajiv (or leaders of rival factions in Madras) weren’t exactly speaking Queen’s English either.
But, even assuming that Tamils have sunk so low as to equate lack of English skills (with or without a phony accent) to be a disqualifying criterion for the “job” of a terrorist, shouldn’t Kamal try and quash that negative stereotype? After all, this is a man who has been railing against stereotyping and has taken pains to massage the story to imply that Indian Terrorism does not equal Islamic terrorism. Is *this* then a gaping hole in his thought process ?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Good points.
There’s no end to the illogical justifications for a crappy movie like Unnaipol Oruvan.
Hi, may be you like or you didn’t like the movie it’s your personel opinion. No one is actually cared about that. There are a lot of unbiased real good sites to give the proper reviews. Before you advivce others to do their homework, you please have some common sense and generel knowledge.
[About mohanlal, According to CNN-IBN, he is the Most Popular Keralite of the Century.
For Amitabh Bachan, he is the finest actor in the country.
For RGV, he is the Robert De Niro of Indian screen.
For Time magazine, he is India’s answer to Marlon Brando
He is the first actor to be honored with the prestigious Lieutenant Colonel Post from Indian Army.
Recipient of “Padma Shri” & “Bharat” Awards.]
and you think all these ppl are just crap to say like this about mohanlal and you are the one who judges him. That too calling him a “KID”.
It’s very funny that you could call kamalhaasan and mohanlal as kids. May be according to you the gratest actor ever lived would be T Rajendar. If you don’t have knowledge about something please don’t blabber about it. It doesn’t suits to your profession as a reviewer.
And about the movie it was good enough to express the feelings and the messages intended to pass to the ppl. and I’m not going to oppose you for your review,It’s your view and you have freedom to express yourself.
But I think before saying something about the actors like Mohanlal or Kamal please do have some knowledge about them.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: He is the first actor to be honored with the prestigious Lieutenant Colonel Post from Indian Army.
Who gives a f**k whether Mohanlal’s awarded with the Lt. Col, Sepoy or Brigadier post by the Indian army.
We’re not sending Mohanlal to the Pak border to fight the Lashkar or any of the other whackos assembled there.
2. You write: It’s very funny that you could call kamalhaasan and mohanlal as kids
Pl give the full context of our review describing the two as kids.
Here’s what we wrote:
Kamal Haasan (in a vain attempt at reprising Naseeruddin Shah’s role) and Mohan Lal (who plays Anupam Kher’s role here, i.e. the Police Commisioner) are podi pasanga (kids) compared to their Hindi counterparts.
Kids compared to Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher.
It’ll take Mohanlal a thousand births to act like Anupam Kher.
3. You write: About mohanlal, According to CNN-IBN, he is the Most Popular Keralite of the Century
Stalin was the ‘most popular’ figure of his era, Hitler during the Nazi era, and coming to the present era clowns like Rush Limbaugh Glenn Beck are popular with large sections of the population in our country.
Personally, we think the most popular Keralites of any century are Seema (of Avalude Raavukal fame), Meera Jasmine, Navya Nair and Bhavana. 😉
4. You write: For Amitabh Bachan, he is the finest actor in the country.
For RGV, he is the Robert De Niro of Indian screen.
For Time magazine, he is India’s answer to Marlon Brando.
If this profiting-from-theft bozo Amitabh Bachchan has really described Mohan Lal as actor extraordinaire, then we’d like to know what brand of Scotch Amitabh drinks.
As for that bit comparing Mohanlal to Robert De Niro and Marlon Brando, we haven’t stopped laughing.
Are there no limits to your nonsense?
5. You write: Recipient of “Padma Shri” & “Bharat” Awards
Awards mean nothing in India.
Ash got the Padma Shri recently. What for? Can’t be for acting, because she doesn’t have an acting bone in her body. So was the award for looking pretty?
The piss-drinker Morarji Desai, freedom-trampling dictator Indira Gandhi et al were awarded Bharat Ratnas. So?
Again, awards mean nothing in India or even overseas sometimes.
Since you appear to be a schmuck, may we remind you gently that Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of Non-violence never got the Nobel Peace Prize.
BTW, you must provide sources for your claims on Mohanlal or anyone else in future. Opinions are fine but when you cite somebody, credible links are a must.
It’s pathetic that you could find Navyanair as a good actress. but mammooty is an excellent actor ,no arguments
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Of course, Mammooty is a solid actor. No question.
But Navya Nair has three things that Mammooty doesn’t. 😉
Hey! Was waiting for your review.
I have seen A Wednesday and I do not wish to see Unnaipol oruvan just coz it wont come any closer to the original which I totally enjoyed …have seen the trailer of UPO and that said it all…however I do not think Kamal hasan is a bad actor. And pls he is certainly not Ulaga Madayan. I have enjoyed many of his earlier films. I wonder what has happened to him in the last couple of decades..but come on..he is a lot better than the other jokers…
I really think you have good sense of judgement about movies…but I really wish your comments are in simple English and not so exaggerated as it appears to be..after all, you are writing your reviews for people to read and comprehend, right? Now before you tear me down and shower me with bad words…I request you to think again.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: he is a lot better than the other jokers…
Very true but as we’ve said in the past (on multiple occasions) expectations from Kamal Haasan are so much higher than from Ajith, Vijay, Simbhu, Vombhu, Kombhu et al.
After 50 years in the movie business, if this is all you can deliver then that’s a mighty shame and a mighty big rip-off of the paying audience.
2. You write: Now before you tear me down and shower me with bad words
Rumors of our foul pen are greatly exaggerated. 🙂
It is so easy for anyone in a foul mood to make a call to commissioner and threaten. To get attention and to be taken seriously he needs to sound intelligent which is through speaking in English and questioning them on C4.
Why do you use non-english words in your reviews? To sound intelligent?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: To get attention and to be taken seriously he needs to sound intelligent which is through speaking in English and questioning them on C4
God forbid, a Tamil speaking person in Tamil Nadu finds a bomb somewhere. First, he has to find an English-speaking person, who is familiar with C4 and convince him to call the police.
2. You write: Why do you use non-english words in your reviews? To sound intelligent?
If we adopt your logic, to sound non-intelligent. It’s hard in our case to sound non-intelligent, but we’re trying hard. 😉
You say Kamal Haasan overacts & then call Meera Jasmine an ‘Acting talent’!! Super comedy..Some people can watch cinema for 50 yrs & still come out with junk like your review..Eppadiyo, edhirpaartha alavu comments vandhudho illayo!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. Yes, Meera Jasmine is a decent actress. Is she in the same class in Kamal Haasan? Of course, not.
Kamal Hassan or should we say Kamal Haasans after Dasavatharam does have a tendency to overact. Not as bad as Sivaji Ganesan, thankfully.
2. You write: Eppadiyo, edhirpaartha alavu comments vandhudho illayo
Ellam, unga ashirvadham (all, your blessings)
dear reviewer…
i really take a pity on some of your assumptions that you have made on some leading actors like mohanlal and kamalhassan. I have seen each and every bit of A Wednesday and also Unnai pol oruvan….As you always know there will be some thing different when you watch the remake version after watching the original…
As far as acting is concerned both mohanlal and kamal lived upto the characters…pls just dont keep saying that anupam kher and nasser.shah were far better..for God’s sake…Of course I admit they were excellent…but Mohanlal and kamal were not any lesser…There’s one small thing I agree between kamal and nass.shah..the last scene in which they speak of being the common man…maybe nasserudin shah just because of his looks and his voice may have been a bit strong..but at the same time kamal was not all that bad..that you write a sky to ground difference in the acting..
For your kind info Kamal is as versatile as anyone…he can play comedy, villain, serious, charecter, loverboy…name anything with elan…I don’t think nasserudin shah can pull of a performance like him what he did in nayagan or salankai oli or even Moondram pirai…
As far as mohanlal is concerned…I really pity that you have a peanut sized brain..and you say mohanlal’s acting his bad..have you seen his movies like chitram, mithunam, hishighness abdullah and Thanmaatra….Pls open you teeny tiny brain a little bit and post your review…
your review is very biased…and probably as kamal uses his english accent in explaining about the bombs..I really didn’t think that was funny/stupid..God only knows how it meant funny for you…
you seem to over love anupam kher and nass.shah but do know that kamal and moh.lal are no less than them…
Just because of your review..it doesn’t mean that this film is going to be thrown out of the screens…Again I pity you….you really suck in your reviews!….
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: i really take a pity….I really pity….Again I pity you
Wow. So much pity for us. You are really a pitiful person, Sir. 😉
2. You write: your review is very biased
Of course, we’re biased against mediocre performances like what we were subjected to in Unnaipol Oruvan.
If we were not so compassionate, we’d have asked for a refund.
