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By:
JBR
'Chandramukhi' is not only a top grosser, it is till running to full houses after 50 days. So what? Cinema aficionados point out to many things that are beyond logic in the film. Read on for the 'Chandramukhi' story from one such rasika. If the same things have struck you, you are brainy too. If not? You must be an ardent Rajini fan, that's all.
A dissection of the 'Chandramukhi' script...
I finally got to see 'Chandramukhi.' I am not going to say, "You call that a story? Whatever be the story, if the screenplay and dialogues are good, if the handling and visualization are good, even a Rajini film can be viewed happily.
Sujatha has written an article about a book called Valley of Gods he had read recently. He would have derided present screenplay writers, but celebrated Balachander's assistant Ananthu as number one storyteller.
From what little I know, I have a few suggestions as to how certain things could have been portrayed in 'Chandramukhi.'
1. Saravanan is a psychiatrist. Let's see how this doc is making waves in America. In our films, an elaborate set alone is not enough to signify the wealth of a man. No, sir, that's because the script writer and director think the audience don't have enough brains to comprehend that simple fact, so they add some inane dialogues between two idiots. "What a rich man he is. Still he is so modest." "I know, with his wealth he can buy the whole world."
In a Hollywood film, you will not see 2 guys carry on useless conversations like this. The background and the getup is enough to speak for the wealth of the character.
In a few English words, when Prabhu waxes lyrical about the brilliance of Rajini's work, to K R Vijaya, what is evident is the flow of language of the writer and little else. There are ways in which to establish a person's accomplishments. The scene could be a medical conference, perhaps taking place in Taj Coromandel, Chennai. Lots of foreign delegates are present. Saravanan could be the keynote speaker. When a few questions are posed by the delegates, Saravanan answers brilliantly. He could cite a couple of 'split personality' cases that he had handled in the US.
In a matter of 5 minutes with some well composed dialogues and scenes, Saravanan's fame as one of the prominent doctors in his field can be established.
Vasu's establishing this fact is quite unimaginative.
2. Important to a Rajini film is his character portrayal. Fight scenes are important for Rajini's fans but to feature that in the beginning of the film itself was unnecessary. The first scene could have been the medical delegates' conference followed by the fight sequences.
3. The Senthil (Prabhu) characterization was a fiasco. When he gets the NHAI contract, the screenplay and visualization are lackluster. Going around proudly saying "I got the NHAI contract" to a hundred odd people in cars and a villain gang yelling, "Hey, cut him to pieces and get the contract issued in our name" was ridiculous…just to get a fight scene in. A fight could have been introduced logically. It is not possible to transfer contracts issued by the govt to a particular person, to all and sundry. Are the NHAI people sitting ducks?
4. Another strange thing is the way Rajini and Prabhu address each other throughout the film. Prabhu calls him 'vaanga…ponga' but Rajini calls him 'vaa…po.' Absolutely no attention has been paid to such fine details.
5. From whom did he buy that palatial house? The sellers are nowhere to be seen. In such a small village, no one seems to know of this till Senthil's friend Saravanan apprises them of the fact. The screenplay could have gone something like this. Senthil comes to buy the house, but his relatives discourage him. Despite that, he goes ahead and buys the place.
The NHAI contract has been procured. Just because there is work in that area for a few days, which lame brained person will buy an expensive house for such a short stay in some godforsaken village? And to add a dialogue like, "Its actual cost is about 50 crores but they are giving it away for 5 crores," as justification for buying the property is an utter nonsense. This dialogue could have been dispensed with. It makes no difference to the story whatsover.
6. In that godforsaken village, Tata Indicom 'walkie' phone makes its appearance in one scene. At other times, it is regular BSNL landline. If you have taken money from Tata Indicom, at least a decent, believable introduction would have made a difference, Mr. Vasu.
7. Seeing an email on his laptop, Saravanan says he has to rush off to America to attend to a patient, then he is seen as returning from a trip to Sabaraimala.
Didn't Vasu write down the story on any piece of paper?
Saravanan could have gone to US to attend to a patient. On getting an SOS call from the Tata Indicom phone, he could have taken the earliest possible flight to India. This would have shown the gravity of the situation as well as Saravanan's affection for Senthil.
These are only a few examples. The dances in 'Chandramukhi' have turned out well. Vettaiyan's scenes are good in the screenplay. By producing a good masala screenplay for a Rajini film, it is possible to maintain the good reputation of Tamil films.
Even Rajini/cinema fans like Prakash fail to understand the logic behind this.
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-23.05.2005
