#aishwariya lekshmi

[eenadu-varthalu]

Okay, review of Ponniyin Selvan 2 incoming (whether you like it or not) (and again, this is my personal opinion about the movie so please don’t kill me if you don’t agree).

I don’t know what to say. I really don’t. *proceeds to write essay*

Is it a good movie? Yes, hell yes, 100%

But will I be religiously rewatching this like I did part one? Maybe not.

Part 2 is a different vibe than part one. Like a complete script flip. It's a different movie (I guess one can figure that out from how different the album of the second movie is to the first). The drama (more like angst, ngl) amongst the characters is intensified while the story just seems to be something running in the background. We learn a lot more about some of the characters-- we see a different side to them: let it be the vulnerable side of Nandini or a more humanized form of Adhitha. Some of the prominent questions from part 1 are answered in part 2 (point to note: we are given the backstory of adhita and nandini which I think is a fantastic addition) but yeah I still don’t really know how to clearly explain this movie. It’s like one of those pieces of art that you have to see to cherish, to understand why people are going crazy about it.

There are moments that just make you want to go “what the actual hell” but there are others where you’re just sitting there, with your mouth wide open and/or tears welling up in your eyes. And it does not help that oftentimes this movie becomes a pendulum between these feelings.

The acting and the actors are a saving grace. Everyone is PERFECTLY cast and the scenes are such that even if there is a small hiccup, it's going to look like a big joke. The chemistry the cast has with each other is insane. Off the charts. (and I'm coining this right now, Chiyan Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, and Karthi are going to SWEEP all the awards). The scenes between the lovers, let it be kundavai and vanthiyadevan or nandini and adhitha is some of the best acting I have seen.

The music is also another savior in disguise. Let it be the first 10 minutes of the movie with the three songs back to back, or let it be using Veera Raja Veera on three separate occasions to highlight three different moments in the movie-- Rahman really killed it with this one (although I am a bit disappointed that NONE of the songs were used in their entirety— someone pull the editor out of the editing room asap).

The cinematography? *chefs kiss* Give Ravi Varman a National Award right now.

I think the most disappointing aspect for me is that Mani sir was never really given the chance to fully explore the characters, the themes, the subplots, or just the book in general. Don’t get me wrong, this is one of the most genuine book-to-movie adaptations I’ve seen and although Mani Ratnam was insistent that Ponniyin Selvan is something that truly deserves to be on the big screen, I think it would’ve worked absolute wonders if it were a series. I would totally not be opposed to a director's cut (trust me I will watch it even if it ends up being a seven-hour movie) if it gives us an opportunity to see Mani sir's strengths and the usual magic in his other films shine through more because the restriction of time is taken out.

[balladedutempsjadis]

Ever since I saw Ponniyin Selvan, I’ve been on a quest to watch many Tamil movies, since I think the last Tamil film I watched before the PS saga was Kandukondain Kandukondain (that was at a time when I was watching Jane Austen adaptations non-stop!) I’ve been choosing in a rather erratic way from films that either were directed by Mani Ratnam or starred Trisha, Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bacchan, Jayam Ravi, Karthi or Jeyaram. (As far as I’m aware, neither Aishwarya Lakshmi nor Shobhita Dhulipala have acted in other Tamil movies? I do have Shobhita’s Prime show to watch though.)

The other actors whose movies I’m also watching are Vijay Sethupathi and Samantha Prabhu because I saw their acting in “Farzi” and “The Family Man” (both Hindi-language OTT series directed and produced by two Telugu gentlemen so really very all-India!) After I watched Thani Oruvan, I added Nayanthara and Aravind Swamy to the list so … basically, I’m set for like the next 20 years ;)

Sometimes I get lucky and two of the actors are in THE SAME MOVIE. Which brings me to the fact that I watched “Unnakum Ennakum” last night, and my goodness, Arulmozhi Varman and Kundavai Devi were SUCH BABIES in this film. (Also, much closer to the ages of their characters in Kalki’s novel - Arulmozhi Varman is 19 and Kundavai is 21, and Aditha Karikalan is 25 … so yeah.) This movie came out in 2006 so I think Trisha was 23-24 and Ravi was about 25-26?

Farming is HARD WORK, y’all, but this boy was willing to collect cow dung in his bare hands for the sake of Trisha. And who wouldn’t! (Vandiyadevan would die for her, but would he plow and plant rice and milk cows? Hmm?)

