Review: Unnai Pol Oruvan

Unnai Pol Oruvan

Banner: Raj Kamal Productions, UTV Motion Pictures

Production: Kamal Haasan, Ronnie Screwvala

Direction: Chakri

Star-casts: Kamal Haasan, Mohan Lal, Lakshmi, Tanuja Iyer, Ganesh Venkataram

Music: Shruti Haasan

A challenging face-off between two men involved in events that go unrecorded by law, all in a 100-mins edge-of-the-seat thriller. Isn’t that interesting? If so, just book your tickets for “Unnai Pol Oruvan’ right now and go ahead, watch it.

If “A Wednesday’ made Neeraj Pandey as the finest auteur of Bollywood, debutant Chakri isn’t an exception, as he does justice with a loyal remake of this masterpiece.

With superstars and best actors detailed in their characterizations, and the disconcerting screenplay making the film engrossing, it is a treat for all the classes.

“Unnai Pol Oruvan’ marks the unrecorded series of events that took place between 2 p.m. -6 p.m. on a usual day. But, for those who were involved in this drama, it remains as an unforgettable day in their lives.

Well, Raghavan Maraar (Mohan Lal), City commissioner of police, Mumbai isn’t an elision as he admits it on the final day of his service that a stranger walked into his life and swept him off as a Tsunami.

A stranger (Kamal Haasan) on anonymity makes a phone call to Maraar demanding him to release 4 deadliest criminals, or else he would detonate the bombs planted by him at various parts of the city. Assuming this to be a crank call, Maraar doesn’t take it so seriously until the stranger blows him out of waters stating that he has planted a bomb at Anna Saalai police station, which would blast soon.

Things turn out to be serious for commissioner and his entire department. With no options left to save the entire city from getting deteriorated, Maraar ropes in couple of best cops in department to release the criminals. But then, if you had ever thought this would’ve a clichéd climax, you’re erred.

The breathtaking climax would just let you get thrown into extreme with a sudden twist in tale.

First things first All credit goes to Neeraj Pandey for having conceptualized a phenomenal storyline that lets every audience reflect themselves with the protagonist’s role. Perhaps, if you hadn’t watched the original version of “A Wednesday’, you would feel irksome over the first 20 minutes with the establishment of each character (couple of young cops, a journalist, an actor seeking protection from the commissioner and so on). But later, once we’re drawn in to the core of subject, it’s a different scenario brimmed with nail-biting sequences.

Debutant Chakri doesn’t strain himself in making changes from the original version. But indeed adds some interesting elements with dialogues.

Kamal Haasan shines with his brilliant performance, while Mohan Lal steals the spotlights with a tremendous show…. It’s worth mentioning that he has got more prominence than Kamal Haasan. His conversations with journalist and entire department are so catchy, especially where he meets the computer hacker. Anuja Iyer as the journalist does her part well, while Ganesh Venkataram is a new guy to watch out for. Lakshmi is okay.

Shruti Haasan comes up with middling effort on her musical score. Nothing seems to be impressive with the background score. Manoj has done an excellent job with his digital cinematography.

Finally, “Unnai Pol Oruvan’ is sure to make it big on box office with a long Ramzan weekend. With not so-much money spent for this film, the producers are sure to take a walk with good profit by this weekend.

Verdict: Worth watching…

Kamal Haasan infuriated with Pyramid Saimira

Just this morning, the media channels flashed news on Pyramid Saimira obtaining stay against the release of Kamal Haasan’s forthcoming film “Unnai Pol Oruvan’ slated to hit screens on September 18. According to the complaint lodged by Pyramid Saimira International Production, it was reported that Kamal Haasan had received advance amount of Rs 10.90 Crores to commence the production of 100 Cr-project “Marmayogi’. But the actor had gradually used the funds for producing his “Unnai Pol Oruvan’ (the film is jointly produced by UTV Motion Pictures and Kamal Haasan’s Raj Kamal Production).

Much dismayed with Pyramid Saimira’s gesture towards the film’s release, Kamal Haasan has addressed the media channels that he had started filming “Marmayogi’ from the time deal was signed. Regrettably, the producers couldn’t fund the project further due to financial crisis. Having lost one year in his career and an income of about Rs. 40 Crores, the actor had issued a notice to Pyramid Saimira on April 12, 2009 demanding Rs. 40Crores.

But so far, the actor hadn’t received any reply from Pyramid Saimira to the notice. Kamal Haasan further adds, “I have also caused a suit to be filed in the High Court of Madras against Pyramid Saimira. Probably, to counter my legal action against them, they have decided to go to the press on a smear campaign and they have sent me a notice making wild and false allegations. An interim Reply also has been sent to it.”

The fact remains that I have obtained a caveat against them. Neither I nor Raajkamal Films International has received any stay order from any court.

