Open Letter to Gautam Menon
Dear Gautam,
I am disappointed.
The thing is, Gautam, you seem to be better off making movies with actors who have still not made it. Your movies with Madhavan (who had only one hit, Alaipayuthey in a career that was 3 films old before Minnale) and Surya (who had a dozen movies before Kaaka Kaaka but only one decent hit, i.e. Friends) are still your best. The moment you go to established stars, you seem to be overawed and you start to go to conventional plots that cater to their ego, leaving your loyal viewers in the lurch.
I admit that my expectations are the result of one movie and so my words might appear harsh to you. But this is the only explanation that I can come up with. And while I am not sure that you would agree with this explanation in reference to Sarath Kumar, but in Kamal’s case (in Vettaiyadu Villaiyadu), I am sure that you know that it was very very apparent. However, that does not lower you in stature at all, since it is of course natural to be in awe of people that you grew up watching on screen (Kamal, that is). Nevertheless I would have thought you’d learn from your mistakes. But, no.
I watched your latest movie, Pachaikili Muthucharam on screen yesterday. I loved the first half and the twists (do tell me how much of the credit do I pass on to James Siegel?), but the second half left me frustrated. After promising the gourmet meal in the first half, you only delivered frozen pizza. Some of the twists were admittedly surprises but the rest were predictable to any one with a decent IQ. And it is perhaps not a coincidence that both your recent movies have been like this. Yes, this letter is long overdue. I should have addressed it to you soon after Vettaiyadu Vilayadu.
So Gautam, whatever your next offering is going to be, stay away from the stars of Tamil cinema. You are a leader and following someone only seems to curb your individuality. Talk to a young actor who is awe of you and who will follow your lead. Talk to Bharath, talk to Dhanush even (and stay away from Simbu). You could even approach Surya, for I am sure he would be in your debt forever. And if the subject demands it, talk to Vikram. He’s known to give a good thought to the subjects of his movies.
You might say that Pachaikili Muthucharam is your best yet. If so, I think you are setting your bar very low. To me, your best yet is going to be Kaaka Kaaka and I am going to hold you against that benchmark till I decide you have outdone yourself once more. Hoping to seeing better movies from you.
Your loyal viewer (and fan),
Anantha.
Tags: Tamil
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hey anantha,
I thought the casting was quite interesting Sarath and Gautham….one a hard core on-screen Naatamai and the other quite Urban…..is The film NG???????…:(
I was mighty disappointed with VV and Kamal with that bulging belly. VV’s Raghavan was just a 20 years hence Anbuchelvan of Kaka Kaka….even the way Raghavan’s wife was killed was so KK. The opening credits were awesome though…..one of the best in recent times in Commercial Tamil Cinema.
Hope Gautam bounces back wih Chennaiill Oru Mazhikalam….back with Surya.
Vasan: The problem for me was, the movie’s first half was very very interesting, but the second half was just another Sarath starrer. Sarath has shown in the past that he can play the brooding leading man, but the second half of this movie was full of tried and tested masala. As for Jothika, it’s quite an interesting characterization and her look is almost goth (or the Indian equivalent).
But to be honest, I have go and read “Derailed”, the plot of which (and not the Clive Owen movie that the book spawned)) Gautam says is the premise of this movie. Sometimes what works on print does not show up too well on screen and vice versa.
About the second half of VV was what killed it for me. I thought he had gone past the mindless music sequences (I admit that Kaaka Kaaka still had that “oru ooril” song with all school dress wearing teens), but some of VV’s songs really seemed to have been inserted as an after-thought (to satisfy the old item song formula) destroying what seemed to be an otherwise taut movie.
And I think I am making quite a frivolous argument here vis a vis his leading men, but I think (and am sure that the film makers here will agree) that for a movie to succeed (i.e. get made according to director’s original unbiased vision), the stars have to leave their “star” tags at home before reporting to their sets. I am not sure that’s possible when established actors and relatively newer directors mix. Of course that might not happened here(I am more certain it happened with VV), but it’s my guess.
But… but…. but, the media has given it a thumbs up, so my view point might just be a blemish.