Foul deeds will rise
though all the earth o’erhelm them, to men’s eyes
– William Shakespeare in Hamlet
Never let it be said that the scatophagous mongrels of Tamil cinema hesitate even one nanosecond to profit from theft.
Be it Kamal Haasan, Venkat Prabhu, Murugadoss, K.V.Anand, Udayanidhi Stalin or Jeeva, these talentless scumbags are all the same. If they can shove a few dollars into their pockets, be it from foul means or filthy, these dickheads will scoop the shit off the floor and shove it in their gobs.
Folks, Ko (Jeeva, Karthika, Piya Bajpai, Ajmal Ameer) is a ripoff of the Russell Crowe film State of Play.
Like the 2009 Hollywood film State of Play, the new Tamil film Ko too stands at the vortex of politics, crime, romance and investigative journalism.
To ward off charges of outright theft, the Tamil jokers have added some masala, thrown in a few songs, introduced some cartoon-like characters (Alavandan, for example) and made a few changes.
Theft, Theft, Theft
Notwithstanding the desperate attempts by Ko director K.V.Anand and his accomplices in crime to camouflage the theft, it’s hard to mask it.
As the bard wrote memorably some 400 years ago in his great tragedy Hamlet, Foul deeds shall rise.
And indeed they have.
* Like in State of Play, politics, journalism and crime take center-stage in Ko too.
* Like in State of Play, you have a crusading young politician in Ko too.
* Like in State of Play, you have an aggressive young journalist in Ko too.
* Like in State of Play, the politician and the journalist are close friends from their college days in Ko too.
* Like in State of Play, the crusading politician is ultimately seen to have feet of clay in Ko too
* Like in State of Play, you have the reporters poring over video footage for crucial clues to unravel a crime in Ko too.
* Like in State of Play, the crusading politician goes down in flames at the end in Ko too. Figuratively in State of Play and literally in Ko.
*Like in State of Play, the journalists at the end make changes/cover up events in the story they publish in Ko too.
At its most basic, Ko centers round the antics of a daring photojournalist Ashwin (Jeeva) and his friend, a bold and conniving young politician Vasantan (Ajmal Ameer), aspiring to high office.
The rest is fluff or padding.
Of course, for the schmucks who don’t care about originality or theft Ko will strike them as a nice entertainer, albeit one with sloppy editing since the songs intrude far too often into the narration of the story.
There’s plenty of weird shit in the movie.
Like, for instance, the bizarre characterization of the politician Alavandan (Kota Srinivasa Rao).
When Ashwin and his lady love Renuka are mourning the loss of their close colleague Saro (Piaa Bajpai), they suddenly break into a song in China! Hellooo.
Some of the songs were alright. Enamo Aedho, Amali Thumali and Venpaniya were quite pleasing to the ears although the picturization of Enamo Aedho was plain awful and caused us much distress.
Sadly, neither Jeeva nor Karthika have the faintest notion of how to dance and are utterly graceless in their movements. If merely lifting your leg is dance, then we suppose donkeys and buffaloes too can dance! 🙁
Jeeva also tends to overact on occasion. Ajmal Ameer and Pia Bajpai didn’t give much cause for complaint. Prakash Raj is irrelevant.
Kota Srinivasa Rao is made to behave like a jackass.
Karthika Nair – Plain Awful
To the large cast of utterly worthless Tamil actresses, let’s add a new name – Karthika Nair.
Karthika’s only claim to fame is that she’s fairly well endowed and that she’s daughter of yesteryear ‘actress’ Radha.
Save these two claims to fame, the Mumbai girl has nothing and is an expressionless robot.
Ko – Mighty Shame
There was a fairly large crowd (60+) for the evening show of Ko at a theater on the East Coast.
Given that there’s not much competition for Ko, given that most Tamils don’t give a damn about high theft and given that most Tamils are completely clueless about high art, the movie will most likely do well at the box office.
And that, folks, is a mighty shame.
Related Stories:
State of Play Review
Ko Review – Tamil Thieving Scumbags Strike Again; Karthika Nair Clueless about Acting added by SearchIndia.com on
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haa…haa.. back with a vengeance reviewing movies after a break.
I used to read all your reviews and always thought that you were very harsh on Indian cinema. But, the review of Manmadhan Ambu, where you had said that it was copied from Romance on the high seas was the last straw. It broke all the hopes I had of the great actor Kamal Haasan. When I saw a movie clip on Facebook where they showed that the picturization of the song “Neela Vaanam…” from Manmadha Ambu too was copied (with the entire song shot in rewind mode) I was distraught and that is when I decided that you were indeed right in your reviews all along.
