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By:
The title ought to have been 'Manoj, Arjun, Amitabh and Denzel Washington.' We will see why later. First, let us have an overview of the confusion in our copying from others.
Seven out of ten Tamil films are remakes of other language films. They could be the authorised remake like 'Maja' and 'Aadhi' or gross violations like 'Avvai Shanmugi' and 'Gajini.'
However, when an original idea is translated into another language, another culture, there are rules to be observed. Unfortunately no Tamil director takes into account these rules. The result is films like 'Aanai' with all its handicaps. It is the remake of the Tony Scott directed 'Man on Fire' that was released in 2004 in Hollywood. Arjun appears in the role done by Denzel Washington.
'Man on Fire' starts with a totally inebriated Denzel Washington. He is bereft of any fortunate events in his life. To rescue him from his loneliness and make him give up his drinking, his friend recommends him for a job. This calls for being the security guard of a child of very rich parents in Mexico. Denzel accepts the offer. The closeness with the child slowly removes his loneliness. To the girl who complains 'I have never succeeded in anything', he instructs her how to keep fighting and win. The audience is shown his past in flashbacks.
Before becoming a slave to alcohol, Denzel Washington had been a trained killer in CIA. His job was to kill without remorse, any one who is considered as anti-national by the CIA. Stringent training transforms Denzel. In the process of his assignments, he loses his girl friend and drowns his sorrows in alcohol. Neither the rich parents in Mexico, nor the abductors who had planned to kidnap the child had any idea of his black and hopeless past.
In the meantime, in spite of Denzel's presence and protection, the girl gets abducted. Denzel gets shot. Cured of his wound, Denzel comes back and kills the abductors one after another with a professional expertise. After saving the child, he gets killed. These are cliff-hanger experience.
Selva has made into 'Aanai' the film directed by Tony Scott who was celebrated for his action films like 'Top Gun,' 'Enemy of the Gate' and 'Spy Game.'
The most important feature of 'Man on Fire' is the locale where the plot unravels. Blended with living, the violence, weapons and drugs in Mexico and the abductors are total strangers to Tamilnadu. This is the important weakness of 'Aanai.' By showing a small gang of long haired young rebels who resort to kidnapping to fund terrorist activities elicits only pity.
Second, the characterization. Training people into professional killers without emotions is common to CIA in America. Arjun is shown as an encounter specialist. Getting dismissed for wounding some people and growing a beard and calming his anger by watering plants… the director has not even brought out an iota of Denzel's frustration and agony in the character of Arjun. It is not his mistake. Who will be afraid of someone who burns down the house to fight the mosquito? Pity, again.
The second blunder leads to the third. Why would someone who moves in the society and waters the plants, be ill-tempered towards that child? This is the third point of divergence. These three weaknesses take the bite out of the child's abduction and Arjun's revenge.
'Aanai' has been shattered by characters and story that is totally different from Tamil culture and the locale. It is like producing 'Titanic' with a country boat!
The director wanted to make 'Chaaturyan' out of the same story with Manoj as hero. The trailer was made ready even before shooting. It was given up when they learnt that 'Aanai' had the same story.
How daring! Imagine Manoj as an encounter specialist armed with tension and violence!
'Man on Fire' is not about to be put out that easily. 'Aanai' has been made in Hindi as 'Ek Ajnabee' starring Amitabh Bachchan in the role of Denzel Washington. The film should have been released on the 9th of this month. The film could probably take shape in Telugu and Malayalam too.
Is this all what our creative wizards are capable of?!
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-12.12.2005
