2007 - The Top 10

This post was definitely more enjoyable than the previous post as it brought back memories of the best among 2007's movies. Here in reverse order are my choices for the 10 best Tamil movies of 2007...

10. Pollaadhavan
A familiar story of a youth unwittingly pulled into a life of violence was converted into a fast-paced thriller with a surprisingly soft heart here. Dhanush's realistic family and the uniquely level-headed villain added a touch of realism to the proceedings while narrative techniques and visual touches spruced up the familiar story. It slowed down when one of the two bad guys was out of the picture but had a high-energy, visceral climactic fight sequence.

9. Ammuvaagiya Naan
Rules and conventions regarding our heroes and heroines were thrown out the window in this movie that had a very different, unusual story about a prostitute trying to blend into society. Its leads were two people we don't see in Tamil cinema all that often and that uniqueness was exploited very well in several segments. There were no issues created because ofof the heroine's past and the one problem, when it occurred, was cliched but that was a minor grievance about an otherwise mature, serious film.

8. Periyaar
This was a solid film on an interesting personality whose impact on Tamil politics and history can even be felt today.Backed by a fantastic performance by Satyaraj, the film succeeded in portraying Periyaar as someone who believed strongly in himself and wasn't ready to give up on his beliefs or ideals for anything or anybody. The film felt a little one-sided since other characters had little screen time and barely made an impression but it was a good effort that gave an interesting personality the film he deserved.

7. Evano Oruvan
This film tackled the vigilante theme in a new fashion. While many films have focused on the subject of a single man cleansing society off its evils, this film took a realistic look at it. The dose of realism worked well and helped us identify with the protagonist as he responded realistically to realistic issues. It was unfortunate that the director became over-ambitious and made the later issues rather cinematic but the low-key climax had an impact.

6. Katradhu Thamizh
This was a serious movie about a man who was dealt the worst cards in life. Its tone was stark and serious throughout and Jeeva's transformation from a promising, idealistic student to a man on the brink of mental imbalance was charted in a believable, realistic manner. The director's attempts to link the state of Tamil today to the life of its protagonist were artificial and even a little jarring. But as long the movie was seen as the life story of a man, it was like an accident - violent, bloody and sad but difficult to look away from.

5. Oram Po
This was a film in the same mould as Chennai 600028. It was based on a very local sport, it had an interesting group of characters(in particular, the loud 'Son of Gun' character) and it told its story with the same style and quirky sense of humor. Its uncommon - almost offbeat - sense of humor in characterization, picturization and script gave it a lot of energy and kept us smiling throughout. The climax was different but didn't have the intended effect but overall, it was an entertainingly fresh film

4. Sivaji
This film delivered exactly what one expected from a combination of Rajnikanth and Shankar. An all-out, unapologetic tribute to Rajni's star power and solely intended to showcase his ability to carry a movie single-handedly, the film was the work of a director who fully understood Rajni's image and set out to depict it in the grandest way possible. It was weak on logic and seemed like a watered-down version of Shankar's favorite 'social vigilante' theme but Rajnikanth's style, charisma and screen presence were exploited to the fullest extent(especially in the mottai boss getup) to make that easier to overlook.

3. Mozhi
With this film, director Radhamohan proved that a realistic movie can be made by focussing on the brighter side of life too. With down-to-earth characters facing everyday issues, subtle humor and a clean romance, it was a sweet and charming film that offered a wonderful, welcome change of pace from the loudness, violence and glamour of Tamil movies today. The likeable characters made sure the film's conflicts didn't seem contrived and the director's imagination and sense of humor shone through in his many deft touches. This film ensured that Jo, who gave a very natural performance, left Tamil cinema on a high.

2. Chennai 600028
This fun, youthful and stylish film finally gave Tamil cinema a noteworthy film about cricket, our national obsession. Aiming low by focusing on gully cricket, debutante director Venkat Prabhu fashioned a slick, visually stylish film that created an immediate connection with anybody who has played cricket at some time in his life. The romances were a little weak but the fun, light-hearted nature of the film and the wonderfully ironic climax ensured that we never less-than-thrilled.

1. Paruthi Veeran
This raw, emotionally powerful tale took an ordinary tale of young lovers and transformed it into a character-based story that was earthy and entertaining. Director Ameer proved his versatility once again as he imbibed the film with a completely rural atmosphere and developed unforgettable characters who seemed very real. The climax seemed a little overtly manipulative but the sense of dread leading upto it was palpable and gotten only because we had come to like the characters. Karthi showed none of those first film jitters and was fantastic in a difficult character.