It’s not that we dislike Kamal Haasan. Like millions of others, we too enjoyed his movies like Salangai Oli and Anbe Sivam.
But in Unnaipol Oruvan, Kamal Haasan was nowhere in the class of Naseeruddin Shah. Like comparing Sachin Tendulkar to a Vaniyambadi High school cricket player.
3. You write: I have seen each and every bit of A Wednesday and also Unnai pol oruvan
Lucky you.
We didn’t see every bit. You see, we skipped the bit at the end where they usually say have stuff like Processed at Prasad Labs, Processed at Gemini Studios, DFX, Dolby. 😉
It’s a fact that most remakes will not be even half as good as the original.. I guess that s the case here ..
If you hadn’t seen A Wednesday.. I guess u must have thought UPO to be a decent movie.. Most of the ppl I know,who have seen the movie, said it was awesome..or atleast much better than the crappy movies that get released here..!!!
And I just couldn’t believe it when u said Mohan Lal was a “podi payan”.. I mean.. it was U who said LAL s a remarkable actor in ur reivew of Aran..!!?!?! Lal has done so many movies, some of which became a hit solely because of his acting skills..!!!
By the way, its good u skipped Ninaithale Inikkum.. the film’s not even half as good as the original “Classmates”.. But it was a good effort by the director.!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: If you hadn’t seen A Wednesday.. I guess u must have thought UPO to be a decent movie..
Maybe. But since we’d seen the original the point is moot.
2. You write: And I just couldn’t believe it when u said Mohan Lal was a “podi payan”.. I mean.. it was U who said LAL s a remarkable actor in ur reivew of Aran..!!?!?!
We tend to look at every movie separately. As we’ve said clearly, we’re looking at Mohanlal in Unnaipol Oruvan through the prism of Anupam Kher’s performance in A Wednesday.
There’s just no comparison. Anupam Kher scored a century while Mohanlal was clean bowled on the first ball for a duck.
3. Folks sometimes get their knickers in a twist over some review or the other of ours and throw taunts of bias at us. But if you look at reviews featuring the same star in a different movie, we’d have found his/her performance appealing on account of a better performance.
So, it’s no surprise that you found us praising Mohanlal in Aran.
This actually proves our refrain that we don’t have a biased bone in our body.
Kamal’s performance is diminishing with time…but it should be the other way round. when most people score their best in the latter part of their career, kamal did some good stuffs in his young age but losing it right now.
Try watching Moondram pirai-u will know what i mean.
btw mohanlal seemed like a podi payyan cos he used his malayalam accent in tamil, maybe the writer thought that it would be more realistic to have his own identity as an ips officer from other state.
Acting of both the men was more natural in second half than the first which is why the movie is watchable.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Kamal’s performance is diminishing with time…but it should be the other way round
Very true.
2. We’ll see if we can get Moondram Pirai and watch/rewatch it.
looks like ur review for this film has shocked some ardent fans of kamal ??? they are giving saabam to u !!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You can’t please everyone.
When you do a remake, the job is in many respects easier because you have a ready-made story, you know how the ‘original’ actors played their roles, you know what worked in the original et al.
Of course, the job is also harder if you are following a Naseeruddin Shah or Anupam Kher. But that’s why these stars Kamal/Mohan are paid such high sums – to deliver excellence, not to dish out mediocrity.
Unnaipol Oruvan was woefully inadequate compared to A Wednesday.
I have not watched the remake and i think any movie for that matter will not be better than orginal cause comparsions will always be made… Also i think you seem to contradict yourself….
you write…
1. You write: Try to review the movie independently of the remake, instead of making comparisons…
In our not so humble opinion, when you are doing/watching a remake, comparisons with the original are inevitable. And that’s the way it ought to be.
When you had reviewed Pokiri (Tamil) you never thought of watching the orginial (Telugu) and then compare…cause i think Telugu version was better than Tamil…though it was a usual masala fix
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. We didn’t watch Telugu Pokiri for two reasons – unfamiliarity with the language and inaccessibility of the DVD here then (remember, we’re talking of late 2006 and early 2007).
So we did not review the Tamil Pokiri from a comparative perspective.
As you can see above, our review of Unnaipol Oruvan was purely from a comparative perspective since we had seen A Wednesday (twice).
2. You write: cause i think Telugu version was better than Tamil..
A few other SI readers have also made the same point.
BTW, i still can’t figure out how u liked the tamil Pokkiri . [ 😀 ]
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Hard to answer this question now since it’s close to three years since we saw Pokiri.
But we remember liking the songs Nee Mutham Ondru, En Chela Peru and Doli Doli, Vijay in the movie, the twist et al.
You know…I was speaking to people who have seen UPO and were saying it’s a fantastic movie…I confirmed with them that they haven’t seen the original..none of them had..I guess UPO is targeted only for those people.
I recommended that they see the original and find a superlative for fantastic even before seeing the original.
One person who is not in favor of UPO said something that is so true and something that made so much sense…he said the kadhai kalam for UPO is by itself not suitable and unnecessary..coz in the original one (A wednesday) the place featuring is Mumbai which has a history of serious blasts in the past..so it’s the repetitive killing thru so many blasts and especially the one blast that he escaped from, that caused him to take some action.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Interesting point (last paragraph).
btw, Times of India has given 4 stars (5 being excellent) to Wanted; 3.5 for UPO, 3 for Dil..Hadippa
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Well, The Times of India also gave 5 stars to the British during the colonial era.
I have not seen both movies but probably you could be right. “A Wednesday” could be top notch and this one a dud comparing story/performances of actors etc.
Of late, Kamal’s films have been trash because of myriad of reasons. In fact, I dont even think Anbe Sivam was good due to his over-indulgement in his films these days.
You see a movie and you review it on its own merit and do not compare it to what has been done by the actors previously.
But one thing I dont get is trashing of lot of Indian actors in your feedback -about body of work,etc. and seem to forget as if Mr.Shah & Mr.Kher have never put a wrong foot forward over their ‘body’ of work for 30+ years.
And of course, I would really like to know what constitutes a good acting performance according to you? Just a genuine enquiry so that I know your tastes!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: I would really like to know what constitutes a good acting performance according to you
We’ll fall back on the famous statement our late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once made regarding hard-core pornography:
You see the likes of Ash, Priyanka Chopra, Abhishek Bachchan, Bobby Deol, Salman Khan (lately), Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol, Tusshar Kapoor, Ajith et al on the screen. And by God, you just need a head (no brains required) to realize these bozos wouldn’t recognize acting if it smacked them on the face, repeatedly.
2. You write: But one thing I dont get is trashing of lot of Indian actors in your feedback -about body of work,etc. and seem to forget as if Mr.Shah & Mr.Kher have never put a wrong foot forward over their ‘body’ of work for 30+ years.
In our not-so-humble view, most Indian ‘actors’ are trash, just rank amateurs.
Our Bollywood and Kollywood ‘actors’ only masquerade as actors but they are really stars, a difference that’s often glossed over by both readers and the media.
Star-power has completely pushed acting into the shadows in India.
Most of our ‘actor’ clowns would be laughed off the stage/screen by the discerning non-desi audience. If Bollywood thinks they can conquer the West (as they seem to think lately), they are living in la-la land.
It needed a Brit to make a classic Bollywood film Slumdog Millionaire, walk away with eight Oscars and make our directors and actors look like tyros. What a f***ing disgrace.
Sure, Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher may not have been up to the mark in some films. However, they covered themselves with glory in A Wednesday.
Again as we’ve said ad nauseam, the Unnaipol Oruvan review and comments are mostly in the context of comparing it with the original, i.e. A Wednesday.
“God forbid, a Tamil speaking person in Tamil Nadu finds a bomb somewhere. First, he has to find an English-speaking person, who is familiar with C4 and convince him to call the police”
You are comparing apples and orange. Your example is of a person who is ‘reporting’ that he has found a bomb; where else Kamal ‘threatens’.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Oh, come on.
In your previous comment, you wrote: To get attention and to be taken seriously he needs to sound intelligent which is through speaking in English and questioning them on C4.
Utter nonsense.
Speaking about remakes, I believe that a better remake is one which does not try to follow the original, but instead improvise on it and adapt it to suit the respective audience’s tastes. I have not watched UPO, but I believe it is in the latter category. On the other hand, movies like Pokkiri is in the former category, as it is a scene by scene remake of the Telugu version, with the same dialogues etc.
I’m a new follower of this site and have gone through most of your reviews, seem to agree to most of them except that of Vaaranam Aayiram, which I believe was a sincere attempt of the director in paying a tribute to his father, albeit a few illogical circumstances like the whole US episode. But it did show the huge role parents play in molding a child’s behaviour. Was a technically brilliant film as well, with nice songs and good production values.
