Ayan -Tamil Movie Review

After a long gap i went to watch a Tamil Movie in Theater(due to insistence of my friend Ganesan). Since my friend is a big fan of Actress Tamannah, he took me to a Tamil Movie 'Ayan'(means unmatchable)which stars his favorite actress. Ayan was released just 3 days ago in Kerala/Tamilnadu + going to a movie on Sunday evening means we had to face big opening weekend crowd. We successfully passed the crowd and got the ticket for Balcony in black(paid 100 bucks each for the ticket of 50 bucks).

Ayan has got a done and dusted plot with lots of illogical scenarios, nothing special to write home about. But still i would like to give a summary about the story. The story takes place in Chennai's Sowcarpet(area where one can find lots of Immigrant North Indians, in particular Marwaris) between two rival gangs in smuggling/piracy activities. Both gangs tries to outsmart each other and who wins at the last is the story.One gang is lead by Dass(actor Prabhu,looks very tired throughout the movie)a former associate of Nemitchand and current leader in Video Piracy and Diamond/Gold Smuggling in Chennai. He is ably assisted by Deva(Actor Surya) an M.Sc.Computer Science graduate with penchant for Illegal activities done in right way.The rival Gang is lead by Kamalesh(Actor Akashdeep,irritating throughout the movie)the son of Nemitchand. Kamalesh is ready to go any level to beat the crap out of Dass's gang(in particular Deva) which means smuggling Narcotics(illegal drugs) and having his mole in Dass's Gang. Deva has a friend called Chitti(played by TV Actor Jagan,in a nice comic role)with an important twist at the half way stage.There are other characters also in the movie, like Yamuna(actress Tamannah,in a stupidly sketched role)the lover of Deva and sister of Chitti,Deva's Mother(TV Actress Renuka, Dsss's Deaf Side Kick Dilli(Actor Karunaas, wasted character), Customs Officer Parthiban(Actor Ponvannan in a dignified role).Item dance by Koena is utter waste, she looks wooden with her facial expression and song appears out of place.

Music in the movie tests viewer's patience, most of them comes at awkward situations(every time a song starts people in the theater walks off for a cigarette or urinals) and sounds rehashing of Harris Jayaraj's older themes.Less said is better about the Background score.Screenplay is haphazard.

Cinematography and Surya are the only saving grace in this K.V.Anand Nightmare. Seeing the trend in Tamilnadu these days, all the movies distributed/produced by Sun Pictures has got absolute beating from the reviewers but almost all of them are also critic proof at the box office. This means public like these kind of mindless plot with grandeur more than good ones with stories and nice screenplay.

Looking at the good cast and a visionary cameraman turned director this movie had one would have hoped for much better final result.But what we get is a clichéd story line and screen play. After a decent action thriller Kanaa Kandaen Director K.V.Anand has given us a Perarsu kinda masala flick with lots of style but no substance.

Let's for hope a better script next time from the talented cameramen(K.V.Anand)

Baali's rating **/5

Have you seen Santa Sangre?

What is 'Surrealism'?

Sur - re - al - ism (n.) -(often l.c.) a style of art and literature developed principally in the 20th century, stressing the subconscious or non rational significance of imagery arrived at by automatism or the exploitation of chance effects, unexpected juxtapositions, etc.


Santa sangre - Means Holy Blood, this was my first experience with Director Alejandro Jodorowsky (and surrealism in cinema), tells the story of an young man named Fenix confined in a mental asylum with tragic past. Events of the past and present from his life is slowly revealed in a dream like manner with more gruesomeness. The film contains some real weird visualizations with lesser explanation (e.g.Elephant scavengers at City Dump). As with many of Jodorowsky's films, we get to see many freaky looking people (e.g. cross dressed wrestler, midgets etc.) for variety of characters.

On the Acting Front everyone in the film does a fantastic job but in particular Blanca Guerra owns big time as a Religious Fanatic 'Concha', a leader of heretic church Santa Sangre and the armless controlling mother of Fenix. Alma, mute girlfriend of Fenix does a good job as does the Orgo (Knife Thrower) father of Fenix.

This film has got one of the best background score of Jodorowsky's work(by Simon Boswell), with beautiful artistic camera work (by Daniele Nannuzzi) complimenting the slow paced but gritty story line.

In a way this movie ignited my interest in Surrealism & Weird Artistry.