Movie Review: 7am Arivu (2011)

I was wondering for a longer time than the usual, on why this movie ‘7am Arivu’ has been bestowed with such an amalgamated positive and negative reviews.

(For Bodhidharman’s sake please understand that the ‘am’ is not the one which religiously denote in time…no no…It’s not morning Seven Yae.Yem...rather it is the transliterated Tamizh equivalent of the apostrophised ‘s’ which means 7’s rather 7th to be grammatically correct in English. Pppaah…so tired of hearing people commenting about this as ‘morning 7 a.m arivu!!)

So, why all this commotion?

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Movie Review: Kandasamy (2009)

Artificial Intelligence, Super Computing, Cryptography, Hacking, Super Hero Concepts etc are the areas of interests of Hollywood directors that make the movie a Hi-fi entertainer. First time in the history of Tamil film industry, the audiences have been given an opportunity to witness a Super hero movie with Zero Logic with the perfect blend of Entertainment and a strong message which will undoubtedly ignite a spark towards a renaissance in the economic situation of our Country.

To put it in few simple words, the movie is all about helping those poor and needy people who still crave for a square meal, by flicking enormous amount of illegal money from Rich and whooping wealthy people who store wealth legally, converting them to documents or foreign currency and amass it in foreign banks.

The story kicks off in a Murugan Temple where a lady ties a piece of paper in a tree writing their grief and wishes in a few lines. The custom of tying these papers in the bark of a tree is the tradition followed in the southern parts of India where God listen to your prayers and makes the wishes comes through. Of course the lady’s wish of a few amount of money comes true with a sack of money lying at the backyard of her house. Soon the news of wishes coming true that are tied in the tree spread like a forest fire and flocks of people visit the temple tying the paper. In case, the money doesn’t reach the concerned person, our Super Hero Kandasamy clad in the black cloak with red wings like cloth strip attached to it, comes in the air and flying and sweeping across walls (like a spiderman) and teaches them appropriate lessons without letting them know that, it is happening in real (though the sequence happens in real) leaving a mark of the “Vel” in the cheeks. Next morning when the attacked victim gets up, only to remember the incident as a Nightmare and with dizzy mind, the mark remains in the face! Each of the people’s wish list is satisfied by clearly categorizing their needs and delivering the money (which is captured during raids) to the appropriate people by appropriate means. The people in the village assume this to be the work of the Lord Kandasamy. But it is all the work of the alter ego Kandasamy who has a well planned operation for each delivery. He even satisfies the wish of a common man of wanting Aishwarya Rai in the terrace, by his Woman form and with due frightening.

The sturdy, manly, fit and strong IPS Officer Kandasamy belonging to the Economic Offense Wing of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) spontaneously gives command to the officers for the raid into the house of multi billionaires and millionaires who are the big shots in the country. It all starts with the raiding operation that was set to happen at PPP’s (Ashish Vidhyarthi) House. His body language is well tuned, and maneuvered. His mature looks and fit body adds to his performance. Not to mention the costumes of Vikram. They are awesome, grand and royal. It stands out separately and portrays Vikram in high profiles. It seems they have spent a lot of amount on the costumes itself.

Within the first song, the secret is exposed that the Super Hero is none other than the CBI Officer himself with the gang of around 11 friends making this Super Hero a happening image. The technology they use, the synchronization in the actions solely controls our super hero’s stunts. May it be the smoke effect or the sound effect, the flying thing or the clutching thing; everything is in the hands of the other 11 fellow mates who control the Super hero.  Each one of them is technically sound in their own areas of computer control, motion control, sound engineering and more makes Kandasamy a successful Operation. Both the “Super Hero” and its alter ego “Kandasamy IPS” have played their roles flamboyantly well.

“Kandasamy’ – The Super Hero depicts a rooster. The costume and the mask that conceals his upper part of the face, denotes the same. The body language and the neck movement exactly coincides with that of the rooster. The “Kok Kok” sound that is produced by the hero shows the mannerism of the super hero which creates havoc in the stomachs of the so called Bad-Guys in the movie. The movie depicts the hero who is skilled in the Martial arts including Karate and the Tai Chi. The moves that Vikram delivers on the opponents body were simply superb and each blows are stunningly devastating.