Looking forward to your reviews of a few old classics such as Kannathil Muthammittal, Aayutha Ezhuthu etc. Keep up the good job.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I believe that a better remake is one which does not try to follow the original, but instead improvise on it and adapt it to suit the respective audience’s tastes. I have not watched UPO, but I believe it is in the latter category
UPO didn’t veer far from A Wednesday and in many respects was a scene-by-scene remake.
The only difference was in the quality.
So he really fu**ed up ‘A Wednesday’… hmmm. I was even watching kamal’s movies till Vetaiyadu Vilaiyadu, though I was not impressed by the way american police were depicted and the was kamal can sniff out all the corpses within days intuitively, anyway it was a good watch for a forgiving soul. but even the dasavataram trailer was crap, and I didnt get any high out of UPO trailer, but the ‘A wednesday’ trailer made me want to buy the original DVD of the film and watch it in full, translating it to my wife. That’s one film we sat through in its entirety, and another was the Kurosawa’s epic Ran, based on king lear. anyway thanks to the crappy films of india, I can now enjoy the foreign films and enjoy movies as they are.
Watch Mumbai express to see the depths Kamal has fallen. Anyway remaking films without any respect to the original should be treated as a Capital sin. It is a really big insult to the original minds that make quality movies to pick the stories and f**k the movies.
Hope we ban remaking and release the films with subtitles or make something original.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: So he really fu**ed up ‘A Wednesday’… hmmm.
No, he buggered it up.
2. You write: Watch Mumbai express to see the depths Kamal has fallen.
Mumbai Express is a horror show. watched it about two years back.
At one point in that crass movie a monkey, – yes, a monkey – serendipitously appears to help the hero by operating heavy equipment such as a massive crane. We got so enraged and wondered which one was the real monkey – the hero or the simian.
3. Have heard of Ran. Will watch it one of these days.
UPO was very dissapointing as predicted. Crowd wasn’t huge around thirty people or so. The dialogues were pretty much the biggest blunder because the original had really good ones. The biggest damage I would say was Kamal’s phony accent.
I have watched both the Pokiri versions , telegu and tamil. I liked the telegu version overall and prefered Mahesh Babu’s performance, but I would say Vijay and Asin had better chemistry. Salman Uncle donning that role is a big NO NO… Iraiva!!!! This hindi version is Lollu Sabha Bolly I guess.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: Salman Uncle donning that role is a big NO NO… Iraiva!!!!
We think Salman Khan has reached the end of the road, at least as far as films.
Apparently, he has a successful reality show (whatever that thing means) called 10 Ka Dum in India. So two meals a day is not an issue.
He..He..
When you review a new Rajini / Kamal film, I think it gets forwarded more number of times through mails or some other means..! And many Kamal / Rajini Supporters land on SI.com, and squeeze you..
Btw, for the first time readers, your language may be a shock, since in a written form, it sounds more harsh and people are not aware of the mood (not that!) it was written in..
Yes, as few people there said, I also wondered, when I heard about the re-making of film, how the theme would fit the locality [Chennai?].. [May be, Coimbatore would have sounded better 😉 where serial bomb blasts in 13 places happened once on Advani’s visit..]
Second valid point was – the famous hero doing the common man role, and obviously people believe that he could not be doing it as a terrorist but for some good cause. As said, roles could have been interchanged [or Kamal could have done the role of young hacker or even pretty female reporter girl ;-)]
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: roles could have been interchanged [or Kamal could have done the role of young hacker or even pretty female reporter girl
No, that’s so passe. So 2008.
We think Kamal Haasan should have donned the role of all the police sniffer dogs searching for the bomb in the Anna Salai police station.
10 police dogs = Dasavatharam, voila!
Bow, Bow needs no phony accent, does it.
Another first for the Ulaga Nayagan!
What movie would break the Dasavatharam record of 254 Comments.. Enthiran may be? How many “views” has Dasa got till now?
There are many Indians who speak with phony accent.. you should probably assume that Kamal’s character was built with low self-esteem and hence he is resorting to a phony accent to impress the I.G.. pure genius!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: How many “views” has Dasa got till now?
A lot but we’ve never kept track of the pageviews for individual posts.
SI (writing, responding to comments and reading to keep apace with our mostly-intelligent readers) takes an incredible amount of time that we’ve cut all non-essential activities to a minimum.
Surprisingly, Villu still attracts a lot of readers.
2. You write: you should probably assume that Kamal’s character was built with low self-esteem and hence he is resorting to a phony accent to impress the I.G.. pure genius!
Funny.
If my previous comment was nonsense, then why did you try explaining? Also, why do you need to bring the previous comment in the recent one? Don’t you have a solid reply than ‘oh, come on’?
I appreciate some of the commenter, though they didn’t like the movie, they sound reasonable in their arguments of why they didn’t find some scenes appealing. It’s about how well you present your arguments and not about trashing others unnecessarily.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. When you write gems like:
it’s hard to think of a reply without abandoning our brains.
2. You write: If my previous comment was nonsense,
No, that was not just nonsense but the acme of nonsense.
why don’t you go run over some cats with your wheel chair?
Insulting Mohanlal, of all actors.
Mohanlal is worth 10,000 of your entire Tamil & Hindi & English film industry put together.
And don’t even try to judge. Have you ever watched a single Malayalam movie in your life? So shut up if you don’t know squat.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Have you ever watched a single Malayalam movie in your life?
Have you ever watched a single Tagalog movie in your life?
No, it doesn’t matter. Really. It doesn’t matter.
Similarly, it doesn’t matter whether we have watched a single Malayalam movie.
We’ve watched Unnaipol Oruvan featuring the clueless-and-terrified-deer caught-in-the-headlights Mohanlal.
2. You write: Insulting Mohanlal, of all actors. Mohanlal is worth 10,000 of your entire Tamil & Hindi & English film industry put together.
If speaking the truth about Mohanlal’s non-performance in Unnaipol Oruvan compared to Anupam Kher in A Wednesday is tantamount to insulting the star, then we’ll just have to bear that heavy cross.
After all, it’s not the first time an innocent person has come under fire and had to bear the cross for standing up to his/her views. Have you by any chance heard of the carpenter of Nazareth. Don’t you see a similarity in his tale and ours. 😉
3. You write: why don’t you go run over some cats with your wheel chair?
Didn’t your elders teach you to speak respectfully to your elders.
This might be a stupid move from Kamal to remake Wednesday. Naseer is so natural and Kamal is no match to Naseer in this role.
But bottomline is what Kamal has done with Nayagan, Salangai Oli, Devar Magan, Mahanadhi or Apoorva Sagodargal, definitely Naeer can’t do.
So we should insult Kamal calling him as Madayan, just tell him that do what you are best at. Any ways when the review for.
Anyways, how many of the following Kamals gems that you watched kiddo
1. Nayagan
2. Salagai Oli
3. Devar Magan
4. Maha Nadhi
5. Apoorva Sagotharargal
6. Raja Parvai
7. Oru Kaithiyin Dairy
8. Guru
9. Moonram Pirai
10. Simla Special
Tell us frankly, then we say whether you r the right fellow to call Kamal as Madayan?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: This might be a stupid move from Kamal to remake Wednesday. Naseer is so natural and Kamal is no match to Naseer in this role.
But bottomline is what Kamal has done with Nayagan, Salangai Oli, Devar Magan, Mahanadhi or Apoorva Sagodargal, definitely Naeer can’t do.
Every movie stands on its own merits.
Just because the dinosaur did a good job 22 years back in Nayagan doesn’t mean he can get a free pass for a rotten performance in Unnaipol Oruvan. Is Kamal Haasan doing it free of cost in subsequent films (i.e. after Nayagan).
Are they not charging us for tickets for each Kamal Haasan film separately?
Bottomline, you must deliver the goods in every film. You can’t rest on your laurels from two or three decades back.
Comprende.
Compared to A Wednesday, Unnaipol Oruvan was a piece of shit.
If Kamal Haasan had any decency, he’d refund the money with his apologies to viewers who watched both films.
2. We have seen 40% or 50% (unsure of Moonram Pirai, hence the ‘or’) of the movies in your list. Some of them have even been reviewed on SearchIndia.com.
In any case, how many of the above we’ve seen is completely irrelevant.
We’ve seen Unnaipol Oruvan and A Wednesday. And that’s what matters in this context.
When you allow yourself to be hailed as Ulaga Nayagan in your films, you’d better stand up to the boast in every film.
Alas, Kamal Haasan failed miserably in Unnaipol Oruvan and the movie turned out to be a damp squib.
hey SI look at this link http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/trade/overseas_boxoffice/index.html (UK BO report for 18-20 september)there is no mention of UPO in this list, does that mean that UPO had done very badly in UK BO ?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. Just checked the UK Film Council site. Unnaipol Oruvan is indeed missing.
