VISITOR COLUMN

Thalaiva - It created lots of controversy from the beginning. First look poster created sensation as it was like Vijay waving hands to thousands of his followers with the tag line “TIME TO LEAD”. There was lots of drama w.r.t Tax exemption issue during the initial release. 
 

 

Vijay has given blockbusters movies- "Nanban" & "Thuppaki" in 2012 and managed to receive positive response from even Common Audience after some time. Let us see whether he will satisfy Common Man in this movie too in this review.
 

 

Story - Nayagan + Devar Magan + Baasha. Hope Director Vijay was a fan of "Kamal" and he should dedicate this movie to him as most of the scenes are inspired from Nayagan, Devar Magan & Punnagai Mannan.
 

 

Vijay – It is an important movie in his career. It is as important as “Baba” movie to Superstar. Vijay had really done full justice to his role in the movie. He doesn't speak Punch Dialogues. There is more of Class in his acting , rather than MASS in this movie. He had much opportunity to show his acting potential after long time – Dancer in the first half & leader in the second half. 

 

 

Santhanam – He is the only person in Tamil Cinema field who can tease any actor, including Superstar Rajinikanth in their movies. Now, he has got opportunity to tease Vijay in this movie and has done his job asusual. His characterization is similar to Jayaram in Thuppaki (flirting with heroine).

 

Amala Paul had dubbed her own voice for the first time in this movie. She has got more screen space in the first half and has grabbed the opportunity to perform.

 

 

Sathyaraj – He didn’t agree to act in Endhiran as Villain, but did a role in Nanban and received Vijay Awards. His role in this movie is much more powerful than Nanban’s role. Indeed, it is as good as Sivaji’s role in Devar Magan. He has done a commendable job in the movie
 

 

Ragini Nandwani – She is a Bollywood TV Actress and she is second heroine in the movie, but her track is completely not needed for this movie.

 

 

Cinematography by Nirav Shah was good. Editing by Anthony could have been better as he could have reduced few scenes in the love track and first 20 – 30 minutes in the second half. 3 Hours Duration is the major drawback of this movie.
 

 

Music by G.V. Prakash was well received among Vijay fans before the release. BGM could have been better.

 

Director A.L. Vijay marked his debut in Tamil Cinema with Ajith’s Kireedam. Madrasaspattinam & Deiva Thirumagal ran quite well. But, his last movie, Thandavam in which he tried to give Commercial Action Masala didn't succeed at the Box Office. Though the story of the movie needed Mass Appeal, he had handled in realistic manner with slow narration. Director like Hari would have done much more justice to this story as it needs more MASS.
 

 

First half of the movie was quite good with Vijay’s comedy along with Santhanam & Amalapaul. Interval Twist is the major highlight of this movie. Second half starts with unnecessary scenes for the first 20 – 30 minutes and picks up speed slowly with good Video Tape searching scenes. Climax of the movie ends as usual with Vijay fighting with Abhimanyu. Villain of the movie was not even 25% as powerful as Vidyut Jamwal. Since, Villain is not powerful; he has tried a twist in the pre-climax which looks ordinary.

 

 

Overall, Thalaiva has good first half, dragging second half with very ordinary climax. Vijay’s class acting, Santhanam Comedy, Engaging First half, Interval Twist are the positives. Predictable Story& dragging screenplay in the second half are the major letdown

 

First Half - 3 / 5 (Common Man & Vijay Fans)

 

Second Half - 2.25 / 5 (Common Man) & 3.5 / 5 (Vijay Fans)

 

Rating of this movie by Common Man – 2.75 / 5

 

Rating of this movie for Vijay fans - 3.25 / 5