When an actor with more than a decade experience in cinema cannot think of any thing original, then what do other kathu kutties have.. 🙁 We Indians are really unlucky fellas.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I used to read all your reviews and always thought that you were very harsh on Indian cinema…. the review of Manmadhan Ambu, where you had said that it was copied from Romance on the high seas was the last straw ….that is when I decided that you were indeed right in your reviews all along.
Sweetie, it is the fate of all truth-sayers to be first reviled, then revered. 😉
Most Indian movie-makers are either thieving bastards or blithering idiots. Take your pick! 🙁
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF KO
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Ko is supposed to mean King.
State of Play starring Russell Crowe was itself copied from a BBC 6-part series with the same name.
When you say copied, you should at least credit the original.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Copied in the Indian movie context usually means theft.
We doubt State of Play film was ‘copied’ as Indians understand it. State of Play (the film) was an adaptation of the TV series that first ran on BBC One (Source: Wiki).
In any case, when we did the State of Play review in 2009, we mentioned that it was based on the BBC series.
Following your comment, we’ve provided a link to State of Play (film) review at the bottom of Ko review (above).
I haven’t watched “Ko” yet. But I was able to sit thro straight 6 hrs of the BBC series but not 90 mins of the movie.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I haven’t watched “Ko” yet.
Lucky you.
Happy Easter Guys. Here is a true story!
A few days ago, a lady came to our house in Cbe n asked my grandparents living there “Neengal ippozhudhu secure aa unarringla” cant get the tamil word for protected! They thought she was from security dept. But guess what! She turned out to be one of the Christian missionary who had come for conversion.
My granny drove her off! Quite unbelievable. India ki toh waat hai yaar!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You can’t get away from these Christ nut cases.
A few weeks back, we were eating Dosa at a NYC restaurant when an Indian lady in her 50s at the adjacent table wanted to know which state we were from because she wanted to ‘share‘ some Jesus publications in Malayalam.
Radha was a ‘Robot’ too and remained so {with signs of slight improvements – such as in Mudhal mariyadhai, etc} until her career finished.
SPOILER HERE
I think the biggest issue here in this film is the filmmakers’ warped, inhuman and perverse thinking more than its making which was actually quite fine the big budget mainstream Tamil elements are generally worked out.
What I cannot accept is – can a film make an honourable martyr of a man who manipulates his way to the top, organizes a bomb blast at his own political rally which kills 30 innocent people and injures 100s in the worst manner possible to generate a sympathy wave? And even if the politician gets his comeuppance in the end, the hero justifies this act at the end by saying that a lie that helps the bigger picture (as he claims with the film’s convoluted logic) is ok! Is this what we’re coming to?
http://www.upperstall.com/films/2011/ko – here is my take on the film. Really surprised that no reviewer down South (I am from Mumbai) even mentioned this. Sad…
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I think the biggest issue here in this film is the filmmakers’ warped, inhuman and perverse thinking ….
As for the logic of the conclusion in Ko, it depends on the perspective of the viewer.
One can argue for both sides.
On the one side, since the venal, evil politician is in any case dead in the fiery denouement why disillusion society and youth who had high expectations from the younger generation. On the flip side, are the masses such morons/softies that they can’t accept the truth that the leader they elected is actually a monster and the truth has to be hidden from them.
Is it a 100% copy, or rather theft, of State of Play?
Yes, you have pointed out the similarities between SOP and KO. But does the similarity end there?
What about the screenplay? Is it the same as SOP, where two seemingly random murders are connected to each other?
I wish you had included more similarities.
From the interviews of the crew members of KO, I could make out that it would be just another instance of ‘theft’. Our Indian film makers are too predictable, taking the audience for granted.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Is it a 100% copy, or rather theft, of State of Play?
More like Theft of the broad story.
As we said in the review, some changes are introduced in Ko to deflect charges of plagiarism and keeping in mind the insane addiction of Tamils to crude shit like ugly costumes, sudden songs/dances and the like.
2. You write: I wish you had included more similarities.
It’s been a while since we watched the movie. You should be able to get the State of Play DVD easily in your city.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba passes away! What was your take on him?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: What was your take on him?
Full time ash distributor, part time goldsmith and occasional Seiko watch manufacturer.