We are surprised.
2. You write: does that mean that UPO had done very badly in UK BO
When official numbers are not available, it’s hard to say anything.
Kamal’s supporters will claim it’s a super-duper hit and there was not enough space to accommodate all the ‘zeros’ in the UK Film Council table while his detractors will take the tack that even kosu-kaakas (mosquitoes and crows) were missing in the area near the theatre because of the horrible movie.
I’ve registered just now to counter this so-called review.
First to Kamal & Lal fans / supporters : Why the hell should we try to explain or plead them to write sensibly about our great talents ? absolutely not necessary. I guess these idiots would have never watched any body beyound Nasuruddin Shah & Anuphem kher. Kamal Hassan & Lal are miles above Shah & Kher, the movie is fantastic and receiving extraordinary responses from fans and media. People Celebrating Kamal & Lal.
UPO is better than the best, is the verdict. Having said that everyone would accept the original version because there are no hindsights to it.
The rest of their reviews are utter crap, garbage stuff. Who are you to decide Indian standard ? we are not ready to accept what you say is standard ? What the hell you mean as common man ? should he be stupid, good for nothing fellows like you ? you bloody get your crooked minds right first ?
UPO is an absolute masterpiece and the need of the hour. Kamal does not hail himself as Ulaganayagan, it’s only we, his fans call him that. None of his RajKamal films international production has introduced him as such, only other production houses uses Ulaganayagan in the credits. It would be just Kamal Hassan in the credits,in his home productions, get your facts right before blabbering some shit. These so-called reviewers are completely out of their minds and so they think they can get away with anything they vomit.
Describing Salangai Oli and Anbe Sivam as decent shows their very motive. However you can blabber and keep vomiting like this only some stray dogs and pigs like you will vouch your opinion.You just cannot pull Kamal down with all this !! Keep trying, though ! you won’t succeed in your attempt any day !
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: you bloody get your crooked minds right…UPO is an absolute masterpiece and the need of the hour….you can blabber and keep vomiting like this only some stray dogs and pigs like you will vouch your opinion
Sir, since you seem to have an unusual affinity for dogs and pigs, we thought we’d help you keep company with your soul-mates by providing the below (No need to ask for directions. Google map attached in the link to make it convenient for you to amble over to the destination):
Chennai Veterinary Hospital & Shelters
No. 7, 3rd Avenue, Indira Nagar
Adyar, Chennai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600020, India
+91 44 24413076
2. You write: UPO is better than the best…UPO is an absolute masterpiece,
When dickheads have only a dicktionary to fall back upon, the end result is frivolous and loose (bet you know what ‘loose’ means) use of words like ‘masterpiece.’ Or maybe you meant to say ‘masterpiss.’
Hard for us to understand the minds of quadrupeds.
3. You write: Having said that everyone would accept the original version because there are no hindsights to it.
Interesting point.
4. You write: I guess these idiots would have never watched any body beyound (sic) Nasuruddin (sic) Shah & Anuphem (sic) kher
Kanna, when you were still playing with your arana-kayiru (thread worn around the hip) and komanam (loin cloth) we were busy watching and reviewing this monstrous collection of Tamil, Hindi, English, French, Italian, Spanish et al movies.
Here’s a sample: Sigappu Rojakkal, Salangai Oli, Nayagan and a gazillion other movies
Po, thambhi oda villaiyadu. Po. Idhu ella unnaka puriyathu. Periavanga sabha idhu (go play with your kid brother. Beyond your comprehension since this is a gathering of elders).
what the hell do u know abt kamal and mohanlal are they begging like you do in america? just because you have a keyboard it doent mean u can churn out nonsense after nonsense
your fingers will get paralysed for writing this . the atrocities commited by you in the form of blog deserves punishment from every indian. ull get leprosy for posting these nonsense
if you consider utrself an american why the f**k ur bothered abt india . you ugly stincky rats stop talking abt our hindustan and start worrying abt ur country
never write bad abt india you’ll be crushed
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: what the hell do u know abt kamal and mohanlal
We know that Kamal and Mohanlal brought shame to themselves with their rotten performances in Unnaipol Oruvan.
The rest we don’t need to know.
2. You write: your fingers will get paralysed for writing this ….. ull get leprosy
You forgot to add AIDS, Herpes et al. 😉
Scoot.
what if rajkam were Shruti Hassan? I think she is hot.. probably will change my opinion if I see luck.. I see some http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natascha_McElhone features in her.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. Shruti Hassan without the last name would find it difficult to walk and chew gum at the same time.
2. Hey, Californication was in the news recently for some reason.
I have been watching Cali-fornication on netflix instant play.. it’s alright.. Natascha is sultry but the best clothes-shedding work is done by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeleine_Zima
Nice ploy by SHOWTIME channel to get us to subscribe watching all these tempting shows (I am yet to start watch L-word.. is “Dexter” still on your instant play list?).. but I am a desi before I am a perv.. so I am not going to spend more money on SHO.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Yes, Dexter is still there on our Netflix Instant Play queue.
At No-34.
Wherever you go, whatever you do, still a indian is seen as indain anywhere in the world. Forget that, I knew that you can’t take the criticism of your stupidity, hence you blocked my account sudhir.
[Deleted]
SearchIndia.com Responds:
So Sudhir is now kamalfan, eh?.
Come back when you’re ready to grovel and apologize for your trash talk.
Scoot.
Hmm… saw your review reposted sans any attribution
http://kerala9.com/news/review/unnai-pol-oruvan-review-user-reviews/#comment-2099
SearchIndia.com Responds (via iPhone):
Thieving Swines.
Thanks for letting us know.
you know the address… so please proceed.. to be with your mates !! that’s the best place for you, not me !
I hope you have’nt even mastered your piss yet!
Out of mind elders has no place here ! it’s you people who should be pissed off ! you are in a public form writing shit, you can’t just get away, be prepared to be thrashed !! you call yourself elder, may be agewise, but you don’t have a brain that goes with your age… so-called elders ??? you’ve comitted a crime by playing with us – Kamal Fans & lal Fans. no wonder you will be booted out.. why sit in U.S. ? have the guts ?zcome to India and put this in open in the same manner, you people will be blasted left right & centre, verbally just by plain debate in a language that is known but alien to you, going by the language you have used. You still seem to be in your napkins… elders ???? get matured first, growth should not only be physical, i don’t think you have grown up mentally. pity !!! try a mental asylum then !!! it would be more appropriate !!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: you’ve comitted (sic) a crime by playing with us – Kamal Fans & lal Fans.
Tchh, tchh, tchh.
2. You write: you can’t just get away, be prepared to be thrashed
From our vantage point, it looks like the Kama-La kannas (fans) who are feeling the sting on their exposed backsides. 😉
3. You write: come to India and put this in open in the same manner, you people will be blasted left right & centre
Last we checked, every other day some whacko was blasting the living shit out of you guys in blast after blast in one shitty after another.
I think you people feel the sting, because you got exposed completely… shame on you …
as if the country you live in is a land of peace !!!
You have proved that you are bunch of idiots who does not have any knowledge about films and filmmakers of South India. Go and lick your wounds ! you are worth just for that…
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. Last night, we had a dream in which Kamal Haasan fell at Naseeruddin Shah’s feet pleading to be taught acting.
In the dream, Naseeruddin declined and pointed Kamal in the direction of Rajpal Yadav and suggested he learn some monkey tricks from the young comedian.
2. You write: as if the country you live in is a land of peace !!!
Can you cite a single bomb blast in our country. Such strikes are for pussies like you.
When I heard first that Kamal was going to remake ‘A Wednesday’, initial momentary excitement was soon replaced by fear and despair.
From the point of view of story itself, the analogy of bombs, al qaeda, terrorism applies more to Bombay than Madras.
But my worst fear was Kamal himself. One of the best features of the Hindi version’s success was Naseer’s suave, calm, understated, under-emoted acting. His words, his accent, his demeanour – everything conveyed what he stated perfectly – just another common man. And I feared if Kamal could do that – I had no doubt about his talent and prowess, but the problem with Kamal is he HAS to emote/strain/overact some place in his movie. And I was also afraid of his English.
And I’m thankful Kamal proved me right. 🙂
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: but the problem with Kamal is he HAS to emote/strain/overact some place in his movie
Kamal had the air of one laboring under the strain of constipation.
Just loved reading the review and your answers to the comments, quite a few times. Gave me enough smiles for the evening. Thanks !
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Rumors of our existence are greatly exaggerated. 😉
[Trash talk]
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You’ve been exterminated by the pest control folks at SI.
