AADUKALAM - Stg. Dhanush, Tapasee.

It is often a very thin, subtle, almost invisible line which separates the good films from the great ones and yet we find the frequency of the latter to be less than a tenth of the former. What begins as a dark, realistic take on the life of a sub-cult in Madurai, for whom rooster fights are a part of daily existence, soon turns into an arresting case study on human emotions and how greed, jealousy and hatred makes man overlook rhyme and reason, thereby narrowing down the difference between him and the rooster.

Vetrimaaran's follow up to "Polladhavan" is mind boggling in every sense of the word and that is not just because of the ingenuity of the plot or the breathless screenplay, but because of the way he uses rooster fights as a metaphor to make a complete mockery of man, ever so subtly, ever so deftly, that by the time you start putting the pieces of the puzzle together and realize what is happening, the end credits are already rolling. Couple that revelation of a realization, with the intensity and excitement which you have not seen on screen in a long time and back it up with some impeccable performances (Dhanush has actually breathed his role). Enough to leave you stunned and speechless.

VERDICT:- CINEMA IN IT'S PUREST FORM. SENSATIONAL. REVOLUTIONARY.
4.5/5.

KAVALAN - Stg. Vijay, Asin.

Vijay has been stuck in his larger-than-life-do-gooder mass hero image for far too long for you to remember that once upon a time, soft roles in meaningful films aided him big time in his sharp rise to stardom. Well the past seems to have caught up with him, finally, and he returns as a down to earth romantic hero in this simple and sweet film sans punch dialogues, villains and item numbers. The plot is simple (maybe a little too simple) and the narrative is linear(maybe a little too linear), the songs fail to impress and the humor works only in bits and pieces. So what makes it tick? Vijay. His earnest attempt to get a much needed image makeover works, simply because, after what seems like ages, we relate to his character, root for his love and maybe even shed a tear or two for him in the climax.

The Vijay of yore has returned. That should silence the critics and shut the skeptics up. Welcome back!

VERDICT:-  A PLEASANT SURPRISE FROM VIJAY! 
3/5.

SIRUTHAI - Stg. Karthi, Tamannah.

Ahh ha! How can a festival be complete without the quintessential mass masala which our taste buds will never get tired of? Siruthai is the ultimate Pongal treat for the masses and is everything "Kaavalan" isn't. It's Loud, farcical, devilishly funny and completely implausible. Yes, its cluttered with caricature villains who continuously threaten to blow down your eardrums, rhyming punch lines, crude item numbers and needless to say, a bird brained heroine prancing around in skimpy clothes. Yet the film works because of the Karthi-Santhanam combo who light up the screen with their perfect comic timing and the former's sincere portrayal of two completely contrasting characters whose fates get intertwined because of their similar looks (Now whoever would have thought of that!). It is however an entertaining throwback to a bygone era all the same, reminiscent of the Rajnikanth films of the 80's.

VERDICT:- BOOM. BANG. GO HAVE A BLAST!
3.5/5.

3 Films, 3 completely different Genres. Take your pick Folks!