Sivaji Update
There's been a flurry of activity in the Sivaji camp over the last week (its not a lot compared to other movies but considering the scarcity of news about the film, what we got amounts to a lot).
First came the sneak peek at the audio in the form of three tracks from the film. They became available online before the official audio release of the film and would have definitely been the most searched for and downloaded mp3s on the internet last week (I was actually quite late in getting the news and knew about it only after Filbert's email about the songs). While Vaaji Vaaji... and Sahaanaa Saaral... were more regular duets, Oru Koodai Sunlight... was a big surprise. With its modern, fast music and lyrics praising the Superstar and his style, it was a terrific number and quickly went into repeat mode on my iPod.
Yesterday saw the release of a few new photos from the film. Anyone even mildly interested in the film would've probably already seen these but I'm still posting my favorites among them since I still can't get over how absolutely fabulous they are.
Thalaivar looks really young in this one. If I hadn't already known that this one was from Sivaji, I'd have no trouble believing that it was from one of his earlier movies.
This one brings back memories of the Vettaiyan role in Chandramukhi, with thalaivar's royal garb and the shadow of the dancer in the background. Probably my favorite among the the photos with thalaivar just oozing style...
Thalaivar looks amazingly cool, young and stylish in this one...
Finally, the audio of the film was officially released today(though I haven't read about any audio release function, all songs are now available on the net. Maybe it really was a low-key function). SPB has done a fabulous job in the really fast intro song Sooriyanum Santhiranum... though the song reminded me of Devuda Devuda... in a couple of places. Vijay Jesudas is a big relief in Sahaanaa PookkaL... considering that the other version is sung by Udit Narayan. Adhiradi Kaalam... didn't impress me much on the first listen but I think it will grow on me while Vaadaa Vaadaa... could serve as a good background number for some terrific buildup scenes. Overall, it definitely seems like a Rajni soundtrack rather than a Shankar or an ARR soundtrack.
Now, the date being mentioned for the film's release is May 17th. Knowing the history of Shankar films, even this date may not be certain. Until then, all we can do is sing
Vaaji Vaaji Vaaji
Seekkiram Vaaji Sivaji!
Balaji's Thots... [Permalink]
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20 Comments:
Wow, I get to be the first one to write a comment to Balaji's Sivaji post!.. Feel privileged! :-) ;-)..
Boy, do I feel like I've been under a rock. I have been reading most of the brouhaha over illegal downloads of the songs (or as Balaji would like to put it 'sneak peek'), but didn't really bother to download those or go check out the pics at Galaata.com.
Somehow, my Sivaji expectations have taken a slow, but dramatic downturn recently. Maybe because I'm cautious after the Anniyan debacle. Don't get me wrong, Anniyan turned out to be a blockbuster by box office measures, but a lot of Shankar fans don't qualify that to be one of Shankar's best.
Anyways, Thalaivar looks great as always! (and please folks, let's not go into a war over why people like Balaji and me say stuff like that! :-)..
Skeptically, vaaji vaaji, seekiram vaaji Sivaji! :-)
Balaji,
Hope you have seen the more higher quality pictures in Behindwoods. I have been on cloud nine ever since I saw those photos. Like I have said in my blog In Shankar, we trust :)
Now that the songs and these stills are out, this will satiate our thirst for some Thalaivar action and hence waiting till May 17 does not seem to be a tough proposition suddenly.
Balaji,
Did you check out the Tirupavai rendition in 'Sahara' by Gomathi. It was too good :)
Rajini as Super star and Shankar as a director are the most formula based movie makers, so I am not sure why Sandhya was expecting something more in the first place.
Last I heard Shivaji is a Gentleman retake with Rajini taking on the education scenario in Tamilnadu.
How I wish Shankar had sticked to his earlier wish of making a movie with Rajini playing a role something like a James Bond. That would have been cool, with Rajini not playing a policeman after the Pandian debacle.
Also a big thanks to Shankar for bring back Rajini's old hair style, it was the best for Rajini and he never was the same some how for me after the hair change.
Well the songs are not the best of ARR-Shankar combo, but then who cares. Hope Shankar's picturization makes them better atleast visually.
-KP
Balaji,
Check out the stills at BEHINDWOODS. You will laugh throughout the day ! :-))
http://www.behindwoods.com/image-gallery-stills/photos-1/sivaji/sivaji-10.html
I loved this one !!
only one song 'ballerika' s good . other r typical tamil peppy or melody . arr disappoints.
hmmm.. three parts to this...
Stills:
Well... it does set the tone different... by being similar to old Thalaivar style... and then being drastically different in others... but I feel most of these are glimpses from songs... (NOTE: we are yet to see the "action" stills.. atleast me).. for most part of the movie, I would think Thalaivar would look like as in this still ... http://www.behindwoods.com/image-gallery-stills/photos-1/sivaji/sivaji-09.html
and this wud be gr8 !!!