Just as you mentioned it will only be in your dreams !!!! Whatever your Shah does Kamal can and has done better, Whatever Kamal does your shah cannot even attempt. There is no need for Kamal to copy Shah, as Kamal is great in his own way, he is also a creator, filmmaker and he knows how to present a character and portray it much better than you do. As i repeat i’m not ready to accept what you say is acting, because from your reviews and comments, it’s quite clearly evident that you know nothing about it.
How come you’ve forgotten 9/11 so soon ? as i already mentioned go to a mental asylum soon, even they will find it difficult to screw your brains as i don’t think you have one ! want to continue to make fool of yourself ? please go ahead and wait for my thrashings… i can be more ruthless than you !!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. What’s all this your Shah, our Kamal nonsense.
Kiddo, get a grip on reality.
However much we all like Kamal Haasan, he’s no patch on Naseeruddin Shah as an actor.
Like comparing Marlon Brando to Nayanthara.
2. You write: please go ahead and wait for my thrashings
Grow up.
Your reality is way unreal ! your reviews are so biased, what else do you expect to be called ? You may have high regards for YOUR shah, similarly i rate KAMAL above than any other actor, because he is the one who can portray any role with ease.It’s your own childish opinion, look at the examples ? Marlon Brando and Nayanthara, which shows you have gone totally mad. I’ve grown enough, it’s time you do and i don’t think you’ll, ever !!! keep vomiting such filth !!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. God, cut the your Kamal, our Shah blather.
We’ve said in the past on the SI blog how much we’ve enjoyed Kamal Haasan’s movies like Anbe Sivam, Salangai Oli, Sigappu Rojakal et al.
That said, Kamal Haasan is not in the same league as Naseeruddin Shah.
For those used to drinking Cooum, sure Kamal Haasan seems like a whiff of fresh air.
But if you drink filtered water, you know that Naseeruddin Shah is the real deal when it comes to acting.
A Wednesday and Unnaipol Oruvan proved it beyond a doubt.
2. You write: you have gone totally mad.
You spend so much time here reading our posts, posting comments, reading our replies to your comments, our follow-ons et al. No, we won’t state the obvious. 😉
rajkam said: “Whatever your Shah does Kamal can and has done better”
And yet, Shah has acted in foreign films and Kamalahassan for all his histrionics has yet to be invited to play even a token Indian taxi driver in a foreign film.
Get over your obsessive fanboy love for actors, kid. It’s gayer than gay gets.
SI Said: “What’s all this your Shah, our Kamal nonsense.”
You’re talking to a bunch of juvenile fanboys who don’t aspire to much in life besides dreaming of blowing their demi-gods, be it Kamal, Rajini, Vijay, Ajith, Kombu, etc.. Apparently they think you share that kind of an obsession with Naseeruddin Shah.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We’ve said in the past that we liked Kamal Haasan’s movies Anbe Sivam, Salangai Oli, Sigappu Rojakal et al.
Yet, the moment we mention that Kamal fell short in Unnaipol Oruvan compared to Naseeruddin Shah in A Wednesday, the clowns get their knickers in a twist and start frothing at the mouth.
The only obsession we have is with good movies.
We doubt many of these whiners have even seen A Wednesday in the first place.
That’s what happens when you drink that noxious Cooum water for three decades. F***ing melts the brain.
SI Said: “We doubt many of these whiners have even seen A Wednesday in the first place.”
Chances are they wouldn’t have seen it and even if they have, they’ll deny based solely on Aryan vs Dravidian principles that the Dravidian version is better. That’s how the archetypal South Indian movie fanatic operates.
Talking of Kamal’s faux “English” accent, one needs to only go and see “Thevar Magan” and “Michael Madana Kama Rajan” and realize that the British-educated Sakthi and Madan in those movies sport a (really bad) American accent instead of a British accent.
In context to UPO, seriously, which common man in India talks in an American accent? One could clearly hear his character rolling his “r’s.” So much for researching into a movie role. Fanboys like rajkam, Boredman, magesha, and the rest of the troglodytes would blissfully ignore such a major faux pas and consider Kamalahassan the best thing since sliced bread.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Talking of Kamal’s faux “English†accent, one needs to only go and see “Thevar Magan†and “Michael Madana Kama Rajan†and realize that the British-educated Sakthi and Madan in those movies sport a (really bad) American accent instead of a British accent.
Funny.
2. Maybe, we’ll see Michael Madana Kamarajan today.
Surely, it’s got to be a gazillion times better than What’s Your Rashee (based on the review excerpts here).
SI Said: “Maybe, we’ll see Michael Madana Kamarajan today.”
It definitely is a funny movie and IMO, the last of Kamalahassan’s movies that was quite original in its plot and execution. ‘Crazy’ Mohan’s dialogues were spot-on and a very taut and pacy script with every one of the 4 roles he essayed being integral to the plot (unlike the garish overindulgence in Dasavatharam) ensured a comedy classic. Do see it.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We’ll start watching the movie in a few minutes.
I love juicy Urvasi aunty in MMKR.. she is better than Kamal in this movie, IMNSHO.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
IMNSHO.
Funny. 😉
Offtopic: Listening to the music from Il buono, Il cattivo, Il brutto a.k.a. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. Yes, Ennio Morricone. We never tire of listening to this one.
Some of the irritating things I found in this movie:
1) The “common man’s” not so common accent
2) The background score was horrible. I *actually* expected more out of Shruti (which is not a mistake I will commit again). In the shots of Kamal standing on the edge of the building, and they’re zooming over him, there’s a humming in Kamal’s voice that I actually thought he was singing! Why in God’s name would he be singing/humming???
3) There is none of the racy tension from the original.
4) And where Nasrudeen Shah’s final statement as to why he did all this elicited true emotion (rage, anger, understanding, the lot), Kamal’s left me bafflingly unconvinced.
5) Over-acting, to say the least. If Shah’s portrayal of the common man: quiet, dignified, humble, modest, with just outlets of the rage that has built up inside was something extraordinary, Kamal’s mannerisms, accented dialogues and way of trying to dominate through action instead of silence was irritatingly obvious.
6) His religious scuttlebutts are getting extremely tiresome, but of course, this is personal to me.
As for others who complain about this critique: People, it was bad. Horrible even. EOS.
Quick question: Who’s the guy who plays the ethical hacker in the movie? I feel I’ve seen him some place, can’t place him though!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. All valid points, particularly the lack of tension given the gravity of the situation.
2. We’ve no clue as to the young boy who played the role of IIT dropout/hacker.
Surely, someone ‘out there’ knows and will mention his name.
hey where’d my comment go!?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
It’s published now.
All comments are read by a sentient being and only then processed. Sometimes, it takes time if we are doing something else.
But rest assured that we’ll definitely get to them.
Incidentally, why the gun? 😮
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Incidentally, why the Tamil version of the movie? 😮
SI’s non-resident google searcher (me) found that the hacker is played by
the geeky Anand Krishnamoorthi (last seen in Anjali, May Maatham, Sathi Leelavathi)
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Thank you.
You are a Sooper-Dooper Googler!
Happy, Vatsa?
apparently he is a geek in real life..
http://www.mdeii.com/ – his blog
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Vatsa’s cup of joy overfloweth.
is this the boy.. sitting next to kamal and kovai sarala
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyt8ZlSLWGo#t=2m42s
(you can of course merge all my comments into one)
SearchIndia.com Responds:
That was a nice excerpt.
We must watch that film now.
Didn’t even know that Sathi Leelavathi existed.
Alas, Netflix doesn’t stock it.
let me sneak in one more comment .. i liked Sathi Leelavathi better than MMKR.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We must get Sathi Leelavathi.
The excerpt was hilarious.
While MMKR had its rollicking moments, I found Sathi Leelavathi to be a better comedy from Kamal.
But then, Kovai Sarala’s whiny chatter was the perfect foil for him here and that maybe enhanced its appeal.
It was a copy/remake of “She Devil”. I believe the Kannada remake of this movie was called “Rama, Shama, Bama”
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We’ll go to our local desi grocery store and see if they stock Sathi Leelavathi. Doubt they’ll have it since it’s so old.
I watched ‘A Wednesday’ just to see how good Shah and Anupam Kher were in their respective roles.. I have only one word to say.. WOW.. Naseerudin Shah PERFECTLY fit into the role of the “common man”.. I have no words to describe his performance.. speechless..!!!
Anupam was equally good.. Even the guy who played the hacker,who only had a very small role, did a brilliant job.. I LOVED EVERYTHING in this movie..!!
I’m beginning to see why u completely trashed this movie.. 😀
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I’m beginning to see why u completely trashed this movie..
Unfortunately, Kamal’s fan-boys still don’t see the light.
This person went to the Cinema with a pre-concieved notion that the film is going to be like he has written.
And this is not even a good review.
Reviews should not degrade actors or directors.