But we must acknowledge the good work done by the great magician, particularly the free hospitals for the poor in Anantapur Dist. and Whitefield (Bangalore) and the village water supply projects.
Most Indians are utterly callous to the suffering of their fellow humans but Sai Baba did much to alleviate the sufferings of so many.
More than anything, we hope Sai Baba Junior will quickly be found and installed as the new Messiah of Puttaparti so that people can have a new rallying point and the good works Sai Baba initiated can continue without interruption.
SI Said: “But we must acknowledge the good work done by the great magician, particularly the free hospitals for the poor in Anantapur Dist. and Whitefield (Bangalore) and the village water supply projects. ”
I appreciate that you credited Sai Baba for the good things he has done. I hope that a responsible person is appointed as the chief trustee to continue his good work.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I hope that a responsible person is appointed as the chief trustee to continue his good work.
We don’t need a new trustee, we need a new Sai Baba soon.
You don’t seem to understand Indian society. We don’t need bureaucrats or trustees, what we need are mantrawadis or jadugars (magicians or ‘saints’).
Nobody gives a flying f*ck for a trustee but everybody in India gives a f*ck for a saint or a magician. Nobody rallies around a trustee but everybody rallies around a magician or ‘saint’ in India. Trustees die suddenly and mysteriously, Sai Babas live to a ripe old age.
So, start praying that we find a New Sai Baba soon.
In India today (yesterday and tomorrow as well), trustees are dispensable but ‘Sai Babas’ are indispensable.
It is indeed true that the man Sathyanarayana raju aka Sathya sai baba has done a life time charitable work to those in needs – through free education by Institutions of higher learning, free medical facility by Super-specialty hospitals, Big water projects for both anantapur district and Chennai, Providing shelter for flood affected people, etc. He did something a good government should do.
But, we remain skeptic about the to-be-next-in-throne junior sai baba / trustee will do 100% pure good work without having eyes on the assets worth Rs.40000 Crore (around USD 8 bn).
SearchIndia.com Responds:
$8 billion is a lot of money. Bet our politicians already have their eye on the wealth.
Can you please add it to your review list – “Poet of the wastes”, Iranian film, By Majid Majidi, who was also the director of Children of heavens, Colors of Paradise, etc. I have not yet watched it though 🙂
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Sorry, Netflix doesn’t carry it.
They only have Children of Heaven (already in queue), The Color of Paradise,The Willow Tree, Baran and The Song of Sparrows.
weren’t you about to review the top IMDB 250.. but seem got sucked by the vortex of tamil cinema. try payanam for a .. well parody of sorts
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Alas, we’ve got sucked up in some other ‘duties’ too.
Watched Ko…I’m sure its going to be “Kokarakooo” for the producers.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
🙁
Master Blaster a sai devotee, apparently cancelled his birthday celebrations as a mark of respect for the great man
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/top-stories/Tendulkar-prays-for-Sai-Baba-cancels-birthday-celebrations/articleshow/8066343.cms
He’d always be remembered as the one who didn’t dabble much in politics unlike his contemporaries Baba Ramdev and Jayendra Saraswathi who tried to essay a political role or be a mover or shaker behind the political scenes.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
A lot of highly regarded people in India were followers of Sai Baba. People like P.N.Bhagwati, Nani Palkhiwala ….
After checking out wiki, I’ve to say ur completely right. Aren’t our tamil film makers ashamed to continuously steal ideas or plots from Hollywood and call it as their own? Shameless retards. Are they completely lacking in creativity that they shamelessly steal from hollywood movies one after the other? These scumbags don’t even make the effort to hide their sources. I’m totally sick of tamil movies nowadays. These bozos must be sued. When they’re not stealing, they dish our crap shows like Vettaikaran, Sura, Thillalangadi, Maapillai etc. I’m also getting sick of these love stories hitting the screens. We’ve seen the same old shit in the 80’s and 90’s and now in 2011, we get to see rehashed versions of the same old shit under different names. Engeyum Kadhal, Vaanam, VTV.. and the list goes on. Can’t they think of anything other than love as their theme?
I saw State of Play again yesterday. Classy movie. Haven’t seen KO yet but 100% sure it wouldn’t even be half as good. Btw, do watch Minority Report. Yes, it does have fancy technology like most Sci-fi movies, but it also has a good storyline. Worth a watch.
