No fantasies. Just reality. But fantasies work better.
This is not any first-time super hero story in Tamil cinema. Naan Sigappu Manithan (Rajnikanth), Guru (Kamal Hassan) were the pioneers. This Mugamoodi has a Superhero-look-alike outfit with a vacuum mask in addition. That is all.
CAST
Jiiva ~ Anand a.k.a Bruce Lee
Has done a perfect role. What he has been given, he has produced it rightly, without any flaws. Jiiva is proving in his every next script that he has the potential to play in any genre of films. Truly, becoming a versatile actor. The risks he had taken and the hardwork he has given in for the role is speaking up in the film. Good job!
Pooja Hegde ~ Shakthi
Not a big role for a heroine. She was the Second Runner Up in Miss Universe India 2010 and Runner Up in Miss India South 2010. She doesn't look that stunning in front of camera. She is just there to fill a virtual gap.
Narain ~ Anguchaamy a.k.a Dragon/Master
He looks threatening in the first half. Has worked hard equally upto Jiiva. He has the natural acting abilities in him. But in the second half, trying to imitate "The Joker" from Batman, he has given in a bit overacting. At a point, his dialog delivery doesn't look threatening at all. Overall, a high-voltage villain on a power-cut day.
Nasser ~ Assistant Commissioner Gaurav
Always a versatile artist. He fits in the role perfectly. Almost imitated Batman : Gotham City's Police Commissioner Jim Gordon's character. The only flaw is where even the Police Commissioner wears a Khaki uniform in all the scenes while this man alone always shows up in a mufti outfit in all his scenes.
Girish Karnad ~ Anand's grandfather - A robot-scientist
Batman's tech-assist Lucius Fox's imitation. He had already been spotted in Villain roles in Kadhalan and Ratchagan. But this time, he has done a very simple and understanding grandpa's role. Nice work.
Selvaah ~ Sifu Chandru
Jiiva's Kung Fu master. A very good characterization. He has played it very well. Looks apt for a respected master.
Others : Anand's other grand father, father, especially his friends had all done a very good part.
The Director - Mysskin
More than others, his essence in the film is tasted or smelt in every single scene. He has scripted the story in the right path. No over-takings has been allowed anywhere. The story moves as it was planned. Mysskin every time proves his existence as a different thinker. His portrayal of the characters, (though had been an inspiration from the hollywood's Batman) has come out very well. The characterization for each element in the script is truly showcasing the 'creativity-in-reality' thinking of Mysskin, himself. That usual 'Adults Only' content which is invariable for each of his films, finds no spot in this one.
Mysskin and his films always have a thing in common. Both wear "Sunglasses". Yeah! That Night scenes and low lighting, is the signature of Mysskin.
TECHICIANS
Cinematography ~ Sathya
Awesome work! Totally a genius. The frames that were set, are a class above. He did not miss even a small element in the frame. Added such a beauty to the scenes. Working at a night-light atmosphere is not easy for a cinematographer. But this man has done a wonderful job and added even more elegance to the scenes. Those Top-angle views and Streetlight angles, which are the signatures of a typical Mysskin film, never failed to acclaim their spot in this flick too. The director and cinematographer's chemistry was sexy (Though the hero and the heroine had nothing of that sort).
He has shouted loud with his camera that 'Nights are always Sexy'. Kudos.
He has shouted loud with his camera that 'Nights are always Sexy'. Kudos.
Editing ~ Gaugin
The cuts are really sharp. Not even a single blunt cut anywhere. Some scenes seem a bit lengthy due to absence of any cuts or jumps amidst. But that was purely to not spoil the essence of the film. He has played a perfect editor for this kind of film. Had the screenplay been better, his potential would have reflected even sharper.
Music ~ Krishnakumar a.k.a. K
Background scores fit in right. Few scenes could have had a faster BG so that their length wouldn't have been noticed. Two songs in the main film. 'Vaayamoodi' has got the appreciation. Others are also good. The only thing is that he got confused in between a Super-hero film and a normal script oriented Mysskin film. The Music volume is in the middle of both the above.
The Film
A Sumaar-hero story. Yeah! The director did not want to mess up with the fantasy stuff. He wanted his hero to be a very normal man without super powers but using his own abilities around his circle to curb the evil or crime or whatever. But that doesn't mean you should not add spice to the stunts. The showcase of building-jumping, wall-crawling were all fine and appreciable. But where are the over-hyped Kung-fu fights? Kung Fu is just this? No. The stunts and the Kung-Fu styles surely can have been better. At some parts, it looked like "Kick Ass" - The superhero spoof English movie.
The Love factor is an unwanted fill-in-the-gap factor added to the movie. It was immature and did not have any impact over the audience. Thank God! There was no love song played.
The director surely was confused between whether to show it highly technical and not to. Because, every thing has its own incompleteness. Let it be the tech knowledge of Girish Karnad or the designing abilities of the other grand father of the hero.
When the director is willing to copy or get inspired from a Hollywood flick like Batman and when he uses almost every element of that, he could have used them fully. No second thoughts at all. But, when half-import is done, it looks bad on the screen. Its not about any logic factor. Its all about the expectation you create on the audience and that very-little-you-satisfy thing.
Overall, the film is surely an enjoyable one. Flaws occur everywhere. But at the end, creativity and hardwork wins. Yes! It has paid off very well. This will be surely a bold move. Super-hero stories, with perfect logic and structure are more to come in the Kollywood screens. This is just a rough opening to that.
A Superhero is the one who saves you from dangers. A Superhero movie is one which at times saves you from the slow and subtle reality cinema. This is one such. Well, half such.
Bottom Line : Mugamoodi is a Mugam-moodi (A Face-palm)
