Coming Soon - Veyyil

Actors, actresses, directors, music directors, cinematographers... I've looked forward to movies because of all of them. But its been awhile since I looked forward to a movie because of its producer. And the producer is the reason I can't wait to watch Veyyil, which is releasing tomorrow. With his previous 2 productions, director Shankar proved that he is a producer with the Midas touch and things do seem to be in place for him to make it a hat-trick with Veyyil.

Both Kaadhal and Imsai Arasan 23aam Pulikesi were incredibly risky ventures. While the former was a realistic love story released at a time when candyfloss romance was more popular, the latter was a historical comedy - a genre never previously attempted in Tamil cinema. The directors weren't proven hit-makers either. Kaadhal was directed by Balaji Sakthivel, who had only an average hit in Samurai earlier, while Imsai Arasan... was the first film for Simbhudevan, a cartoonist-turned-director. But Shankar backed both films and reaped deserved rewards at the box-office. It is this record of backing risky but quality cinema that raises hopes about Veyyil. The film is directed by Vasanthabalan and one hopes that he too justifies the faith Shankar has placed in him.

The film's cast inspires confidence also. Bharath is definitely one of the more promising actors among the youth brigade and he has an impressive resume so far. He has grown as an actor since Boys and has slipped easily into a variety of roles. He is joined by Pasupathy, who has grown from being a villain to a very good character actor. If the impressive trailer is any indication, the movie is set in Virudhunagar and primarily revolves around these two. Bharath has Bhavana to romance while Shreya Reddy, fresh off a spirited performance in Thimiru, gives Pasupathy company.

The movie introduces G.V.Prakash, A.R.Rahman's nephew(his was the boy's voice that sang the opening lines of Chikubuku Chikubuku Rayile...), as music director . He has lived up to his illustrious uncle's reputation with a solid, even if not spectacular, soundtrack. Most of the songs, like Veyyilodu Vilaiyaadu... and Ooraan Thotathula... have a rustic touch that makes them catchy in a folksy way. Kaadhal Neruppin... and Urukuthe Marukuthe... prove that Prakash is no slouch when it comes to melodious duets either.

Veyyil is usually associated with drought. But one hopes that this Veyyil ends the drought of good Tamil films this year.