Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal-Latest Picture

This is the picture of the Thirumalai Nayak Palace,Madurai after renovation.This picture was taken on 4/09/09.Hope the palace remains the same.

NINAITHAALE INIKUM-MY REVIEW

Ninaithaale Inikum,a venture of Sun Productions is a remake of the Malayalam Super-hit Classmates.Starring Prithviraj,Sakthi,Karthik,Priyamani,Bhakyaraaj and directed by Gnanavel,this movie comes out after the dud Kandhasamy.Being billed as a college story,one gets in to the theatre expecting a whiff of fresh air.

The movie opens with Prithviraj returning from Mumbai to meet his college friends.Flashing back to 8 years.Prithviraj and Sakthi are close friends in National Arts College.Karthik and Jeeva(of Lollu Sabha fame) forms a separate gang and they always crosses swords with Prithviraj,with Sakthi being a common friend to both the gangs.Karthik holds a grudge against Prithvi that he goes to the extent of challenging Prithvi that he would kill him.Meanwhile Prithvi falls for Priyamani at her first sight(Yup..Love at first sight) but doesnt tell her for two years!! But Priyamani finds it out accidentaly! Then love blossoms between each other and all is well until the College elections as both Prithvi and Priyamani fights for the honours.

Karthik, to ruin Prithvi's love drops an intimate photo of Prithvi and priyamani into the ballot box and subsequently both are expelled from the College and Prithvi heads to Mumbai to continue his studies there.Meanwhile Sakthi,an Asthma patient dies due to suffocation.

8 years later,Sakthi's dad Bhagyaraaj tries to install a music library which is Sakthi's ambition and he invites Sakthi's classmates for the function.There, Prithvi is found unconscious in his room as someone has tried to murder him. Who is the culprit and the reason for the murder attempt forms the rest of the story.

Firstly,about the actors.Both Prithvi and Priyamani look too mature for a College student.But Prithvi manages with his screen presence whereas Priyamani fails miserably.Sakthi is apt as a college student and he does his role with elan.Jeeva is OK.But the real show stoppers are Karthik and Bhaakyaraj.Karthik just rocks in the limited opportunities that he gets and Bhaakyaraj proves that he is a veteran.I wonder why Karthik is not doing much movies, for he has the capacity to go big in Tamil Cinema.

Balasubramaniam's Camera work is just about perfect and the way the songs are captured goes to show his talent.Vijay Antony has once again proved that he is a force to reckon. All the songs are excellent but three songs stand out(Pia Pia,Nanbanai Partha naal and Azhagaai Pookudhe).The Background score too gells with the movie. Next comes the Captain of the movie,Gnanavel-the Director.

Remaking a hit movie is never easy because it will always be compared with the original and when it is your first movie it just doesn't get tougher.But Gnanavel has done that with ease.He certainly has got talent, and we'll have to wait for his next movie to analyse his creativity.He hasn't tinkered much with the essence of the story though there are some major changes in the screenplay.He is a guy to watch out for.

Overall, the movie looks a bit lengthy and there are a lot of illogical scenes.The first half,especially is too lengthy,that at interval,you feel as if you have watched the whole movie.The editor could have been much stricter.Even though the movie passes the bill,one gets the feeling that it could have been a lot better

VERDICT: PASSABLE

MARKS: 7/10

2012--END OF THE WORLD-->PROOF

Several experts from across the globe are predicting that the earth is
likely to end by the year 2012. The reason could be a human effect or
natural disaster. From Chinese theories to scientific predictions the most
likely date is the year 2012.

Some are saying it'll be humans that would set it off. Others believe that a
natural phenomenon will be the cause. And the religious folks are saying
it'll be God himself who would press the stop button. The following are some
likely arguments as to why the world would end by the year 2012.

Reason one: Mayan calendar

The first to predict 2012 as the end of the world were the Mayans, a
bloodthirsty race that were good at two things -- building highly accurate
astrological equipment out of stone and sacrificing virgins.