Longing to see Source Code. It has hit the theatres here. The trailer itself blew me away. I don’t think many people have heard about Source Code. So it shouldn’t be that hard to get the tickets.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: Shameless retards. Are they completely lacking in creativity that they shamelessly steal from hollywood movies one after the other?
The Kollywood dicktionary lacks the word shame. 🙁
2. Source Code is a decent movie. Watched it a few weeks back.
Your views about Karthika’s acting just made me realise why STR a.k.a Simbu (STR standing for Silambarasan T Rajender,yeah that’s what he likes to be called these days) rejected this film.
Apparently,when Simbu was offered this script, the story is that he readily agreed to do this film. But before that,he apparently asked his good friend Naga Chaitanya about Karthika’s acting skills (Karthika’s debut film was Josh opposite Naga Chaitanya).Naga gave poor feedback about Karthika,which led Simbu to withdraw from this film. Rumours go like this in papers.
The official thing is that Simbu wanted to make some changes in the script which K.V.Anand did not agree to.Even if rumours go on to be the true one,I would rather say that Simbu is rather clever guy(whether he is a good actor or not is debatable).
Meanwhile about this STR thing,he wanted it to be like that because it was stylish and sounded like MGR!!Oh god,what a logic!!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Interesting…regarding STR’s withdrawal from the project.
Great find there!I have watched “State of the play” and thought no one can rip it off but i guess i was wrong.Thanks to KO!
First it was MARIA FULL OF GRACE(Heavy influence-DRUGS SCENE)+Climax of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN ==AYAN
And now “State of the play”
I happened to watch ANNIE HALL and 500 days of Summer.It gave me a dejavu of watching Vinnai Thandi varuvaya!
Annie hall(climax) + 500 days of Summer(Inspired by Visual style,Costumes,Park scene) = VTV
Please do review Annie hall and 500 days of Summer. Both these films were excellent
But one thing i cant tolerate is that NAAMA CAPTAIN(Vijaykanth) TAKEN (2009 action thriller) movie ahh “Virudhagiri”UNU Remake pannunathu than!! Dont believe me?-check on the link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virudhagiri
Some people will never ever …learn!Cant teach an old dog a new trick!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. Here’s the review of Taken.
That a clown like Vijaykanth can be a star is a telling comment on the Tamil people.
2. We’ll definitely watch Annie Hall and 500 days of Summer one of these days.
Gapton style “Virudhagiri”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhdgmvCvqek
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Ha ha ha.
But let’s not forget that the majority of Tamil movie fans love this kinda trash! If they didn’t, you wouldn’t have Vijaykanth, Vikram, Surya, etc behaving like chimps in movie after movie.
Hi…
Recently watched the well rated tamil movie “Aadukalam”. Did’nt look like you had reviewed it.
Very interesting subject and the acting, storyline are very good (for the most part !!)
Few of the lead characters have done a fantastic job, though the effect might be lost on a wider audience – lots of dialect and regional flavor.
There is some CGI involved in the movie which is just ok, but his ain’t no sci-fi movie.
Has a flavor that one can find on Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu movies…..
In fact Alejandro’s name is also cited in the rolling credits… (how many Indian movies give credit to where it is due ?)
Check it out.
-Tiramisu.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: Recently watched the well rated tamil movie “Aadukalam”…..Very interesting subject and the acting, storyline are very good
You should have done a slightly more elaborate review instead of just mentioning that subject, story and acting are good.
WTF? i can’t believe it. I thought this was the movie taken by Tamil film makers with own original ideas but after gone thru this wonderful SI review, damn it! i should punish myself for becoming instant fool. I have lost respect on director K.V.Anand who is another thief of Kollywood.
It is really disgusting that movie after movie they just keep on copying or stealing others’ works. That’s pathetic. So, Indian film makers can’t create their own stories. I don’t watch Tamil movies at theater but i made a big mistake in watching this stolen shit.
Million thanks to SI. I request you to watch more Indian movies then it would be nice opportunity to discover more thieves in India. SI rocks…..
Too bad, I should have watched State of Play(I have had it on my DVR for the past 6 months or so) first..
I thought KO was above average, but after having finished watching it, I remembered that you had mentioned something about it being a ripoff.. Pia Bajpai was cute.
Mugamoodi looks like a copy of Batman series, including the music…I think Girish Karnad has played Morgan Freeman here…..
SearchIndia.com Responds:
I hope Girish Karnad has not painted his face black. 😉
Ah, the things people have to do to put food on the table.
….or money in the wallet….