“Completely oblivious to our howls of pain, merciless in his cannibalistic orgy of the audience’s flesh, and heedless to our repeated pleas for relief, Kamal Haasan in Unnaipol Oruvan delivers a horribly bad and totally unconvincing performance”.
Wow u ve got great vocabulary dude.
But y dont u simply state the bad points instead of resorting to verbal hemorrhaging and to an emotional contempt filled orgy. I am not going to argue against your points (how ever bad they might be).
I am simply stating that use a language that is unbiased while writing about something that many people love. Respect others’ emotions.
And finally,i don’t think u believe what u have written.
This whole thing looks like a silly publicity stunt,to make people respond (i concede tht i m responding too). Thats smart dude,really smart.
I ve read most of the reviews of this film in the internet (in major sites) and none of them have provoked the number of responses that this one has. I havn’t even heard of this site before and i had to register in this site, just to respond to this post.
I guess u r sick of people not listening or responding to you and u need someone to talk to u badly. Get yourself a mate dude!!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. Not one word about A Wednesday or its ugly spawn Unnaipol Oruvan or their relative merits/demerits from the above commenter.
Just an ad hominem rant against the hapless reviewer.
2. You write: This person went to the Cinema with a pre-concieved (sic) notion that the film is going to be like he has written.
Hey, we are not Virgin Mary to have conception without insertion (of the movie experience, we mean).
3. You write: Reviews should not degrade actors or directors.
Kiddo, that was a degrading performance from both Kamal Haasan and Mohan Lal.
4. You write: I am not going to argue against your points
All resistance is futile. Kneel before the Lord. 😉
5. You write: Wow u ve got great vocabulary dude.
Queen Anne’s dead.
6. You write: But y dont u simply state the bad points instead of resorting to verbal hemorrhaging and to an emotional contempt filled orgy.
Unnaipol Oruval was a contemptible piece of shit.
7. You write: I am simply stating that use a language that is unbiased while writing about something that many people love
Bias is not a word found in our lexicon.
Something that many people love? In Tamil Nadu, people love kalla sarayam (illicit liquor)
8. You write: And finally,i don’t think u believe what u have written.
Taken leave of your senses, have you? No, no. Please don’t bother responding to this point because that was a rhetorical question.
9. You write: I havn’t even heard of this site before
Bet you a billion dollars you still haven’t heard of how babies are made.
Smart desis have been gathering here for two years now.
10. You write: This whole thing looks like a silly publicity stunt,to make people respond (i concede tht i m responding too)
Yes, sir, beri shilly, beri shilly shite.
Dat’s why we’ve done some 350 reviews of Hindi, Tamil, English, Kannada, French, Italian, Chinese, Russian, Hungarian et al movies.
10. You write: Get yourself a mate dude!!
If that’s a come-on, no, we’ve our hands full now. Perhaps, later. 😉
Next time, focus on the review. Not on the reviewer.
Wat a number!!!!350 reviews in all those languages put together,great!!
If we consider the number of films produced in all those languages every year then your “350 reviews” sounds really staggering.
Mind blowing Dude.
Now I m even more convinced that this is a silly publicity stunt (for those who are reading:350 breaks down to approximately less than a review per 3 days assuming that this site started 2 years back “Smart desis have been gathering here for two years now”
A thousand films are produced in India alone annually and if we consider all the films that are produced in English,French,Italian,Chinese,Russian and Hungarian then 350 would be like…)
But again I am really impressed with your vocabulary, but my whole point is why don’t you use that properly??
You are not writing about moonshine to convey perpetual hatred.
I understand that a movie cannot be liked by all and people might write bad things about a movie. My point is, since we are living in a pluralistic society,it was very rude to write in contemptible (either way) language about actors that millions adore.
Maybe u have aimed to create a new genre of reviews called as hate reviews.
I thought u needed a mate,now i have to revise that opinion.
Get yourself a Doctor dude!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. Kiddo, we have a choice right now.
Responding at length to your blah blah blah drivel or watching a Sergio Leone classic (Once Upon a Time in America) on Netflix Instant Play.
No marks for guessing which one we’ll choose. 😉
2. BTW, we love moonshine.
Wow its a great movie dude,now I am waiting for u to say that Robert De Niro is an amateur 😉
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We love Robert De Niro.
We’ve seen several of his movies (Taxi Driver, The Untouchables, Ronin, Sleepers, Analyze This, Heat, Righteous Kill et al)
With just a few exceptions like Righteous Kill, we like Robert De Niro.
[Deleted because of Repetition]
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Do not repeat your comments.
We get to most of the comments eventually.
Your previous comment has now been processed.
I think I can safely conclude (correct me if Iam wrong) that from your “vast experience” and in your “expert opinion” you did not find any other movie of Kamal (except Salangai Oli and Anbe Sivam) to be of any worth!!
Just out of curiosity, which Indian actor in your expert opinion deserves a place in your hall of fame? I would like to gauge your taste by the answer you provide. I am no kamal fan, but for every actor you say, I can find a kamal’s performance that matches, if not betters, your actors performance.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: I think I can safely conclude (correct me if Iam wrong) that from your “vast experience” and in your “expert opinion” …
A sarcastic little twit like you can’t reach any conclusions. Leave the conclusion to better endowed individuals (better endowed mentally, we mean).
2. A lot of the Kamal Haasan movies we’ve seen are trash with a few exceptions like Salangai Oli, Anbe Sivam and Sigappu Rojakkal. Then there’s the stolen shit like Thenali et al.
Of course, he’s one of the better actors in Kollywood. But then your frame of reference in Kollywood is limited and comprised mostly of fellas like Vijay, Simbhu, Vombhu, Kombhu et al.
2. In Bollywood, we like Naseeruddin Shah, Irrfan Khan, Abhay Deol, Anupam Kher, Sanjeev Kumar et al.
And do something about that three hundred and fifty.The figure looks pathetic.For a start try copying reviews from good sites after begging to them,instead of resorting to cheap tricks to increase your hit-rate. I m signing out for good!! God Bless your souls 🙂
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I m signing out for good!!
Good riddance.
You’ve added little value here so far.
I didnt watched ‘a wednesday’.. after your review I didnt want to watch this either.. but hand to watch this movie yesterday as I had to take my nephew to some movie..
I liked following things
1. Kamal is shown lesser (speaks less until the climax)
2. The two deputies of mohanlal have done an exellent job, especially ‘arif khan’… (I guess this one was the ‘harbajan singh’ in ‘abiyum naanum’ movie.)
3. Movie has no songs (no kuthu, no remix and no ‘95% naked’ dances as you have in other movies) no stupid fight sequences and no comedy (f**ing)’track’s.
4. Screenplay is decent.
5. Move runs for 100 minutes only.
thing I didnt like
1. English, most of the dialogues are in English.. could have been avoided.
2. Dialogues, need more meaningful, striking and bold dialogues.
3. Laxmi, this lady screws up with her ‘acting’
4. Kalaigner, ah… his voice has acted in this movie.. do u believe… he plays the role as himself.. CM.. pathetic.
5. Lack of twists.
6. Music, debutant shruti has left the feeling that its from an ameture one.
But all over.. I liked it.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Lack of twists
Boy, the twist was one of the biggest things of A Wednesday.
2. You write: Kamal is shown lesser
Kamal should not have been shown at all.
Rombha (total) waste.
Just because you accept 3 movies of Kamal, does’nt make your so-called reviews unbiased as you claim it out to be. Yours is an unadulterated filth and You seem to drink and eat it as well and you are accusing us as people who drink Cooum water !! Shameless creature !!
And you have some company too in the form of StrYngLad74. How the hell, you people think that common man cannot speak english with american accent in India ? I have come across so many, if you don’t know something, just shut up ! don’t blabber for the sake of it. what is your perception of a common man ? i think you want a common man to be a fool without even trying to understand just like you guys !!!
That’s what even i say Kamal is not in the same league as YOUR Shah’s but in a way too BIGGER League than that. What the hell you aspire for Mr. StrYngLad74 ? have you acheived all those ? this is how it is.. just without knowing anything you form opinions about others. Kamal is one of my inspirational celebrity, and i have acheived something within my parameters. I don’t care how many of you join together to prove this filthy review of yours is right, i can take you all single handedly with ease !!! Atleast i have something called brain to melt as you suggested, but i don’t think you have it in the first place. Better Luck next Time !!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: How the hell, you people think that common man cannot speak english with american accent in India ? I have come across so many,
You are a complete idiot.
The question is not whether common man can or cannot speak English with an American accent in India but that he does not.
Schmuck, when a common man starts speaking English with an American accent in India, he becomes an uncommon man. An oddball.
