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January 16, 2011

Best Tamil movies.

No, I am not really going to rate what I have seen or do anything original here. Basically, am part of what Bitsians call "Spec & Audi" dept -- part of the spectators and audience :p So, a few weeks back, d~ mentioned that he saw "Uthiri pookal" because almost everywhere on the web, people claimed that was the best Tamil movie made (compared to the other Tamil movies made around that time). And so, I convinced k that we really have to watch the best Tamil movie ever made and so we watched "Uthiri pookal" one night from 12 - 2.30 AM (Didn't really want r~ to watch that movie, so had to wait for her to fall asleep). Apparently Mani Ratnam said if he came close to what J.Mahendran did in Uthiri Pookal, he will be a happy man. Imagine that!

I liked a few dialogues in the movie but I guess I was comparing it to the movies made after that time period and so didn't see anything very special about that movie. I liked the fact that the villain was not overly dramatic and conveyed a lot with a sadistic smile or a nod of his head. I liked the dialogue in the end where his new wife tells him that she may not have the physical strength to overpower him but can easily mix some poison in his food! But anyway, I read a bit more about this movie and then went on to "Mullum Malarum" which some people claimed was even better than Uthiri.. and also, it came with full blessings from L~. So, another late night was spent watching MM.
Mullum Malarum
I also watched MM because I was curious about Shobha. So many people claimed she was a very realistic actress and she died so young and so famous. I liked "Senthaazham poove..." But again, I didn't think (and k definitely did not think) that the movie was a breakthrough, coming of age movie or anything like that. Again, because, I was comparing it to movies made much after it. K claimed i got my overly dramatic tendencies from overly dramatic Tam movies like these :p

Since, I was on a J.Mahendran movie spree, thought I'd try Johnny next. b~ suggested "Moonru mugam". So here is my list so far:

1. Uthiri pookal
2. Mullum malarum
3. Update: Nenjathai Killadhe (watched this today) -- This one is strikingly similar to Mouna Ragam (especially the second half!) Some of the characters were still overly dramatic (Suhasini's brother's wife...) and the comedy track didn't really hold my attention. Not sure why the poor kid had to fall sick but overall, was able to watch the movie till the end. Liked Suhasini in the movie. Again, it was probably a good movie in the 1980s and is still a decent flick.

4. Johnny/Moondru mugam?

So yeah, if you have a Tamil movie that totally changed your life :), do mention and I am going to add it to this list. K has been asking to watch "Guna" for quite sometime because he likes the song, "Kanmani anbodu". Or maybe I should watch "Vedham Puthithu" (which I have watched earlier and don't remember much of it except that it was about the caste system?) The only Mani Ratnam movie that I haven't watched is "Iruvar", maybe I should watch that. There was that movie with SriVidya and Kamal Hassan...shucks, I don't remember the name. She is much older than him and they fall in love. I need to watch that. Someone picked a scene from that movie as their most favorite scene. Hmm.

Random: I liked "Unnal mudiyum thambi" but didn't see that mentioned anywhere. Also, "Devar magan" and "Galatta kalyanam" (but I guess people usually don't consider comedies seriously enough to put it on a top 10 or top 50 list). "Anjali", "Idhayathai thirudaathe", "Alaipayuthey", "Kannathil..." are other movies I would add to my personal favorite list. I need to see movies by other directors!

19 comments:

Ardra said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ardra said...

That movie with Kamal, Srividya- Apoorva Raagangal- also has Jayasudha, Major Sunderrajan...Rajnikant faced the camera for the first time in a miniscule role in this movie.

This movie was remade in Hindi as 'Ek nai paheli' with Kamal, Hema Malini, Raj Kumar, Padmini Kolhapure...

Anonymous said...

Mani Ratnam did come to close to Mahendran ):-. Watch Nenjathai Killathe (Mahendran) and Mouna Ragam (Mani Ratnam). You can then decide for yourself after comparing the storyline.

Prem.

Anonymous said...

I was hoping to see 'Misiamma' and 'Kadan Vaangi Kalyanam'. Have you watched them?

