Banner: Cloud Nine Movies
Studio: VTV Productions, Magic Box Pictures
Production: Dayanidhi Azhagiri, Ganesh
Direction: Krish
Star-casts: Silambarasan a.k.a Simbu(STR), Bharath, Anushka Shetty, Prakash Raj, Sonia Agarwal, Santhanam, Ganesh, Jayaprakash, Saranya Ponvannan, Vega, Jasmine Bhasin and others
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Cinematographer: Nirav Shah
Editing: Anthony
Written: S. Gnanagiri
Vaanam looks all set to become one of the most-talked-about films in 2011. And we have three reasons to it. It is an early bird in the unexplored multistarrer genre, the narration is totally new to Tamil cinema and finally, the message it delivers is strong.
Credits go to director Krish, who has repeated the Tollywood magic in Kollywood too. Equally laudable are the producers, actors including STR, Bharath, Anushka and music composer Yuvan Shankar Raja.
For, all the above have joined hands to make a meaningful cinema, which at the same time is commercially viable too. Vaanam has in store comedy, romance, sentiments, suspense, and of course, a very good message.
Cable Raja (Simbu) is a cool cable TV operator who is ready to tell any number of lies to woo his ladylove (Jasmin Bhasin). Bharath Chakravarthy (Bharath) is hell bent on proving his mettle as a rock star. And we have a ravishing sex worker Saroja (Anushka), who vies to escape from the clutches of a prostitution house and earn more independently.
Meanwhile, there is a Muslim couple (Prakash Raj & Sonia Agarwal) who are victims of violence. Call it destiny or celluloid drama, these five come under one umbrella. What’s next, it forms the crux of the journey of fate, each one being the steering force of his destiny.
STR is back after Vinnaithandi Varuvaya and he looks like a typical cable guy who we see roaming in our neighbourhood. Bharath is suave while Anushka’s looks add immense glamour to the movie. Vega, Prakashraj and Sonia Agarwal prove their acting mettle well.
Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music is one of the important highlights of the film, with Evandi Unnai Pethan… already becoming an anthem. Other technical departments are okay. The strong point and weakness of Vaanam is its narration, which at times is confusing. But for this, Vaanam marks the beginning of a welcome trend. Kudos to Krish & Co.
What Works: Screenplay, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Nirav Shah, Perfect casting of actors, Performances
What doesn’t work: Lengthy first half, an unwanted song from Telugu version.