This picture is for contrast! They’re still beautiful, but definitely not playing 19-21 year olds any more :)

[fishy006]

most relatable character in the movie was Vanthiyadevan, because i too would flirt with every girl in that movie.

[realtimeslive]

‘I am a director’s actor’: Aishwariya Lekshmi

‘I am a director’s actor’: Aishwariya Lekshmi

Onam 2017 introduced a new star to the Malayalam cinema marque — Aishwariya Lekshmi. As Rachel, Aishwariya made her presence felt as the girl next door opposite Nivin Pauly in Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela.

Then, towards the fag end of 2017 came Mayaanadhi, a film that flowed against the current of Malayalam cinema and unleashed a flood of discussions about changing campuses and social mores…

[net4news]

‘Kaanekkaane’ is about guilt and forgiveness, says its director Manu Ashokan

The Malayalam film, starring Suraj Venjaramoodu, Tovino Thomas and Aishwariya Lekshmi is winning appreciation for its theme, narration and performance

Manu Ashokan has every reason to be thrilled. Both his films, Uyare (2019) and Kaanekkaane (streaming on SonyLIV) have ticked all the right boxes. Also Read | Get ‘First Day First Show’, our weekly newsletter from the world of cinema, in your inbox. You can subscribe for free here If Uyare was about an acid attack survivor, Kaanekkaane, starring Suraj Venjarmoodu, Tovino Thomas and Aishwariya Lekshmi in the lead, is a family drama with elements of a thriller deftly blended into the story of guilt, vengeance and redemption.

“Scenarists Bobby and Sanjay had shared the one liner of this story some time ago. We never got down to working on it. We were planning a different film when the pandemic interrupted our plans,” says Manu. During the lockdown, they thought of a subject that they could do within the limitations of adhering to the COVID-19 protocol. That’s how the film came to be. The scenarists told Manu about Paul Mathai, a bereaved father who suspects his son-in-law, who has remarried, of having some involvement in the accident and death of his daughter Sherin. Then they developed the plot with a story of relationships and how it evolves. “It is a film about guilt and forgiveness. There can be many ways of developing a plot. This was ours,” Manu emphasises.

Manu Ashokan with Suraj Venjaramoodu on the location of ‘Kaanekkaane’   | Photo Credit: Special arrangement The actors had to be performers who would do justice to the characters and also have a screen presence. “Suraj chettan has been astonishing every one with his histrionics with each character of his. It was the same with Tovino and Aishwariya Lekshmi. They are all stars in their own right but when they do a film, it is their characters that matter, not the screen space. That dedication empowers a director,” he adds.

Realistic characters

Manu explains that he was clear that if their acting went overboard, the film would flounder and turn into a melodramatic soap saga. He requested each of them to keep it as realistic as possible. “There are no action scenes or heavy dialogues to support the actors. Their inner turmoil and journey had to reflect subtly on their face and in their body language. That was the challenge,” says Manu. Tovino had doubts if his acting was too underplayed but Manu insisted that he stuck to a measured portrayal of Allen, a man weighed down by his feelings of guilt. Tovino was the first actor to come on board, though he was mostly playing second fiddle to Suraj in the film. Manu points out that it was the actor’s passion for films that had him playing Allen, a character with many weaknesses.

Manu Ashokan with Tovino Thomas and Suraj Venjaramoodu on the location of ‘Kaanekkaane’   | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Aishwariya as Allen’s second wife, Sneha, was worried whether the character would be detrimental to her career as she was playing the ‘the other woman’. Unlike many Malayalam films that justify, glorify or denigrate the ‘other woman’, Kaanekkaane makes no attempt to do that and depicts Sneha as a warm woman trying her best in a difficult situation. “There are no villains in the story. Circumstances make people take impulsive decisions with many ramifications. That is what happens with the characters here. There is no attempt to justify any of their actions,” says Manu. Shot in and around Kochi, the film’s shooting began in November. With Suraj coming down with COVID-19, they had to go in for a break and resume after his quarantine period was over. “Considering that it was shot during the peak of a pandemic, we were lucky that shooting resumed smoothly and we were able to complete the film.” Manu is now planning his third film, again with Bobby-Sanjay writing the script. Source link Read the full article

[friendly-philosopher]

Yaarrr....So damn true!!!

most relatable character in the movie was Vanthiyadevan, because i too would flirt with every girl in that movie.