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Reviews
Anbe Sivam (2003)
One of the best Tamil movies I have ever seen!
I'd like to begin this review by saying that although the movie is loosely "inspired" from "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" (i.e just the basic premise of two very different strangers chancing to meet and using this as a plot device to let the story flow), the rest of the movie has absolutely nothing to do with the Steve Martin classic, and stands on its own as a masterpiece of film-making.
It's hard to pin down one single aspect that this movie is about, because it covers so many aspects of the human condition. The most prominent theme of the movie - as the title suggests - is the transformative power of love. Madhavan (Anbarasu) goes from being a cynical, city-bred spoilt brat used to having things done for him, to a humble, down-to-earth human being who finally acknowledges and appreciates the little things in life. His journey in many ways reminds me of the journey of Siddhartha on his way to transforming into the Buddha - a rich prince sheltered from the evils and realities of the world suddenly cast into a dose of realism. Anbarasu, with the help of Nalla Sivam (brilliantly played by Kamal Hassan, who also wrote the movie) finds himself lost in a place affected by floods and heavy rain, which acts as a purgatory of sorts for him to discover his own humanity.
The story of Nalla Sivam, however is what makes a more lasting impression on the viewer. From being an able-bodied labourer and a talented artist who actively opposed the hegemony of his boss, Kandasamy Padayachi (played by Nasser), to becoming a near cripple with disfigured limbs and facial features due to a freak road accident, is one that inspires in more ways than one. His optimism, tolerance, and outlook towards life are all ideas that stand out as permanent legacies of this movie. Being someone who was given the short end of the stick in life, and having experienced the power of genuine love and affection from the doctors and nurses who nursed him back on his feet after the accident, he comes to realize that what people call "God" - this all-powerful and all-consuming force that people worship all their life - is simply the love that we human beings hold for one another. Hence the title of the movie, that translates in English to "Love is God".
This is a must-watch movie for all serious movie enthusiasts as it succeeds in not only delivering a fantastic story of two travelers who meet perchance in the middle of a natural disaster, but also succeeds as a philosophical adventure of two opposing viewpoints and how one trumps over the other.
Cartel Land (2015)
Mercilessly showcases the cartel-vigilante conflict in the US-Mexico border (and within Mexico) and gets up close and personal with their leaders.
Midway through watching this brilliant documentary about the vigilante soldiers of Mexico and the US, I had to repeatedly remind myself that everything being shown on the screen were real events and the guns being wielded were being done so by real people with flesh and blood. Kudos to the director for making the documentary as gripping as it is eye-opening, with some truly amazing shots that almost transport one to ground zero of the events unfolding on screen.
The movie follows two parallel story lines - that of the Arizona Border Recon, a vigilante group that keeps illegal immigrants and drugs from entering the US through the US-Mexico border in Altar Valley, Arizona; and that of the Autodefensas vigilante group that fights against violence and atrocities committed by the Knights Templar drug cartel in Michoacán, Mexico. One of the first things that strikes you about the movie as soon as you start is the lack of regret in either party's disposition with regards to the work they are doing. Both groups vehemently believe what they are doing in the name of "keeping their land safe" is completely acceptable and is born out of their respective government's apathy or lethargy - and it's hard to not sympathize with their cause after listening to their respective stories. This movie also does a very good job of showing both sides of the coin i.e. the perspective of the vigilantes themselves and that of the common people they claim to protect - and the movie leaves us with plenty of food for thought about the general idea of vigilantes and their role in a society that's so acutely threatened.
Director Mathew Heineman adeptly juxtaposes the setting of the two separate vigilante groups - united in their struggle against the cartels, and keeps the suspense active throughout the movie, making for a hard-hitting and unforgettable documentary-watching experience.
Munnariyippu (2014)
Unconventional, dark and gripping.
Apart from succeeding as a drama film that manages to keep your attention throughout its 114-minute song-less spectacle, the movie also succeeds as a a stellar example of how a good screenplay can really carry an entire movie. This movie follows the journey of a young freelance journalist, struggling to make her "big break" work with the biography of a double homicide accused prisoner, whom she takes a fascination to after a few meetings. The story follows her attempts to get him to write about his past and elucidate the details leading to how he was imprisoned - for a crime he vehemently denies committing. Newbie Aparna Gopinath shines in her role as the troubled and desperate journalist trying to get through to the jaded and soft-spoken Mammooty, who delivers an A-class performance reminiscent of his heyday. Cinematographer-turned-director Venu yet again proves that the director chair is something he can handle with equal élan as he does the camera - he will be one director to look out for in this new wave of Malayalam cinema.
Overall, the movie is a must-watch for those who appreciate a good story told adeptly, without much brouhaha or over-the-top-ness and miss the days when Malayalam cinema exemplified that one quality for which it was always prized - simplicity.