Hemtya

Anonymous said...

Uthiri Pookal is a classic... glad you watched the movie. I did watch Gunaa, didn't like it much except for Kamal acting.
Yes, Shobha is a great actress. If you could, watch Passi, which gave Shobha the national award.Vijayan acts in that movie too.
Watch Avargal, Nizhal Nijamakiridhu (another Kamal SriVidya); both are good movies.

My top movies:

Mouna Raagam
Nayakan
Raja Paarvai
Kizhakku Vaasal
Thalapathy

In recent times VTV and KK were close to these :)

RS said...

Ardra -- Right, that's it! So you think that's worth watching?

Prem -- Aah...how did I forget Mouna Ragam? Of course, that is one of my favorites! Ok, adding NK to my list :)

Hemtya -- Missiamma, isn't that an old black and white movie? I haven't watched either of these movies...going to check if Netflix has them :)

Anon -- I have watched Nayagan, Thalapathy, Kizhaku vaasal (karthik? First heroine dies?)...Raaja paarvai (Kamal is blind? Madhavi?)...loved VTV, what is KK?

Anonymous said...

KK is kandukondien kandukondien

Prabukarthik said...

Nayagan
Moondram Pirai
Sigappu Rojakkal

duh said...

i have 30-40 but top-of-mind favs (based on how many times i can watch them) are
nayagan
dalapathi
mouna ragam
thevar magan
aval appadithhan
johnny (watch it!)
unnal mudiyum thambi
muthal mariyadhai (maha-overactng but good background music)
yaaradi nee mohini
padaiappa
annamalai
guna
poovizhi vasaliley
and so on...

TJ said...

Guna, Anbe Sivam, Kurudhippunal, virumandi.
Keladi kanmani, gopura vasalile, avatharam

Aparna said...

Kannathil Muthamittal.

Anonymous said...

"Mugavari" - watch the original version, not the one with the more "commercial" ending. With Ajith Kumar and Jyothika in lead roles, Raghuvaran in a supporting role. About a young man who dreams of becoming a musician (ironically, most of the songs in the film are actually pretty insipid).

"Mayakannaadi" with Cheran and Navya Nair - similar theme as the above, but the protagonist is aspiring to be an actor rather than a musician.

I also liked:

Rhythm - starring Arjun & Jyothika. Directed by Vasanth. Two lonely people, both of them grieving the loss of their respective spouses, find love anew, but are uncertain whether to welcome it.

Santhosh Subramaniam - starring "Jayam" Ravi & Genelia D'Souza - about a young twentysomething who feels stifled by his well-meaning, but overly controlling father. I think many urbanite lads can relate to it!

Em Mahan - Bharath, Gopika, Nasser, Saranya, Vadivelu - Similar theme as the above film, but in a more "small town" setting.

Anjaathe - Narein, Ajmal.
A young man's dream - to become a police officer - goes badly wrong, and his best friend tries desperately to save him.

"Angaadi Theru" - with Mahesh and Anjali - a young man and a young woman, employees at a Chennai superstore find friendship, love, heartbreak and triumph against the odds - an "it's us against the world" kind of film. At certain points, unabashedly, unapologetically melodramatic, but still a good watch, not too much unlike "Slumdog Millionaire", if not quite as brilliant.

"Pasanga" - more from the Sasikumar stable - I don't know the names of any of the lead cast - but the film is about a rivalry between two schoolboys, who happen to be neighbours - and of course in the end they become friends - but this was quite a charming film - something really for all the family.

None of the above films is going to change your life or blow you away, but they were some of the films that I've really enjoyed over the years.

dinesh said...

Aalavandhan.

Brilliant movie - if you haven't watched it yet,you definitely should. Just brilliant!

"Yaam petra inbam ---"

Anonymous said...

For a post on "best tamil movies", I shouldn't mention this .. do watch the hindi movie devdas (srk, ash and mads). It is a classic!

Prabhu said...

Hi...
long time since i read any of ur blogs...
anyways -- try watching some of those jaishankar crime movies. I am sure K will like it......

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