Songs:
Believe me, the more you listen.. the more you will like it.. that is ARR's speciality.. people wrote off the songs of Padiyappa too.. even the back ground score is going to be great... take any ARR's movie as an example for that.. remember the "Oonjal" scene of Padiyappa.. with all due respects to Thalaivar, KS Ravikumar and Ramya Krishna... that scene gets the "pullarikkum" effect becos of ARR's background score.. Bharathiraja stated during Taj Mahal's release that when the music is other than what is expected, it takes more time to sink in... which I believe holds good in case of Rahaman in most of his films
Story:
Wait !!!.... we don't even have an official briefing of what it could be about... (atleast that I have heard of).. Apart from "Jeans" most of Shankar's movies have been message oriented.. and with Thalaivar at the helm, no wonder that this would be on "system-change" ... Anniyan was "not-so-touching" since the basis of that story was already touched upon, with Chandramukhi already having brought forth the split-personality concept.. and corruption having been dealt with by Shankar himself at different levels thru Gentleman, Indian and Mudhalvan... I am sure Shankar wont repeat the mistake of being repetitive.. :)
well... with that said ... I keep my fingers crossed expecting a wonderfully entertaining movie.. at the very least... :)))
the first snap in this set is my fav...yes, rajni looks really young...havent listened to the songs as yet...will download 'em soon.
bb, the cmukhi-ish snap i am sure has nothing to do with the story...never has shankar used music to move a story forward (a striking exception would be the delightful "pachai kiligall" which was to depict a lovable, close-knit family) and I wouldnt be surprised if this was part of a song that evokes memories of rajni movies a la the "kondaiyil thaazham poo" song...
Not to go off topic, enna Balaji, Sanjaya Malakar paththi oru vaarthai kooda illai!.. naadE alola kalola padardhu.. unga kitterndhu endha view-vum illai! :-) ;-)
Stills:
Rajni looks like how he used to look in Mr. Bharath / Billa times - never mind that the make up man has done an amazing work.
Songs:
Certainly not ARR's best - but if you have New York Nagaram like song where Rajni sings it, screens will be torn asunder in Chennai and elsewhere.
Expectation:
Shankar has certainly made sure AVM's crores spent so far have been fruitful - makeup, songs wise.
Hope the movie turns out to be good as well.
Was seeing CM vetri vizha in Sun TV and Shankar said that its been his dream to direct Kamal and Rajni. So hope he makes good use of this opportunity.
Billa Ranga Baasha thaan
Ivan Pistol pesum Beshathaan!!
First one is the best. Thalaivar looks like he used to in thambikku entha ooru
Wow! Cannot wait for this!!!!!!!
Though on many levels Shankars films are a mere retread of earlier ones just in different ways!
http://aakshayshah.blogspot.com/
True hero of Sivaji = Rajni's make-up man(or team) :-)
sandya, i liked 'anniyan'. so i wouldn't term it a debacle either :)
filbert, didn't visit the site b4 but did catch the pics on ur site. also saw all the pics on the dinamalar site...
ferrari, yes i did. her voice and singing r awesome but on the first listen, her part of the song sounded too slow. lemme see if it grows on me :)
KP, have never heard that shankar wanted rajni in a bond kinda role. but know that rajni was his first choice for 'mudhalvan'. now THAT would've been something...
anon, i did :)
fans, i liked 'vaaji', 'oru koodai' and 'sahana' also... no complaints...
king, i think those unofficial stills with rajni and shreya(rajni in old hairstyle and green jacket) were action stills. so i guess atleast 1 segment has him in the old hairstyle...
agree with u 100% on ARR's songs taking time to grow on us...
ram, looks like that shadow was just in the background. the real pic has a huge castle in the background...
sandya, haven't seen even a single episode of 'american idol' ever. been following sanjay's story but it still hasnt made me chk out the show...
karthik, yep not arr's best but considering the limitations he must've been under for a rajni movie, the songs r perfect...
sriram/akshay, yep :)
vijay, maybe one of the heroes :)
skanda, remember these r thalaivar fans talking :)
My humble opinion may not count much, but I sort of feel, the songs / music seems above average, leveraging alot more than necessary on rap, hip hop beats; but what irks me most is the lyrics of Oru Koodai Sunlight with repeated references to "vellaikaaran" ie white man. and to couple that, the blond wigs in the pics.
Frankly I had very less expectations on this Rajini-Rahman combo (from their past ventures). It was disappointing again, apart from Sahana/Sahara. Deva composed perfectly for Annamalai and Basha. I wonder why he was'nt used again.
The tentative release date is May 17th. Shankar padam vera eppo vara pogudho.
I rather pity the nice actor in superstar, sporting some crappy clothes
Well this concept of song growing on you is absurd what in the days of Sun TV and other channels bombarding you with them you end up liking even karuva paiyan song from Tutukudi.
-KP
Skanda, what do you mean "running out"? Didn't Meena act in a few Rajini films when she was a little child? She later acted as his heroine!
hope this is the last for rajini.
else he will end up like sachin,kapil..where some one has to puch him out..
or atleast he should transform to some one like bachan.
A.R is not at his best. never at his best in recent times. may be lagaan was his last best..
deva /vidya saagar would have been better for sivaji..
anyways..
after throwing crores at the film..it should be atleast watchable..
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