Review: Watch Deiva Thirumagal for Vikram

Tugs too obviously at the heart-strings. Post YOUR reviews here!

T here's one thing to be said for UTV Motion Pictures' much-anticipated movie of the year, Deiva Thirumagal : its director, A L Vijay, of Madharasapattinam fame, has a very definite flair for sentimental tear-jerkers. He also has an affinity for converting melodramatic Hollywood movies into fairly palatable desi fare. This time he's chosen to be inspired by a film that's been hailed even by Hollywood as the ultimate tear-jerker: I am Sam .

Deiva Thirumagal has its plus points, chief among them the work of Dr Chiyaan Vikram (the film opens, in fact, with his name and face displayed prominently). And in many ways, this is completely his movie. As the mentally under-developed Krishna who works in a chocolate factory in Avalanchi, Ooty, he establishes right in the beginning the helplessness, goodness of heart and deficiencies of someone whose mental age is only five.

In the very first shot, as cars whiz into Chennai city, we are introduced to the wide-eyed, child-like Krishna, clutching a notebook, wandering around the city, completely adrift. After knocking at police-stations and courts he runs into newly minted lawyer Anuradha Raghunathan (Anushka Shetty), and her mate Vinod (Santhanam). At first she is dismissive of him but later learns his story from his employer in Ooty and decides to do legal battle on his behalf.

Krishna has lost custody of his only child, Nila (Baby Sarah), to her maternal grandfather, Rajendran (Sachin Khedekar), courtesy the efforts of his second daughter, Swetha (Amala Paul). Rajendran, of course, is a millionaire, and sets up Bhashyam (Nasser), a high flying lawyer to argue his defence.

So far, so good, even if I am Sam is very heavily referenced, and quite a few scenes are ripped off (example: in the English film, Sam Dawson arranges sugar packets in a diner; Krishna arranges chocolates in his factory). The intimacy between father and daughter tugs the right heart-strings with various songs, and director Vijay's signature humorous touches. Anushka looks appropriately determined, even Santhanam plays down his usual loudness, and the intermission brings a sense of suspense.

Post the break, though, everything starts unravelling. Krishna's wide-eyed innocence begins to lose its charm, and it's the little girl, Sarah, who keeps things going.

Napierslogs' Movie Expositions: The Notebook: Movie Review

Hundreds of movie reviews for the newest big Hollywood releases, and, more importantly, the small independent lesser-known films. The In Theatres and Worth Renting sections will help you find the best movies currently playing in theatres and the best new releases to rent on DVD. “Best of” list compilations will help make sure that you don’t miss any of the top movies of the year. I am a proud supporter of independent film—help me help that community thrive. Noah (Ryan Gosling) loves Allie (Rachel McAdams). That's basically the entire story, but conflicts arise when Allie's parents insist he's not good enough for her, and Noah has to spend the rest of his life winning her back. I love both Noah and Allie. Allie, because she's the type of girl that every girl can realistically see themselves as; she's emotional, but smart and passionate, and adorable in every way. And Noah, because he has this boyish charm that he never loses. Gosling has this incredible ability to play men at any and every point in their lives. Because the characters are just so captivating, the story is able to invoke emotion. You'll fall in love when they do, you'll be heart-broken when they are, and you'll cry when they do. "The Notebook" is beautifully shot, beautifully told, and most importantly, beautifully acted. And it's for those reasons that it is able to rise above the rather tired and painfully predictable plot. You won't even notice that because you'll be crying and falling in love.

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