2. When StrYngLad74 said: Kamalahassan for all his histrionics has yet to be invited to play even a token Indian taxi driver in a foreign film and mentioned the faux “English” and the American accent in MMKR/Thevar Magan, he was stating a fact.
Do you have at least a vague idea what a fact is? Most likely not.
3. You write: i can take you all single handedly with ease
Dream on. Bet you need two hands even to wank off.
4. You write: Kamal is one of my inspirational celebrity
No one here gives a f**k whether Kamal is your inspirational celebrity or expirational casualty. Focus on the subject: Unnaipol Oruvan Review/Kamal vs Naseeruddin Shah.
UPO 2nd week in UK BO collected a mere 50 lakhs INR .
UNNAIPOL ORUVAN [Tamil film; last weekend: No. 25, this weekend: No. 32]: In its second weekend, the film has collected £ 12,170 on 10 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 1,217. Total: £ 66,881 [approx. Rs. 50.92 lacs].
http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/trade/overseas_boxoffice/index.html
if possible start a new thread for this box office disaster
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Kamal Haasan is boasting that the movie is a super hit.
Maybe, Kamal actually said Super Shit in his stupid accent and it came out sounding like super hit. Possible. 😉
@rajkam: “What the hell you aspire for Mr. StrYngLad74?”
Anything besides wanting to spoon with your demi-god, fanboy.
Currently, it’s about sticking with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. That’s what I aspire for.
@rajkam: “have you acheived all those ?”
I got my Ph.D. this August. I think I’m in pretty decent shape. Now scoot and go blow your “thalaivar,” c0ck-boy.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Sweet!
StrYngLad74:
who asked what you aspire
u go and aspire to [trash talk]
u bloody [trash talk]
what phd
if u v done Phd it means r u periya [trash talk]
if u dare come and speak what youve scribbled here in india. you’ll pee on ur pants u [trash talk]
this blogger [trash talk] as if he’s not sufficient he’s encouraging otheres to talk trash about india
restrict ur psychotic tantrums within urself
dont spread ur venomous attitude to others
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Yet another merdivorous whacko.
Mera Bharat Mahaan.
Saw ‘A Wednesday’ yesterday…found few things dumber than tamil version…
1.kamal’s voice is much more elegant than shah’s.on the whole the voice dubbing was poor.
2.The scene where the actor requests for protection,it was too boring and unnecessary with a stupid flashback.
3.Other supporting actors weren’t any better than those in tamil(but u have said they are).
4.why did N.S keep the bag somewhere in the middle of railway station ? keeping it inside a train makes much more sense…
But anupam kher was much better than mohanlal (cos of his native accent…was funny even in serious scenes)
and lakshmi was unnecessary.
SI: “Naseeruddin Shah brought charm and elan even to simple scenes like standing on the terrace of the tall building, calmly replacing a SIM card, disposing off the old one down a long pipe and pouring himself a cup of tea from a flask.”
am sure even kamal did all these things the way u expected and i found him much more elegant than N.S.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We’ll just have to agree to disagree. 🙁
@Swagath,
Have not you taken any medicines for your nervous break-down?
Have some patience / tolerance towards alternative opinions. Kamal is a great actor, definitely setting good trends compared to his fellow jokers, but whatever he delivers these days are certainly nothing but of mediocre stuff. Can’t be denied.
Just because it is Kamal, excreta does not smell / taste great, and we can’t be taking it in, just like you guys do.
Think twice before you launch a personal verbal attack on a fellow reader.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Sweet.
Go for the jugular, boopalanj.
I am concerned at the increased junk nowadays via comments.
SI is being molested.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I am concerned at the increased junk
Yeah, some rats got in through the crevices.
We’ll exterminate them soon.
BTW, just booted out Swagath.
It used a lot of [trash talk] in its comments against us and some SI commenters earlier today.
Dissent is fine. As long as there is no trash talk.
Excerpt from Baradwaj Rangan (National Award winner for best reviews)-
Kamal played a more sophisticated version of the common man played by Naseer — it sat well with his persona. But I do feel that the Kamal on-screen persona ( at least of late) is much more intelligent and savvy than that of most other heroes. (This is what the magazines like to derisively dismiss as “arivu jeevi.â€) So it did make sense to me that this man was much more with-it and tech-savvy than Naseer (whose on-screen persona lends itself more to a hapless victim). Kamal felt more in control of the situation than Naseer did and that was a small (but interesting) change from the Hindi version for me. You could call him an uncommon common man.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Excerpt from Baradwaj Rangan (National Award winner for best reviews)
Ha ha ha. What next?
Nation award winner for best commenter Boredman?
2. You write: Kamal played a more sophisticated version of the common man played by Naseer
Rubbish. Kamal Hassan is the new Mr.Crude.
@swagath: “StrYngLad74:who asked what you aspire”
A sniveling moron called rajkam, or maybe it’s you now in a different avatar
@swagath: “u go and aspire to [trash talk]
u bloody [trash talk]”
Too bad SI censored this. Would have loved to read your verbal diarrhea.
@swagath: “what phd”
Ph.D. in Biological Engineering.
@swagath: “if u v done Phd it means r u periya [trash talk]”
ABSO-F**KIN’-LUTELY!! You’d know what a big deal it is if you ever worked on getting a doctorate.
@swagath: “if u dare come and speak what youve scribbled here in india. you’ll pee on ur pants u [trash talk]”
You and what army is going to make me pee my pants?
@swagath: “this blogger [trash talk] as if he’s not sufficient he’s encouraging otheres to talk trash about india”
It’s not trash-talking about India, but about a movie made by a megalomaniacal moron. I love my country very much, even though I wish it were better.
@swagath: “restrict ur psychotic tantrums within urself
dont spread ur venomous attitude to others”
LOL! Look who’s talking! 😀 Someone missed his rabies shots, me thinks 😉 .
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Sweet.
We knew there was a purpose for the English language.
Hey SI..
Have u seen Michael Madana Kamarajan?
In my opinion.. it’s one of the decent movies by Kamal.. I really liked Kamal’s portrayal of Madan.. 🙂 ..
Can u also review it?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Here’s the Michael Madana Kama Rajan Review – Mildly Amusing Nonsense
BTW.. the music in MMKR was also quite good.. I loved the song ‘per vechaalum vekkama ponaalum”..!! 🙂
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Will listen to the song again later today.
Meanwhile, here’s the Michael Madana Kama Rajan Review – Mildly Amusing Nonsense
OMG.. I’m surprised u called it Nonsense..
MMKR was released in 1990.. and I felt the movie was decent for its time.. considering the other movies that came out in the upcoming years.. !!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: I’m surprised u called it Nonsense..
To be precise we called it mildly amusing nonsense.
2. You write: I felt the movie was decent for its time.. considering the other movies that came out in the upcoming years
That’s easily possible in India.
Just when you think something (a movie, politician et al) can’t get worse, it invariably does in India.
So Michael Madana Kama Rajan may have been one of the better films compared to what followed it.
BTW do review Duet movie.. starring Prabhu,Meenakshi Sheshadri,Prakash Raj…
It has WONDERFUL music by ARR..!! 🙂
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We’ll see if Netflix has it.
strynglad [trash talk] if you have a itch in ur P**l and want someone to namikufy that then there are always enough [trash talk] in this blog go and [trash talk] with them
dont ever bring ur stincky ass to me
enna sonna
“You and what army is going to make me pee my pants”
[trash talk]
reviewer [trash talk] enna sweet [trash talk]
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Adachi Po (scoot)
Oh god.. Can’t this Swagat be exterminated?
IT’s really annoying everyone here.. including me.!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: Can’t this Swagat be exterminated?
Ask and ye shall receive. 😉
It’s been exterminated now, for the second time.
@swagath: “strynglad [trash talk] if you have a itch in ur P**l and want someone to namikufy that then there are always enough [trash talk] in this blog go and [trash talk] with them”
If I recall right, you initiated the trash talk, kiddo!
“dont ever bring ur stincky ass to me”
I believe yours stinks sordidly enough for you or maybe you have your demi-god, aka Kamal’s stinky ass to stick your tongue into until kingdom come?
“enna sonna
“You and what army is going to make me pee my pantsâ€
[trash talk]”
That’s exactly what I said. Can’t help it if you cannot comprehend what I said, moron!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Bravo.
You write about Shruti, but where did she come in the movie? Or were you taking about the background score? Not an attack, just curious. I saw the movie, and, probably because I didn’t see A Wednesday, liked it. I may see the Hindi version soon, though…
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write above: You write about Shruti, but where did she come in the movie?
How did you miss the kosu (mosquito) hovering around Kamal Haasan for the length of the movie. 😉
Seriously, we were writing about the background score.
This gal can’t walk and chew vettalae-pak (betel leaf) at the same time.
Do review more of Kamal’s movies SI..