The actor stated, “I must state that irresponsible statements made or published damage my reputation and my company. I will shortly be seeking legal advice to examine the avenues open for me.”

Pyramid Saimira didn’t have money to complete ‘Marmayogi’: Kamal Haasan

Tamil thespian Kamal Haasan Thursday rubbished reports that he had breached his contract with Pyramid Saimira by leaving “Marmayogi” in the lurch and clarified that the “production house didn’t have enough funds to finish the project”.

“The debacle of our film ‘Marmayogi’ and the circumstances around it are well known. I worked on ‘Marmayogi’ for a year. I made elaborate preparations, had sets built and even did some shooting. I didn’t take any other assignment during that period,” Kamal said in a statement.

“The project was put on back burner because Pyramid Saimira could not arrange funds to continue shooting. Having lost one year and an income of about Rs.40 crore, I had issued a notice to Pyramid Saimira on April 12, 2009 demanding payment of Rs.40 crore,” he added.

Pyramid Saimira slaps lawsuit on Kamal Haasan

Production house Pyramid Saimira Wednesday slapped a lawsuit on Tamil thespian Kamal Haasan for taking his fees but not completing the film “Marmayogi”.
Kamal was reportedly paid Rs.10.90 crore to do “Marmayogi” almost a year ago by Pyramid Saimira. However the movie was shelved for unknown reasons.

Pyramid Saimira claims that Kamal had promised that first he would complete “Marmayogi” and then start work on any other movie. But the actor went ahead with the shooting of “Unnaipol Oruvan”, which is co-produced by his production house Rajkamal Films International and UTV International.

“It is unfair on the part of Kamal to go ahead with ‘Unnaipol Oruvan’ release, he should repay the advance,” said an official from Pyramid Saimira.

Unnai Pol Oruvan confirmed on September 18

Finally, producers of UTV Motion Pictures have confirmed about the release of “Unnai Pol Oruvan’. They’ve made an official announcement that the film will hit the screens on September 18 for the occasion of Ramzan.
Earlier, both Kamal Haasan and producers had plans about releasing the film by August. But trade analysts suggested that the film’s trade wouldn’t be favorable in Kerala due to “Ramzan Fasting’. Of course, the producers who had ideated about promoting the film with superstar Mohan Lal’s presence felt this as a major constraint and postponed the release.
UTV Motion Pictures and Kamal Haasan produce the film under the banner of Rajkamal Productions. Debutant Chakri has wielded megaphone for this flick, and Kamal Haasan’s daughter Shruti Haasan’s musical score is already making good business in audio markets.

Kamal Haasan to sign deal with Mysskin

Finally, Kamal Haasan puts an end to the rumors on-air about his working with filmmaker Mysskin. Earlier, reports stated that Kamal had resent Mysskin’s offer of remaking “Swing Vote’. But it was a sort of surprise, as the actor himself made official announcements on the occasion of “Unnai Pol Oruvan’ audio launch.
Addressing the media channels, Kamal said, “Yes, it’s true that I am working with Mysskin next year. Since, it’s a historical subject, a lot of research work has to be done. Meanwhile, I am directing a film that will feature me, Kamal Haasan and K. Balachandar in lead roles.
” According to the sources, Mysskin seems to have penned a script based on the real life incident that took place after the death of Buddha.

When Kamal Haasan took to the mike for Shruti

Kamal Haasan’s multi-faceted daughter Shruti Haasan sure has an ear for music and how Currently composing music for her dad’s film “Unnaipol Oruvan’, the Tamil remake of “A Wednesday’, this young lady convinced her immensely talented father to sing for her

Now it’s not for the first time that Kamal Haasan took to the mike, but it’s definitely for the first time that the proud father sang for his daughter.

According to our sources, Shruti wanted to infuse something different in the songs. Having a cult status down south, Kamal Haasan’s voice is one that people identify with immediately

Shruti had a clear idea of what she wanted and she experimented with her father’s voice in a way that’s never been tried before. She has made her father sing not just one but two songs for the film, each of them belonging to a different genre. One is a mellow soft Sufi based song and the other is a commercial song with elements of hard rock in it

Shruti also had a great time with her dad doing voice warm-ups where she was the one bossing him around

Well, the outcome of this role reversal sure looks spectacular and the father-daughter duo seem all ready to rock

I want to settle down in Mumbai: Shruti Haasan

Her debut movie “Luck” bombed at the box office, but the film’s failure hasn’t detterred Shruti Haasan from making Mumbai her home and trying hard to get a foothold in the Hindi film industry.

“I actually wanted my debut film to be a Tamil movie, but it wasn’t to be. Whatever might have been the response to ‘Luck’, I feel that I should settle down in Mumbai to seek greener pastures in Bollywood,” Shruti, who is planning to buy an apartment in central Mumbai, said.

