Saani Kaayidham : Birth of Selvaraghvan the actor

 Saani Kaayidham by Arun Matheswaaran heralds the birth of a talented actor Selvaraghvan . Though he cut a sorry figure in Beast, this film showcases his talent and it is no easy task that one can steal the thunder from an actress like Keerthy Suresh and that too in an heroine oriented subject. 

Acting apart, the film reminds me of Kovilpatti Veeralakshmi of Rajeswar. He cast then glam doll Simran in the title role and that too was a rape - revenge- lower caste - upper caste subject. Only that Veeralakshmi  was a part of folk lore. Here the plot and happenings are predictable. Most of the supporting actors have given a good account. Two things work in favour- Music by Sam ( only BGM and has no songs) and camerawork by Yamini.

Most of the bloody chopping scenes happen in cover of darkness and probably due to my TV placement, I did not get to see any blood dripping in buckets. Even If I saw it, I would have not felt anything as the happenings just did not connect with me. I felt that Keerthy was added for the popular draw as her body structure - skin tone just does not jell with a village girl ( though she is said to have come from a rich family ) . I quite agree with the main baddie who says that he cannot see her as avenging cruel woman but as the sweet lady whom he enjoyed.

Nayanthara produced Rocky 's Hindi rights sold- Our report on March 15th 2022

 We at southfilmy.blogspot reported that Vignesh Shivan had screened the film Rocky and upcoming Kaathula to actor Ranbir Kapoor for remakes and also for directing it. ( https://southfilmy.blogspot.com/2022/03/director-atlee-hindi-film-dropped.html). It now looks that Rocky has been sold to Wakaoo Films as per the tweet from producer Rowdy Pictures and the Mumbai company. The name of the director and the cast has not been announced. The Mumbai company has upcoming film Double XL with Sonakshi Sinha - Huma Qureshi ( Valimai fame) and Mahat Radhavendra from Kollywood in it

Director Arun Matheswaran has after Rocky signed Actor Dhanush for his next to be produced by Sathyajothi Films. Arun's next release is Saani Kayitham with Dhanush brother - director Selvaraghavan and Keerthi Suresh in the lead and for a direct OTT release in April.

Wakaoo is already producing a Gujrati film starring four heroines playing members of a Anti Terror Squad that nabbed  a dreaded dacoit. The production company had acquired the rights to make a film based on the book written by Amish Tripathi - Suhaldev : The King Who saved India . Ad film maker Senthil Kumar is the director. .

Later a report said that producer Boxwala who is producing Shershaah with Siddharth Malhotra has bought the rights. Suheldev is an Indian king hailing from Shravasti in Uttar Pradesh, who vanquished Mahmud of Ghazni's army in Bahraich. Wakaoo's web series Candy won the award at Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival 2022. The company is also associated with OMG2 starring Akshay Kumar and is a mythological film with lead actor playing Lord Shiva,

Rocky Tamil film review: Dry gangster movie -excels technically

Rocky had a more than average opening as it was a Nayanthara production and she herself came in a promo for the film. Thinking of this promo, I feel that only if debut director Arun had put Nayans instead of Vasant Ravi, things could have been better. and and taken the film to a wider audience. Anyway now let's talk of what we get to see.

A guy out of jail after 17 years asks about his sister's whereabouts and starts to walk and walk for  quite long. If you are film fest buff you will realize that the guy has travelled far from the guy who he asked the address and that was the idea behind this walk. Now this slow pace starts happening throughout the first half and sort takes away the horrific effect of gore and blood splashed on the walls. Now there is this gangster who operates out of a coastal area. He is Manimaran , a native Mr Cool who has  for company a lean guy who does not bat an eyelid when slitting throats. A over enthusiastic son and  Rocky who is star of the gang operation clash and latter bumps the former. Obviously Rocky is framed and packed off to jail and his mother killed and sister is missing.

Mani Maran now lays out a web to get Rocky and have him witness the death of his neice as his son was killed in front of him. The chase begins with Mani Maran's people after Rocky on the run with his niece. Surprise end is that like Sylvester of Rocky , our desi Rocky takes out a machine gun and starts pumping bullets into Mani Maran's men . Mani Maran does not run and so he escaped being riddled with bullets but then he is a man of honour- he slits his own throat.

The non linear narrative  is great way to tell a template gangster revenge film to keep it novel. But putting the past in B&W , makes you feel that you are seeing a B&W film with colour frames in between. Cinematography is just brilliant. Music is yet another treat and sound designing is superb. Art direction department use of locales is just excellent. A fine combination of technical teams is evident. Actors who have big and small roles do their part well. The takeaway from this film is Vasanth Ravi ( Rocky) and Bharathiraja ( Manimaran). I liked the guy who played Dhanraj the lean Mr Ruthless and the little kid who played niece.

If it was meant for a theater audience, one needs a more commercial touches. As an alternative, it could have trimmed the running time by 30 minutes. For an OTT audience, this film will just go down well.