Revised Edition
For all those who wonder what this review is about , let me explain all I requested via mouthpad was Tamil Cinema 2004 and thanks to MS team now I've my review in a different name (just kidding).
Never mind, this is my eyeview on Tamil Cinema 2004 and I do understand opinions differ .
So here it starts,
Hits of 2004 ( Based on Distributor?s collection Ratio)
? Autograph
? Kathal
? New
? Ghilli
? Maha Nadigan
? 7/G, Rainbow Colony
? M. Kumaran , S/o Mahalakshmi
? Giri
? Chellamey
? Manmathan
? Aithire
? Vasool Raja M.B.B.S
? Virumaandi
? Engal Anna
? Attagasam
? Madhurey
? Adithadi
? Kuthu
? Jore ( Average Grosser)
? Peralagan ( Average Grosser)
? Shock ( Average Grosser)
? Kovil ( Average Grosser)
Well These are the movies that didn't bite Distributors hands and hence were Profitable.
Vijay had a fair share of hits in Super Duper - Ghilli and Madhurey
Kamal had a good run with his Virumaandi and Vasool Raja M.B.B.S
Ajith - Escaped with Attagasam
Prashant also escaped with Shock
Surya - Charmed with Peralagan.
Simbu - Had a decent Year with Kovil, Kuthu and Block Buster Manmathan
Jeyam Ravi - Confirmed his stature with M.Kumaran
Vijaykanth had a solo Hit - Engal Anna
Satyaraj had major releases of which Adithadi, Jore and MahaNadigan were profitable.
Cheran - Autographed Us.
S.J.Suryah - Gave a ''New'' Meaning to Vulgarity
Bharath impressed with Kadal and Aped Dhanush in Chellamey (yet another Skin show)
Madavan - Impressed in Aithire
Ravi Krishna - Made an Impressive debut in 7/G Rainbow Colony
Arjun - Surprised with a hit in Giri.
So Overall a Good year for Tamil Cinema - Compared to last year's .
Now moving on to Big turkies,
Big Turkeys of 2004
? Kangalal Kaithu Sei
? Thendral
? Aiyutha Ezhuthu
? Gajendra
? Jana
? Arul
? Udaya
? Pudukottaiyil Irunthu Saravanan
? Jai
? Dreams
? Sullan
? Kudaikul Mazhai
? Niranja Manasu
Bharathi Raja - Spoke Loud and ended with a egg on his face with his latest venture and So was Vijay Kanth in Gajendra and Niranja Manasu - followed by Ajith in Jana and Thankar Bachan in Thendral
Vijay had a failure in Udaya only to be compensated with super duper Ghilli
Vikram - had only one release this year that too a Box office Dud - Arul
Dhanush 's Bad run with Box office started with Pudukottaiyil... followed by Sullan and Dreamz (though he had his lady luck smiling at him on his personal front)
Prasanth's long time in making Jai got sunk without trace
Mani's Aiyutha Ezhuthu inspite of rock solid performances from Surya, MAdavan, Meera Jasmine Sunk in a big way.
R.Partipan's Kudaikul Mazhai - a psycho thriller - critically acclaimed but Mass Disclaimed.
These are major turkies in 2004
My Best 10 of 2004
? Kadal
? Autograph
? 7/g Rainbow Colony
? Azhagiya Thiye
? Kudaikul Mazhai
? Virumaandi
? Manmathan
? Ghilli
? Peralagan
? Maha Nadigan
Well here comes my best part - well my criterion is pretty simple - Decent entertainer with soul - that is it-
Balaji Saktivel's Kadal with its fresh casting and impressive screenplay just managed ot get into my list closely followed by Cheran's Autograph.
Selvaragavan 's 7/ G RBC is yet another jewel in his crown and naturally manages to get into my list .
Azhagiya thiye with its slick presentation is next automatic Choice.
R.Partipan's Kudaikul Mazhai - a psycho thriller - another decent thriller though it failed - is next into the list
now comes the real tough part - Kamal Hasan's Super Vehicle Virumaandi - a superb screenplay though almost a lift from a famous Hollywood movie.
Next comes our Simbu's Taut thriller Manmathan yet another rehash but slick presentation makes it watch worthy.
And yes Dharani's Gold mine Tamilised version of Telugu Okkadu and one of the Greatest money spinner in Tamil filmdom History - Ghilli - fast paced screenplay - aptly supported by Vidhya sagar's music and Rajasekar's cinematography coupled with Rocky Rajesh's stunts and VT Vijayan's Editing with Vijay Brand of dancing - result is a wholesome entertainer and yes it makes ot my list.
Now yet another Remake makes the Grade - Surya's Perazhagan - though a tamil cousin of Kunju konan - Surya's power packed Dual roles and performances with Deglamourised Jothika's soul touching performance makes it watch worthy.
and last but not the least it requires some guts to stand against your enemies but it requires pure guts to point your finger at your friends and when you do that in Tamil Cinema, the result is Mahanadigan - Satyraj at his Satirical Best - this movie also makes my list.
There were few near misses but these are the movies that cannot be missed and hence have made the grade in my list
My Best of 2004
? Actor : Surya ( Aiyutha Ezuthu / Peralagan)
? Actoress : Sonia Agarwal (7/g , Rainbow Colony )
? Comedy : Santhanam ( Manmathan )
? Debut actor : Ravi Krishna (7/g , Rainbow Colony )
? Debut actoress : Sandya ( Kathal)
? Music Director : Yuvan Sankar Raja (7/g , Rainbow Colony )
? Best Male Playback Singer : KK (7/g , Rainbow Colony )
? Best Female Playback Singer : Madumitha (7/g , Rainbow Colony )
? Best Actor in Negative Role : Prakash Raj ( Ghilli)
? Best Director : Cheran (Autograph)
? Best Film : Kathal / Autograph
? Best Editing : V.T.Vijayan ( Ghilli)
? Best Cinematography : Vijay Milton ( Kathal / Autograph)
? Best Lyrics : N. Muthu Kumar (7/g , Rainbow Colony / Kathal )
? Best Art Director : Sabu Cyril (Aiyutha Ezhuthu)
? Best Stunts : Rocky Rajesh ( Ghilli)
? Best Dialogue : Shakti Chidambaram ( Maha Nadigan)
? Best Dance Master : Brinda (Manmathan)
? Best Child Artist : Master Arun Kumar ( Kathal)
On the whole I can say out of 79 Tamil Movies released during this year 25 movies had been profitable ( Superhits, Hits, Average ) which makes it 32 % of the released movies being profitable which is a good ratio compared to last year.
Moreover movies like Kathal, Autograph , Azhagiya Thiye ?s success augurs for the good for Tamil Cinema?s future. But Point to be noted is equally stunning successes of movies like New, Chellamey genre.
Hopefully next year Tamil Filmdom will have even more successes and quality movies .
I once again clarify, All I?ve given here is my view on Tamil Cinema of 2004 and I do understand opinions differ
