Tamil movies 2009 - a Rewind

It is almost the end of 2009 and Tamil movie industry had seen a very vibrant and dramatic movies and events that is bound to put this year in the history books for ever.

First, we have to mention the proud moment for every Indian when AR Rahman a musician from the Tamil movie industry went on to the world stage by bagging 2 Oscars for his score in the super hit movie Slumdog Millionaire. And this year, the Oscars didnt stop with just that. Resul Pookutty won another Oscar for the same movie. While every Indian is proud of this great achievement, our movie industry still revolves around the hero centric story lines and producers clinging to formulas that will be just a mass entertainer. These story lines and constraints hinder the creativity of directors and musicians and that is why till date none of the movies produced in India has made it to Oscars or any international awards.

This Oscar win by AR Rahman and Resul Pookutty has put the Indian cinema technicians in the world map and the full credit goes to both of them. This year will be in the history books for ever.

2009 also saw the rise of TV Media gaints as powerful movie distributors. With a very powerful media channel, Sun Network's Sun Pictures was able to market any movie and make it a grand success. Following Sun Pictures, there were couple of other new distributors and producer and incidentally all for the same family, yes Sun Pictures is owned by Maran brothers, Red Pictures by Udainidhi Stalin and now Cloud 9 pictures by Dayanidhi Azhagiri.. all from DMK supremo Dr.Karunanidhi's family. After the biggest hit by Sun Pictures is Kadhalil Vizhundhen, Sun Pictures did come up with several movies that made good in box office just by advertisements in Sun TV.


Suriya had a good year with 2 good movies that made well in the box office. Ayan and Adhavan. Incidentally, Ayan was distributed by Sun Pictures and Aadhavan was produced by Red Pictures. Suriya has to be commended for choosing good and different roles and by not sticking to the stereotype roles, he has definitely emerged as one of the leading heros in Tamil movie industry.

This year, with no exception saw some really good movies by new and veteran directors. worth mentioning are:

1. Eeram - Debutant director Arivazhagan (Director Shankar's assisstant) produced this mega blockbuster thriller with all new comers. A very different theme and like S Picture's earlier productions, this movie is another step towards new trends in Tamil movie Industry.


2. Naan Kadavul - Veteran director Bala's another dark subject movie with his usual realistic touch. Arya has done a commendable job in this movie about an orphan raised by sadhu's in Kasi.

3. Unnai Pol Oruvan - Kamal's remake of Hindi blockbuster hit 'A Wednesday' can be considered as one of the best movies of 2009. A fast paced movie with no nonsense items like songs or fights, brings the reality to the screen. The choice of actors including Mohanlal, director has done a remarkable job in not only remaking a successful hit but also giving the necessary touch to please the Tamil audience.

4. Achamundu Achamundu - directored by software professional turned director, Arun Vaidhi, another thriller movie based on a NRI family living in USA.

5. Nadodigal - a movie based on friendship and what a true friendship can do. Director Sasikumar's team has acted and given a film that was so realistic and logical.

Some of the other movies that are worth mentioning for either their colossal budget or biggest bloopers are:

1. Kandaswamy - Vikram's most anticipated 'Robin Hood' type movie directored by Susi Ganesan, opened with much fanfare and attention. Their claims to adopt 1000 villages etc etc have just disappeared in thin air and no one knows what happened to those villages. They tried to promote the movie by giving as much media attention and publicity but still a very poorly made movie and a huge amount of money was spent.

2. Vettaikaran - Released after crossing several hurdles and bad rumors, Vijay has once again failed to satisfy the mass. With the stale, repeated story line, horrible punch dialogs and big lengthy fight sequences, Vijay is not completely relying on Sun Picture's media advertisement to make his movie to do well in box office.

The top 10 movies of 2009 are:

10. Ninaithale Innikum
9. Yogi
8. Achamundu Achamundu
7. Kandean Kadhalai
6. Aadhavan
5. Nadodigal
4. Ayan
3. Naan Kadavul
2. Eeram
1. Unnai Pol Oruvan.

So what is 2010 has in store... the most anticipated mega budget movie - Shankar's Enthiran. Super Star Rajini's much awaited movie. Also Karthi/Selvaraghavan's much awaited thriller 'Aariyarathil Oruvan' is also scheduled to release after several hiccups and hurdles. The first full length cartoon movie in Tamil, Sultan the Warrior, directored by none other than Rajini's daugther Soundarya Rajinikanth is also expected to be released. 2010 will also see the first Tamil movie in which A R Rahman has scored the music after his Oscar victory - Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya, starring Simbhu and Trisha and directed by Gautham Menon.

Lets wait and see if all the most awaited movies for 2010 will bring new stuff to the movie industry or will it just be another same old story movie!!!

Bharatbeat.com wishes its readers a VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!! HAPPY 2010

Vettaikaran - Movie Review

Vijay's most anticipated movie of this year. Backed by Sun Picture's heavy marketing campaign, it created all the necessary hype and expectations. But did the movie live up to the expectation? Well hate to say this buy Vijay needs to stop working on such movies and should stop acting in movies that is just a mixture of his earlier movies. It was very painful to watch the same thing over and over. Click here for the full review

As usual.. comments are welcomed!!!!

Amir in Yogi and Prakash Raj's debut as director

It yet another season of actors turning into directors and vice versa. This time two top personalities, who have excelled in their field have decided to switch their roles. Amir, a very successful director, who has produced some critically acclaimed movies has turned into an actor in the movie Yogi. This movie inspired by the South African, Oscar nominated movie Tosti (which means thug) and Yogi has already received high marks and good reviews. Directed by Subramaniam Siva, who has penned an racy script adding some local flavor. The only thing the director could have avoided is the gory bloodshed and fight sequences.

Ok like Amir who is now a director turned actor, a well known actor has decided to try his luck as a director. He is none other than Prakash Raj who has decided to remake his own hit "Abiyum Naanum" in Kannada and he will be directing the movie. This will be the first time in Indian movie history where the same production house is remaking its own superhit movie in another language.

Other news - Vettaikaran is finally hitting the big screen, yes on Dec 18. Sun Pictures have started their mega advertisements in Sun TV. There were lot of rumors about Vijay and his ruffle with leading politicians and that is the reason for the delay in the release of Vettaikaran. Also Vijay's acting career is fully hanging on the success of this movie.

After the Tamil producers association lifted the ban on Nayantara, she has been booked to play the lead female role with Arya in Boss Engira Bhaskaran.


Venkat Prabhu's upcoming movie Goa is in big trouble. It is because of a tussle between Producer Soundarya Rajinikanth (Ocher productions) and a banker who had offered her loan to produce this movie. The banker has filed a petition in the court that she hasnt paid any interest nor repaid the loan. The court has put a stay on releasing the movie till Dec 11. Soundraya was planning to release the movie on her father, Rajinikanth's birthday (Dec 12th).