The cinematography is one thing which should be greatly appreciated and the only thing which drives the movie till the end without any glitches in the scenes. The camera sees things as how it should be seen by the audience. The movie sequence takes us to the lands of Mexico with the rich cinematography feeding us with the tangy deserts and the landscapes which are feasts to our eyes and hearts. Camera has captured Shriya Saran a lot. Her minimal attire and her costumes well expose her contours of the body. She fits the role of the bond girl perfect. Her expressions and the bodily subtle movements squeeze our hearts to the core. In simple terms, she is sexy, sleek and carries her part well throughout the movie. “Allegra” proves to be a good add on to the Music.

The Mexico travel that the hero undergoes with Shreya under the garb of transferring an enormous amount of dollars to her father’s account, seems to be national level operation to investigate the Indian money that were dumped in the foreign countries making India in debt to many of the nations of the world. This is revealed only towards the end of the movie

The movie is seems to be a blend of “Anniyan” and the “Sivaji” which conceptualizes helping the poor and needy and removing the “incorrectness” from the society. The wealthy ones who accumulate money illegally have an account in the foreign banks and deposit the money safe and secure thus making our country economically and financially challenged. Kandasamy, the CBI officer unearths money and assets from various people who conceals them in the walls of their compound walls, Under the Tiles of Flooring and in the body of the VOLVO AC Buses. The last one in the sequence, which comes as a surprise when the Hero unveils whooping documents, foreign currencies and other belongings in front of the whole crowd in the climax.

Prabhu as usual played his part simply well, without making a fool out of himself (“Yenna Kodumai Saravanan” Kinda). His role as a DIG investigating the Kandasamy case is well written. He was trying to prove that the wishes coming true, is not the work of the divine intervention but it’s just the operation carried out by a common man who is either so rich or a fool. His appearance was full of dignity and resembles the prabhu of the Movie “Billa”. Vadivelu’s comedy track doesn’t seem to tickle the laughing senses towards the end.

The message that the movie is trying to convey is well written and delivered. This movie throws insights on the financial frauds that people carry out by accumulation of excess money in different forms. This is not a first time movie for Vikram to play the role of a cop. But the Hollywood feeling that the movie offers by the hero belonging to the Economic Offence Wing of CBI makes it commercial and rich. The Toyota, Nissan and other heavy vehicles that ply on the roads shows the richness of the movie and the status of the officers. The director himself plays a role towards the end of the movie.

When there are positives, there will be some negatives too. If people are going to turn up with some expectations in the logic, then there will be disappointments. This is a full entertainer with Zero Logic. You cannot simply put question on how is Vikram able to answer the 3 level password questions posed by the Mexico Banking Website, sitting in the pool in Mexico, with his laptop and the girl by the side with smart and clever interrogation to Shriya, related to the password. You cannot ask, will a Tai Chi trained martial art fighter with his eyes covered, will be able to fight with five or six opponents surrounded in a isolated landscape by just hearing the sound of the footsteps and the persons’ breathing.

The reason that Vikram delivers to the Villain with a Video clip in the luxurious Bus of the latter, for demanding the other part of the lump some money that the former was promised to offer, was really touching and there was no “Bakwas”. The demand was genuine but it was void of logic. The justification that Vikram gives is acceptable.

Hope the message reached the mass. This good try by Susi Ganesan and the output has come out well. One thing worth mentioning in the movie is, this is not just another super hero movie where the identity and the techniques of carrying out super hero task would be explained and exposed in the climax (like that of the “Anniyan”). Everything is exposed in the first song itself. How the operation is carried out, how the super hero flies in the air, how the other 11 folks controls the super hero flight and actions. Everything is clearly explained. But the story still moves with full interest and vigor. I should say, the director has come out with such a story with guts of exposing the crux behind a super hero movie in the start and still keeping audiences occupied in the story.

The movie ends with the Vikram giving an interview to the press reporters after returning back to India, collecting all the details about the Indian money dumped illegally in the lands of Mexico and further plans to unveil all the money that are secured illegally in other countries as well.

To conclude, Kandasamy is worth watching and a full time entertainer with rich visuals. You may not have a second thought in the money spent for ticket.

Watch it in theatres!!

Kandasamy – Bond with the Best!

My Rating: – █ █ █ █ (4/5)