dhana92

Foreword: I watched 'Chandramukhi' this Sunday risking to miss what a lot of us would have thought would be a thriller at the Ferozshah Kotla Ground in New Delhi. In hindsight, it was quite the relief. I did not want to blog about either movie without seeing the other. So here goes nothing or everything, whichever way you see it.

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Let me say straightaway that both movies are similar in many aspects: they are both overhyped; they do not depend solely on the main stars, the bigger surprise being Chandramukhi; both movies fall out in the second half; the movies are surely worth watching once; and finally, nothing you hear of the movies will be fully true or false because of the euphoria the fans are creating. Surely no will want to be seen disagreeing with the popular sentiment. Just wait for another ten days for the euphoria to die down and we will all know.

I watched 'Mumbai Xpress' on April 15, courtesy Ramya who thought she had tickets for Chandramukhi and wanted to see Mumbai Xpress instead. So thinking she was handing over Chandramukhi tickets, she actually gave me the tickets to Mumbai Xpress. Being a Kamal fan first up, I was also slightly reluctant and took the tickets. But then I got exactly what I wanted and Ramya, my poor dear friend, has not yet seen the movie.

Actually that is exactly how 'Mumbai Xpress' the movie works. It is a comedy of errors that keeps working on the formula I explained in the previous paragraph. Kamal Haasan once again wows us with his comic timing and a script full of guffaws. But the real surprise packet is Pasupathy who absolutely grabs the chance comes his way after yelling and taking a beating from every possible hero.

'Chandramukhi' was a bigger surprise. It has the Superstar playing just one of the many important characters in the movies. I do not recall the last time Rajnikant does not appear for 15 minutes continuously in his movie. What's more there are even scenes where he does not really dominate the scene. It is clear that 'thalaivar' has taken care to make sure that his comeback vehicle does not suffer any jolts.

Vadivelu clearly steals the thunder from Rajnikant in the first half and Superstar seems more than obliging. Jyothika plays the pivotal role and true to her (dis)ability grossly overacts in key sequences. However the movie is surely a grand consolation for Rajnikant fans who have missed his in action. It is not typical Rajnikant formula but hell he looks better on screen than 'Baba'. Three songs rock! - "Kokku Para Para", "Athinthom" and the absolute crowd pleaser "Annanoda Paatu". I know I had blogged earlier that the songs were not upto the mark, but after seeing it on screen I am forced to change my mind.

However, having said all that, both movies also disappoint in certain aspects. Mumbai Xpress sort of derails in the first few frames of the second half where Kamal Haasan, once again obsessed with himself, rather unnecessarily adds some 'drama' to the comic caper. The movie suffers from rather BIG logical holes that you do not expect from a Kamal movie. It kind of ventures into the Sundar.C. territory where you suddenly realise that it is a no-brainer.

Another major malfunction with 'Mumbai Xpress' is the music. There are just two songs and there are reeeaaaaallllyyyyy far between. The length of the movie kind of bums you out and it is like you watched a movie with no songs at all. Where is all that great jazz music that Illayaraja composed for you, Mr.Kamal Haasan?

'Chandramukhi' also suffers from similar problems. Thalaivar's punch dialogues lacks power and are truly corny: "Saravanan Irukku Bamaymein" and "Ravananuku Pathu Thalakullu oru moolai. Aaana Ivarukku oru thalakullu Pathu moolai". There is another scene close to the climax that can be called the king of all corniest scenes but I am not saying just as yet because some of you might not have seen the movie yet. Somehow Rajni's style style is there yet the magic is missing.

Actually the only thing I liked about 'Chandramukhi', apart from seeing a fresh looking 'Thalaivar' after 3 years, was the story. It is a truly different tale inspired by our own society and not from some Hollywood movie. I so want to watch 'Manichitratazhu' now. I have heard that the Malayalam movie is a suspense thriller. Sadly 'Chandramukhi' is not. And Jyothika as a Bharatanatyam dancer???????????????????????????????????? She has reaaaaaallllllly overacted in the climax. I was thinking more of how she could act in a spoof on Exorcist.

Bottomline: To cut a long story short, both movies are worth watching once on the big screen. I will not mind watching them again on the telly though.

Which was better movie? I would give 'Mumbai Xpress' the edge because it is original and the acting is surely better. 'Chandramukhi' will be a hit but not the level of 'Baasha' or even 'Padayappa'.