Thousands of years ago they managed to calculate the length of the lunar
moon as 329.53020 days, only 34 seconds out. The Mayan calendar predicts
that the earth will end on December 21, 2012. Given that they were pretty
close to the mark with the lunar cycle, it's likely they've got the end of
the world right as well.

Reason two: Sun storms

Solar experts from around the world monitoring the sun have made a startling
discovery. Our sun is in a bit of strife. The energy output of the sun is,
like most things in nature, cyclic and it's supposed to be in the middle of
a period of relative stability. However, recent solar storms have been
bombarding the earth with lot of radiation energy. It's been knocking out
power grids and destroying satellites. This activity is predicted to get
worse and calculations suggest it'll reach its deadly peak sometime in 2012.

Reason three: The atom smasher

Scientists in Europe have been building the world's largest particle
accelerator. Basically, its a 27 km tunnel designed to smash atoms together
to find out what makes the universe tick. However, the mega-gadget has
caused serious concern, with some scientists suggesting that it's properly
even a bad idea to turn it on in the first place. They're predicting all
manner of deadly results, including mini black holes. So when this machine
is fired up for its first serious experiment in 2012, the world could be
crushed into a super-dense blob the size of a basketball.

Reason four: The Bible says it

If having scientists warning us about the end of the world isn't bad enough,
religious folks are getting in on the act as well. Interpretations of the
Christian Bible reveal that the date for Armageddon, the final battle
between good an evil, has been set for 2012. The I Ching, also known as the
Chinese Book of Changes, says the same thing, as do various sections of the
Hindu teachings.

Reason five: Super volcano

Yellowstone National Park in United States is famous for its thermal springs
and old faithful geyser. The reason for this is simple -- it's sitting on
top of the world's biggest volcano and geological experts are beginning to
get nervous sweats. The Yellowstone volcano has a pattern of erupting every
650,000 years or so, and we're many years overdue for an explosion that will
fill the atmosphere with ash, blocking the sun and plunging the earth into a
frozen winter that could last up to 15,000 years.
The pressure under the Yellowstone is building steadily, and geologists have
set 2012 as a likely date for the big bang.

Reason six: The physicists

This one's case of bog -- simple maths mathematics. Physicists at Berkely
University have been crunching the numbers. They've determined that the
earth is well overdue for a major catastrophic event.
more >>
Even worse, they're claiming that their calculations prove that we're all
going to die, very soon. They are also saying that their prediction comes
with a certainty of 99 per cent; and 2012 just happens to be the best guess
as to when it occurs.

Reason seven: Earth's magnetic field

We all know the Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field that shields us from
most of the sun's radiation. What you might not know is that the magnetic
poles we call North and South have a nasty habit of swapping places every
750,000 years or so -- and right now we're about 30,000 years overdue.
Scientists have noted that the poles are drifting apart roughly 20-30 kms
each year, much faster than ever before, which points to a pole-shift being
right around the corner. While the pole shift is under way, the magnetic
field is disrupted and will eventually disappear, sometimes for up to 100
years. The result is enough UV outdoors to crisp your skin in seconds,
killing everything it touches.

All the above mentioned "So called Proofs" are excerpts from a site. For any

queries please visit that site. By the way Iam in no way responsible if the

world is ALIVE even after 2012. :-)

TOP 10; 8.HEY RAAM

This was a movie which came out with sky-high expectations,only to fall flat at the box-office.I was just 13 when the movie released and the first time that I saw this movie,I lost all the respect that I had for Kamal for I cant understand any single part of the movie.Not just me,many faced this problem.Reason:THIS MOVIE, WAS AHEAD OF ITS TIME.5 years later,when I watched this movie again on television,I realised how naive I had been then, for this movie had everything in it to become a classic.

The movie begins with 89 year old Saket Ram(Kamal Haasan) in his death bed.On his way to the hospital,he thinks about his past and the movie moves in to the "Flash back" mode to the 1940's.Saket and his friend Amjad(Shahrukh Khan) are close pals working in Mohenjadaro as archeologists.When Saket comes back home to visit his wife Aparna(Rani Mukherjee) in Calcutta,he find the city in shambles due to clashes between the local hindus and muslims.Amidst the clashes,Aparna is brutally raped and murdered by muslim extremists.Saket,in a fit of rage kills them all and because of this incident,he develops a hatred towards all muslims.What he does thereafter and how does he changes his mind forms the rest of the story.

