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A handsome hero, a wobbling climax
LIVING UP TO THE TITLE: Vijay in Azhagiya Tamizh Magan
Azhagiya Tamizh Magan
Genre: Romance
Director: Bharathan
Cast: Vijay, Shreya, Namita
Storyline: The hero is caught napping and his look-alike usurps his place in his lover’s heart.
Bottomline: Surely Bharathan could have thought of a better climax!
Mind blowing footwork, well-maintained physique, interesting histrionics and uninhibited romantic interludes — Vijay lives up to the title throughout his latest offering, Swargachitra’s ‘Azhagiya Tamizh Magan’ (U). At his hand
somest best, it’s a new avatar that the hero sports in ‘ATM,’ which is a little like ‘Uthama Puthiran,’ modernised manifold. If after all this, the flat climax is a dampener you can’t blame the hero for it, can you?
Without even an iota of change in appearance, Vijay actually manages to show differences between the roles he sports as Guru and Prasad. The eyes of the villainous Vijay spew venom, and his voice modulation and manner of speaking are distinct. But as always, heroine Abhi (Shreya) is unable to spot the fake. In fact, a few other characters are inane too. Neither his friends nor his would be pa-in-law (Ashish Vidyarthi) can distinguish between Guru and Prasad!
Who is this Prem Rakshit? The ace choreographer has done a splendid job for the song ‘Ella Pugazhum …’ The excellent execution of the dance master’s steps speaks volumes of Vijay’s skill as a dancer. The suppleness of his body is simply stunning! Together with the vibrant voice of A.R.Rahman and the lyrical lure of Vaali, the sequence is an awesome aspect of ‘ATM.’ The ‘Sahana …’ (‘Sivaji’) song like music in the romantic moments involving Shreya, and the different arrangement (re-recording) in fight sequences are Rahman’s high points in ‘ATM.’
The dual line
Guru (Vijay), an ace sprinter, and Abhi (Shreya) are lovers. Everything is hunky dory till Guru realises that he has the power to foresee tragic events. The Extra Sensory Perception syndrome agonises him. And when he sees himself thrusting a knife into his beloved’s chest in the near future, he’s too scared to stay near her and moves base to Mumbai. But danger lurks in the guise of Guru’s look alike, Prasad…
The svelte Shreya emotes well. Namita’s inclusion in the cast is obvious, but she vamooses midway and surfaces only at the end with a bulging tummy. She’s expecting! And instead of being livid with Prasad for her plight, she coyly tells him that it is his twins she’s bearing! You feel sorry for Vidyarthi. What is he supposed to be doing in ‘ATM’? But at least he’s not a caricature like Sayaji Shinde is made out to be! Sad that the man who played Subramanya Bharati is reduced to such clichéd roles.
Bright colour schemes dominate Maniraj’s sets. Vijay’s costume (Nalini Sriram, Rajendran) spells class. ‘Fefsi’ Vijayan’s action choreography is noteworthy and Balasubramaniam’s canning of these sequences warrants mention. Bharathan’s racy screenplay and peppy dialogue and Antony’s crisp editing help ‘ATM’ speed ahead. But Bharathan gets stuck towards the end and takes an anticlimactic course that’s thoroughly contrived.
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
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