For example, Virumandi, Indian, Aboorva Sagodharargal..!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Will do.
We liked Virumandi not for Kamal Haasan but for Pasupathy’s performance.
I didn’t watch Virumandi fully.. But i felt Kamal did throw in a decent performance..!!! 🙂
Oh yeah.. Pasupathy was AWESOME.. 🙂 .. He does all his roles really well..!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Unfortunately, Pasupathy does not seem to be getting the roles his talent deserves.
If only, he’d daub a little Fair & Lovely on that black hole a.k.a as his face, that might do the trick. 😉
I guess tamil audiences want entertainment rather than real acting.. !!
Entertainment here refers to Inane songs, bunch of stupid fights, punch dialogs and a big star like for example Vijay.. associated with it..!!!
which explains y ATM, Kuruvi(the bozos celebrated its 120 day run in theatres :O) and Villu became hits..!!! 😐
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We are skeptical that ATM, Kuruvi and Villu were hits.
Or did you mean to say ‘shits‘ and accidentally missed the ‘s.’ 😉
I’m not sure abt ATM.. But Villu and Kuruvi were hits..
I mean… what has become of the tamil film industry.. they celebrated the SUCCESS(??) of Kuruvi .. It seems it ran for about 120 days in the theatres..!!????!!
To think that people pay to watch such TRASH..!! 😐 ..!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Until we are presented with solid proof, we refuse to accept that Kuruvi and Villu were hits.
Tamils are stupid but not that stupid as to turn these garbage into hits.
SI , DON’T believe the 1010000 post, both Villu and Kuruvi are flops and ATM utter flops in Taminadu . :d
But it was made run for 150 days because of Udhayanidhi Stalin. He is Deputy CM Stalin’s son.
Even Adhavan is produced by udhayanidhi so i am hoping for another 150 days poster :d
SearchIndia.com Responds:
They were just sexcesspool movies. 😉
No, we won’t believe Villu, Kuruvi and ATM were successful until we are shown credible proof.
just checking whether smiley’s are working
😀
🙁
:X
SearchIndia.com Responds:
2 out of 3.
my fav. smiley on SI is
Stands out from the yellow bastards.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
We need a good ‘ugly smiley’ for the yellow monkeys. Preferably yellow.
————
Boy, it’s already feeling chilly here.
@Arshard2
By “hits” i just meant that those bozos recovered the money they put in for those (s)hits.. 😛 .. maybe in the first few weeks since the release of the movie!!!
Yeah.. they made the movies run for abt 120 days..!!
Just coz Udayanidhi Stalin produced it.!
UNF**KINGBELIEVABLE . . .!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
As if his productions were not bad enough, we read reports of Udayanidhi Stalin dipping his toes into the acting thing. Ha ha ha ha.
BTW SI . . Do review Virumandi movie!!!
And did u check if Duet is available in Netflix.? 🙂
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Netflix doesn’t have Duet. They only have the plural version, featuring Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Udayanidhi Stalin dipping his toes into ACTING?
Seriously?
OMG.. That would mark the doom of the already sinking Tamil film industry 🙁
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Well, if Vishal can scream like a hyena (toward the end of Sathyam), Udhayanidhi Stalin can do the same. 😉
I just saw the crucial scenes from UPO…
where Kamal explains to Lal y he wanted the terrorists dead..!!
VERY POOR EXECUTION .. I hate to say this but Kamal and Mohanlal looked like rank amateurs .. First time I’m disappointed seeing Lal ettan (brother),as he s fondly called in Kerala, on screen. The magic that Shah n Anupam Kher brought to the same scene in A Wednesday was totally lost here..!!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: The magic that Shah n Anupam Kher brought to the same scene in A Wednesday was totally lost here
Agree 100%.
Something from behindwoods.com which may interest you
UPO or “A Wednesday”- Which is better?
http://www.behindwoods.com/features/visitors-1/unnaipol-oruvan-19-10-09.html
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Interesting.
We still feel that A Wednesday is a far superior film.
Kamal Haasan’s actions seemed far too contrived for us, lacked the natural flair Nasseeruddin Shah brought to the Hindi version.
Other Flaws in “A Wednesday†that have been corrected in UPO
• Commissioner demanding the Chief Secretary to come within 15 minutes
• The Hindi version shows a huge bomb squad arriving, immediately searching the place where the bomb is kept and diffusing on their own- all these happen within 15 minutes
• Commissioner Anupam is shown extracting information from the agent himself. Also, the agent lets out the information on just seeing Arif, what is the background for the same?
• The cops make no effort to move the reporter from the police station area.
• Naseer’s photo is shown in Intelligence report. Not sure how his name figured in such a short time. Dialogues like even his wife does not know what he is doing are strange. That means you have got the man too!
• The cop telling the Commissioner “we are always one step behind the terrorists†is demeaning.
• Arif comes in police jeep to catch the arms guy, thus allowing him to escape.
• Even in scene where the credit card lady calls, Anupam interrupts her after a long time.
• Location: The choice of an old airport over a secured newly laid Juhu Airbase is good indeed.
• Using traditional techniques to draw sketches
• The reporter sees a police escort vehicle passing her vehicle in the Juhu Airbase.
• Vehicle Choice: The choice of the vehicle to escort the terrorists is done better in UPO. Also, in Wednesday all terrorists are only handcuffed. They could possibly launch an attack.
• Asking terrorists to stay near the bench was not a good option.
• Basis: The narratives (flashbacks) by the terrorist and the common man were not gripping
Welcome Additions in UPO
1) Better use of facts- Kandahar, 26/11, Meenambakkam, Sri Perumbudur, Coimbatore and Best Bakery. Tied all these together well.
2) Armory room scene: Good addition of scenes and dialogues.
3) Having the IIT drop out fact in UPO lent more credibility to the hacker role.
4) Terrorist locations: Keeping terrorist in different place (Bangalore) is well thought too.
5) Making the cop Sethu to rehearse before communicating to the media and the Commissioner viewing what was captured during the recording.
6) Making changes in script post 26/11- Bullet shields and familiarity with call routing techniques.
7) Religion based: The way Mohan Lal tries to find out if Kamal is Hindu or Muslim repeatedly
8) Ending scene dialogues: Addition of dialogues like Voter id, invisible man, “Terrorism is instant, why shouldn’t justice be soâ€.
9) Last scene- totally different. In Hindi, you are not able to figure why Anupam develops a soft corner for Naseer suddenly.
Scenes where Wednesday is better than UPO
1) Call tracing was better shown in Wednesday.
2) Before bomb diffusing scene, Anupam’s dialogue to cop Jai brings out how the cops are ready to sacrifice their lives.
3) Presentation: The presentation about the terrorists is much better in Wednesday. It explains what they did in various parts of India.
4) Chase scene where Arif catches arms guy. Having the arms guy caught by police was better than having him in ICU and getting him discharged to general ward.
5) Some dialogues in Ending scene by Naseer- some dialogues were too good, The way Naseer tells that my wife is afraid when I go out, she calls me every 2 hrs to see if I am fine, we are resilient by force and not by choice, common man was taking care of household, should I wait for something to happen to my family member to take action were very good. UPO has omitted some of these intentionally because they were not relevant from a Tamil Nadu context.
http://www.behindwoods.com/features/visitors-1/unnaipol-oruvan-19-10-09.html
your answer??
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. Hey, what’s the big hurry. Only 40-days have passed since our review.
You should have waited another 40 weeks before posting your comment.
Has no one ever taught you the virtue of timeliness?
2. In your logorrheic comment (above), you forgot the most important part that we highlighted in our review: Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher are far superior actors compared to Kamal Hassan(s) and Mohan Lal.
3. By looking at the trees, you are missing the woods i.e. the Big Picture, literally and figuratively in this instance.
A Wednesday was a slick, original, thoroughly enjoyable affair. Au contraire, Unnaipol Oruvan had a crude look and feel.
Who gives a f*ck about your flaws like vehicle choice, use of traditional techniques to draw sketches, credit card lady’s call et al. They are all insignificant to the big picture.
4. The flaws if any in A Wednesday are minor and do not detract from the enjoyment of the movie.
Definitely, UPO scores over Wednesday, in most of the film making aspects as clearly evident from our analysis
http://www.behindwoods.com/features/visitors-1/unnaipol-oruvan-19-10-09.html
???
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Dream on, it ain’t no sin.
Nothing can change the fact that there was absolutely no tension or suspense(which was handled really well in A Wednesday) in UPO.
That’s the major letdown in this movie.
I was quite doubtful of ur review before i watched both UPO and AW. But after watching both the movies, it’s safe to say that A Wednesday rules over UPO in every way.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write above: Nothing can change the fact that there was absolutely no tension or suspense (which was handled really well in A Wednesday) in UPO.
Very true.