Poda Podi (U)

Language: Tamil

Genre: Romance

Synopsis: The biggest dream of dancer Nisha (Varu Sarathkumar) is to win a dance reality show. When she meet animations artist Arjun (Silambarasan), their priorities in life clash.

Staring:

Silambarasan, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, VTV Ganesh, Shobhana

Director:

Vignesh Shiva

Music Director: Dharan Kumar

Duration: 2 hrs

Review

Director-writer Vignesh Shiva's urban romantic comedy may have been long in the making but is perfect foil for the season's biggy 'Thuppakki'. 'Podaa Podi' is a light tale about the love-hate relationship between Nisha and Arjun. Aptly set in London, debutant Vignesh gives us a broad picture about the clashes between a highly conservative Tamil man and a broad-minded NRI woman. The movie is well acted and shot, and even though the screenplay is wafer-thin, it keeps the audience going as the laughs keep coming.
New face Varalaxmi Sarathkumar comes out with a decent performance as the chirpy and chatty Nisha, and proves her flexibility as a dancer. Silambarasan comes out well as usual and shows off his prowess as a 'kuthu dancer' (as a chapter in the movie is titled). He also gets his share of thrills, but goes overboard by making fun or taking lines or enacting characters out of his earlier movies.
Ganesh, a staple in all Silambarasan movies since 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa', evokes laughter as Arjun's uncle. He mumbles more English than he actually speaks, but this is exactly what make him hilarious. Shobana, though, has little to do as Nisha's guardian.
Duncan Telford does a good job behind the camera, and the shots which look best come when the couple stay apart. Dharan Kumar has composed okay songs, but the one that stands out is the title track 'Podaa Podi', which has been doing well on all radio stations.
Podaa Podi is strictly a movie for youngsters. The story is lopsided at most times, titling towards the man's point-of-view. It might win loud applause in the theatres, but it is doubtful as to how many viewers will support it otherwise.

Thuppaki Review

Vijay‘s films have not been doing well since Pokkiri,Villu.
Nor had Murugadoss’s from Ghajini.

Vijay in Thuppaki.

The recent Deepavali release ‘Thuppaki’ has brought cheers both to Vijay and Murugadoss.
I doubt whether any Indian Film has done as much work as Murugadoss in this Film on ‘Sleeper Cells’
The concept of ‘Sleeper Cells’ have been well-explained and the use of ordinary people being used as ‘Sleepers ‘ have been brought out excellently.
The planning of the Terrorist and the measures taken by Vijay to counter the Terrorist’s plan are intelligent.
For a change in Tamil Films, the Hero his grey cells, instead of mere brawn.
The screen play is tight, excepting the first half where the narration is slow and there are as many as three song sequences in rapid succession.
But for the last ten minutes , the first half drags on.
However the second part is packed with action and intelligence.
The film is logical as far as films go.
Murugadoss pays attention to details to such an extent that you find a plaster in Vijay’s hand in the last few frames where he fractured himself in a fight, this is a rarity in Tamil Films.
Dialogues are natural.
The songs are in the films seem to be forced and do not seem to jell with the flow(come to think of , which songs in recent Films fit with the flow!)
As to Music Harris Jeya Raj churns out his stock.
The clever use of the crowd whistling and cheering in Vijay’s introduction scene is so good that I was turning around in my seat to see how many in the audience were whistling!
I often say that there are two types of back ground scores in Tamil’Indian Films.(there are exceptions)
One is where you take some time to identify the original score.
The other one is blatant to an extent that at the instance of a few bars, you can fix the source.
Harris Jeyaraj unabashedly lifts the back ground score of ‘Bourne Ultimatum!’
Locales, Editing are good without being intrusive,
This is probably a film of Vijay where the Love part is so meager and so detached you practically feel nothing despite the efforts of the girl to expose herself.
Viay has done an excellent job as an Army Man.
Dance, the forte of Vijay, is as expected of him.
Do I detect a stiffness in his limbs while dancing?
His sardonic expression while fighting the Sleepers in an effort to rescue the girls is refreshing.
Where is the famous Vijay’s mischievous Twinkle in his eyes?
A film that does not disappoint Vijay’s fans and Murugadoss buffs.
A good entertainer.