| Red |
Director:
Ram
Cast: Ram Sathya, Priya Gill
Release: 15.01.2002
What happens when you mix Rajini film
dialogues with 'Nayagan'? You get 'Red'!
Director Ram sathya had proved that it is
possible to create a 2 ½ hour long screenplay
without a trace of a story. The movie consists
of bits and pieces of scenes, all of them
singing Ajith's glory.
There exist 2 rowdies in Madurai. One of them
is Ajith, whose story is being written in
'Ananda Vikadan' magazine by a writer (Rajesh).
Ajith is unaware of it.
Inspite of the promise given to his lover,
Ajith finds it impossible to give up his
antisocial life.
At a stage, he finds himself falsely framed
for murder, thanks to the scheming villains.
The readers of his biography series in the
magazine come to his rescue and he's given a
new chance to start his life allover again.
Like 'Baasha', this movie is trying hard to
elevate Ajith to Himalayan heights. This being
the main motive, the villain's character is
beautifully crushed. So what? 'Nayagan's
scenes follow one after the other and Ajith's
fans are in seventh heaven.
With his shirt collars pushed down to his back
and with his hands on his hips (like a fully
pregnant woman!) When Ajith thunders 'Adhu',
the theatre rocks with whistles. When he gets
angry, he reflects the title of the movie
appropriately.
When Ajith fights for education and for the
reedy, we grudgingly respect 'Red'. But later
when he does atrocities for Anand's cricket
match, we wonder what justification awaits
this behaviour.
Nobody else seems to like heroine Priya Gill
except Ajith. A mature expression and a face
that's too 'North'y to suit the Madurai
lifestyle makes her a bad choice for this role.
Most notable blunder being the scene where she
reaches the police station hearing about her
father Manivannan's death. There is not even a
slight hint of sorrow.
Though the film is extremely deprived of
comedy, there is such an intense response from
the audience when Ajith says, "People who
carry my photograph around with them have
faith in me". That and other such
audience-prone dialogues that he mouths go
well with the intended targets.
Deva's songs are very good. But picturisation
by the director and a very routine
choreography by Raju Sundaram had destroyed
the visuals.
The 'Aanandha Vikadan' related parts, which
were initially considered to be the only novel
item about this movie, turns out to be nemesis
towards the end.
Based on nothing but a mere story, people
flocking out to support a real life rowdy is
over imagination and totally unconnected to
reality. Aanandha Vikadan's image and esteem
had been badly let down.
If these hitches are to be ignored, 'Red' has
a great potential. There are some very good
impact laden scenes too. If only a little bit
more effort was given in making the screenplay,
the movie would have been another 'Naayagan'
for Ajith and the director.
Had it been so, everybody else too would have
'enjoyed' the movie like Ajith's fans did. And
they would have been howling with pleasure too.