Her mother, actress Sarika, also lives in Mumbai. But the two are not on talking terms as Sarika is upset with Shruti for having a close relationship with her ex-husband Kamal Haasan’s partner Gauthami.

“My mother doesn’t like my friendship with Gauthami Madam. She is angry with me because of this count and avoids speaking to me. I’m not bothered about that,” she said.

Shruti, who sung popular number “Nenjukkul Peithidum…” in “Vaaranam Aayiram” and composed music for her father’s forthcoming bilingual film “Unnaipol Oruvan”, says her father is her biggest support in life.

“I want to explore the whole world and I have my daddy’s full cooperation in this. I have self-drawn boundaries which I’d never attempt to cross,” she said.

Malaysia to see Maya Ravan

Talented danseuse and actress Shobana’s dance ballet, Maya Ravan will be staged in Malayasia. The show, which was recently appreciated by Kamal Haasan, has been conceived, interpreted and choreographed by Shobana herself.

The show’s idea is to spread the Ramayana among foreign audiences. The show’s narrators are artists from Mumbai and Chennai.

The proceeds from the show in Malaysia will be donated to the Malaysian Association for the Blind.

Kamal Haasan’s younger daughter Akshara in ‘Unnai Pol Oruvan’

Shruti Haasan maybe carked with the dismayed results of her Bollywood debut “Luck’, but that doesn’t stop the young missy, as she has more plans of shining across the technical arenas. Well, Shruti Haasan has already completed tuning melody for her dad Kamal Haasan’s film “Unnai Pol Oruvan’ (Tamil remake of A Wednesday). Apart from scoring music for the music video, the young girl will co-direct the visuals as well.

Shruti has roped her younger sister Akshara too in the conceptualization of this musical album. The video song “Vaanum Ellai Illai’ aka “Easier said than done’ in English, has rap singer Blasé on the tracks. The song will be based on the film’s theme of terrorism and its deterioration. The song has been scored in the genre of hip-hop and Shruti believes this style will be easily identified with the masses.

Dr. Kamal Haasan Road -soon in Chennai

With accordance to actor Kamal Haasan completing his 50 years in Tamil Cinema, South Indian Artists’ Association has decided to host a grand show of honoring him. Meanwhile, filmmaker A.R. Murugadoss had come up with a high-flown idea of felicitating the versatile actor.

Interacting with media channels, he said, “This is something that should’ve been earlier. Hereby, I earnestly request South Indian Artists’ Association to make necessary steps to rename “Eldams Road’ of Chennai as “Dr. Kamal Haasan Road’.

Immediately, Sarath Kumar president of South Indian Artists Association has called-forth committee members regarding this issue. Sooner, they would be making their request to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

Surya, Parvathi win 56th Filmfare awards

56th South Indian Filmfare Awards happened to be a glitzy star-spangled occasion as the entire South Indian Film Industry made its presence. It was a hand-in-hand combat between Kamal Haasan (Dasavatharam) and Surya (Vaaranam Aayiram) for fetching the titles of “Best Actor’. Finally, Surya made it through the honour of being felicitated with “Best Actor’ while Parvathi won “Best Actress’ for her astounding performance in “Poo’.
“Vaaranam Aayiram’ happens to be Surya’s marvellous milestone, as he was top-notch, with his various makeovers from a 16yr lad-to- 64 year old man. The film also won the awards on various criteria including “Best Popular Movie’, “Best Music Director’ for Harris Jayaraj, “Best Lyricist’– Thamarai, “Best Playback Signer Male’ for Naresh Iyer and ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for Simran.
Ajmal won ‘Best Supporting Male Actor’ for his debut ‘Anjathey.
‘ Subramaniapuram won the awards- “Best Director’ for Sasi Kumar and “Best Movie’.
Priyamani gained the “Best Actress’ for her mind-boggling performance in Malayalam movie “Thiraikadha’ (the film was based on the life of actress Sri Vidhya).

Kamal, Myshkin to work together?

Last week, director-turned-actor Myshkin got a surprise call from Kamal Haasan.

Kamal Haasan wanted Myshkin to come over to his house for a chat and Myshkin promptly obliged.

The meeting led to rumour mills going abuzz with the speculation that Myshkin would be directing a movie for Kamal Haasan’s banner.

When asked to confirm or deny the news, Myshkin said: “Kamal sir had only recently seen my ‘Anjathay’ (which released last year) and wanted to talk to me about the film.”

“The few hours that I spent talking to him were equal to reading four or five meaningful books. The actor has such a huge wealth of information to offer. I also showed him a few clippings from my upcoming film ‘Nandalala’ which he liked a lot,” Myshkin said.

Myshkin, meanwhile, is said to be busy preparing for a movie he would be making with Cheran in the lead. Sources say this could well be Cheran’s first action film.