Thodari

[MysteRy]

Thodari Audio Review

Cast: Dhanush, Keerthy Suresh, Radharavi, Karunakaran, Thambhi Ramaiya Music: D.Imman Direction: Prabhu Solomon Album Analysis:

Oorellam Kekudhe Singers: Shreya Ghoshal, Maria Roe
‘Oorellam Kekudhe’ is Imman’s version of ‘Chinna Chinna Aasai’. Shreya Ghoshal has had a field day with this song as this song demands her to sing in multiple languages. The arrangements sound fresh bolstered by the ‘kathakali’ like interludes. Maria Roe rounds off the song with a paragraph of English rendition of the pallavi. (Check out her cover for Thalli Pogadhey in Youtube. Rendered perfectly)

Pona Usuru Vanthiruchu
Singers: Haricharan, Shreya Ghoshal
‘Pona Usuru’ sees Haricharan & Shreya Ghoshal in fine form in a typical hummable Imman melody. Yugabharathi’s lyrics play out nicely along with the tune. The usual string sections, extended flute segments that are present in most tracks of the composer make an appearance here as well. The pitching of the rendition is done with élan and with a pellucid diction.

Love in Wheels
Singers: Chinnaponnu, Nathan, Woodwinds
A terrific moving piece that starts with Chinnaponnu’s lullaby in a haunting tone. The flute establishes a sense of melancholy and sets the mood for the piece. Once the beats kick in, the tone of the number changes but is still very engaging. A great addition to the album!

Adada Ithuenna
Singers: Haricharan, Vandana Srinivasan
 ‘Adada Ithuenna’ has probably the loveliest tune in the entire album. Much along the lines of ‘Ovvondrai Thirudugirai’ from ‘Jeeva’, this track delivers a soothing after-effect. The singers run the show here & Imman continues to use Vandana’s vocals to the best of her abilities. The trademark string sections in the interludes and the accompanying chimes, scale shifts enrich this likable number.

Manusanum Manusanum
Singers: Gana Bala
‘Manusanum Manusanum’ is the odd one out in the album! Although it is a quintessential Gana Bala number, the arrangements are very much different from what we are used to. The piano keys play second fiddle to the vocals. The lyrics are funny as you would expect in a Gana Bala number. Though not impressive on the first listen, the song does grow on us.

 On the whole, Imman delivers a scintillating album in ‘Thodari’ much along the lines of ‘Kumki’ & ‘Kayal’. The album is loaded with fantastic melodies like Adada Ithuenna, Oorellam Kekudhe & Pona Usuru. The only aspect that might bring down the experience is the associated familiarity with Imman’s melodies that we already have. Nevertheless, this album is a winner!

[MysteRy]

Thodari Review

Director: Prabhu Solomon
Cast: Dhanush, Keerthy Suresh, Thambi Ramiah, Radha Ravi

Ambitious but seriously flawed, Prabhu Solomon’s Thodari smacks of laziness in virtually all departments. The director seems to be inspired by Tony Scott's Unstoppable. As usual, Solomon has introduced a love angle and bunch of comedians to save this slow paced prolonged train journey.

The film fails due to its ridiculous plot, inane dialogues, script holes and its formidable length. Yet the film rests on the appeal of its two leads Dhanush and Keerthy Suresh, who fail to rise above a flawed characterisation and script.

Poochiappan (Dhanush) is a pantry boy in an express train from New Delhi to Chennai. But this particular train ride is special for Poochi as he sees a girl Saroja (Keerthy), the makeup assistant, of an actress who is travelling in the first class compartment along with her mother. It is love at first sight for Poochi but due to human error, the train loses control as the engine driver dies due to cardiac arrest and his cabin door is locked. Can the government and top officials save a Union minister (Radha Ravi) and 700 odd passengers?

Although, it isn't a performance-oriented movie for Dhanush, he tries his best to make the Poochi character believable. The terrific actor in him is wasted here that you wonder if roles in his last few films have sorryed all the talent right out of him! He looks exhausted and uninvolved, delivering his lines.

Keerthy Suresh as the dimwit Saroja (hard to say if she is the typical loose ponnu or is she plainly innocent?) has a fairly decent role and she does it convincingly. Harish Uthaman’s character is a major downer, while Thambi Ramaiah and his comedy is plainly annoying. Karunakaran is wasted.

Sometimes a nicely picturised song, comedy, or possibly a relevant message buried somewhere in the mess can save a film. Having said that, the blame for this film falling flat rests squarely with its makers. The special effects are embarrassingly amateurish and dialogues are unbelievably juvenile. Songs by D Imman are good but the director fails in picturising it well.

On the whole, Prabhu Solomon’s attempt to keep it interesting is conspicuous even if not executed smartly. And while Thodari falls short of being an irresistible experience, it sure had the makings of one.