Mankatha Review

I watched மன்காத்தா yesterday... sharing my review of the movie...

To start with the movie plot -

From what I read in the interview about the film by Director Venkat Prabu - the film script was written with the one line mandate from Ajith - "Get me a damn bad negative character". This plot would suit Ajith and he had done that pretty well already in Billa. Ajith's character in மன்காத்தா is a cop who wants to get to the 500 crores bounty of illegal shipped money for betting.The film travels on how Ajith gets to it.

The success of this kind of plot lies on two aspects - Make the central negative character likable and Brilliant action sequences. I have to say that மன்காத்தா fails on both counts. You never start to like Ajith's character at any point in the movie. Take the example of Hrithik's character in Dhoom. When in the final sequence Hrithik falls from the hill top you feel sorry for him. It never happens when Ajith is got shot in the final sequence of மன்காத்தா . Major blame for this on characterisation. In the first half of the movie, the director tries to characterise Ajith's role by his hangover symptoms and his vow to never drink again, not colouring his hair,openly admitting he ages 40 (which is daring - hats off அஜித்... அரசியலுக்கு வர இது தான் right age). Although these are genuine attemps to make the character likable - it falls flat after the initial deja vu. At a point it becomes sterotypic and boring when Ajith keeps complaining about hangover. The action sequence are so pale - Thala - this is action movie and there is not one WOW action sequence. என்ன போங்க...

When Ajith rides the bike to chase the container you look forward to something exciting. This sequence was highlighted in the promos. You would appreciate the sequence - but it's like congratulating India if they win the fourth ODI in England. Light at the end of tunnel !!Most of the action sequence is shot in slow motion. Not sure if it's intended to give a flavour to the movie. Even Action king's action sequence never get going at top speed.

நீங்க என்ன சொன்னாலும் அஜித் has the mass appeal and style to go with it. His costume sense is likable and his mannerisms does keeps the film interesting to a great extent.

Most of the movie happens in Mumbai. None of the characters speak Hindi in the movie including Ajith. Would have been nice if Ajith had tried speaking in Hindi... for sure would have got his fans going... Venkat Prabu - you missed a trick there ha !

• The songs are better not spoken of. But to be fair to Yuvan this movie does not actually require or have space for songs.
• The same goes about comedy sequences in the movie. Premji - Better luck next time and don't ever dare to go near Simbu. He will kill you for sure.
• Why is Trisha in the movie ? Lakshmi Rai has a better role to play. Trisha could have opted for her role !!
• The director's casting has now started to feel like Lollu sabha. Where the same cast comes out playing different roles every week. Please sir - I guess there is bigger acting talent pool...

And last but not the least - I watched the movie at Golden Village Singapore. They charged me $12 for the ticket + $5 for the popcorn. Let me review them for the sake of completeness.

• The theater seats - I remember watching movies with better seating comfort at Trichy kaveri theatre.
• Popcorn is equal to chewing gum which tastes salty
• There was no break at the interval. Do they expect people to sit for 3 hrs without a pee break !