This is the first official directorial venture of Kamal and he does full justice to his tag.Just watch the video I've given below to know about his capabilities as a director.The story,screenplay and the narration are completely new to Indian Cinema.The most high point of the movie is the way Saket,whose initial aim was to kill Gandhi,later turns in to a Gandhian.Vasundhara Das,Hema Malini,Girish Karnad and Atul Kulkarni appears in meaty roles.

Ilayaraja's musical score is one of the reasons the viewers,get engrossed in the happenings.It is of a very high quality and Iam convinced of the fact that it is one of his best works.Iam not going to say anything about Kamal's acting because I am too little a person to talk about his acting.In short he is amazing in the movie.This movie is a must for all those who wants to peep in to the times of Partition and the effect it had on common man.

P.S:

9. PUDHUPETTAI

10.ROJA

HARSHA BHOGLE'S ANTICS

Harsha Bhogle,he certainly is one of my favourite cricket commentators...A man who has an eye for different situations....A small collecction of his famous comments...Here goes....
1. This was in a match btw india and SA.. umpire Rudi Kuertzen caught on camera sporting a rare smile. Harsha commented.... "last time Rudi Kuerzten smiled there was peace in west asia"
2. This is again from the natwest trophy final..When Yuvraj got out at a very crucial stage..Harsha's one liner.. " Yuvraj singh will realize that this will be his longest walk back to the pavillion "
3. When Sachin once got out to a lollypop offspinner (I guess it was Michael Vaughan) in '02. He wonderfully said, " Oh what a shame. It was reminiscent of a soldier who survived the war when all the bullets were flying by his nose and then got run over by a bicycle in his native town ."
4. Ind vs Aus 2000 icc knockout champioship played in Kenya. (Yuvi's debut) Sachin was smasing all aussie bowlers, and then he his a superb off drive off Lee. harsha : " this innings by Tendulkar has been a beautiful garden, the last shot being the most beautiful flower in it "
5. Ind vs Nzl. (in Nzl 2002-2003) Sehwag had MANY lucky escapes. when he was dropped once again. Harsha : " its been that kind of a day. today Sehwag can walk blindfolded across a busy highway and not get runover ."
6. Natwest Final: During Nasser Hussain's mistimed hits/top edges on his way to his maiden hundred " Nasser Hussain is trying desperately hard to find innovative ways of getting himself out"
7. In the same match... " if you are not watching this segment of play, don't ever call yourself a cricket lover anymore. you are watching cricket of a very high order here".
8. Here's an old one...at perth Adam Gilchrist took a blinder and he described Gilly's dive thus, " ... some of the sea-gulls flying here are going to get a complex."
9. When Tendulkar got a hundred he said " touch of Class & stamp of Authority "
10. Recently in India's tour of South africa...he blurted out suddenly after Sreesanth's antiques with the bat and hips..." dis is the funniest thing u'll ever watch on a cricket field"...!!
11. When Smith dropped Sachin in the 2nd Test Graeme Smith would be hoping that the world under his feet opens up & he would find a crevice large enough for him to slip through....
12. After India lost the recent test series in SA India lost the series because they surprised themselves by winning the 1st test . A win should never be a surprise .
13. After Anil Kumble scored his maiden Ton...this is what our great man had to say...
" This is the most romantic moment in Indian Cricket....."
14. " The last time Billy gave lbw , Berlin wall was not there , there was peace in Afganistan,..................."
15. In a match between Aus n SL , Harsha said to Ian Chappell , " I am sure you'll never become a lawyer , I understand everything you say "
Ian Chappell had no counter for this.
16. Harsha was hosting the ICC Awards before the T20 World Cup and he called on Jonty Rhodes to present an award. So as Jonty began climbing down the stairs, Harsha exclaimed, ''it's pretty unusual to see Jonty walk down the stairs, I thought he might slide down them !"
17. When the wickets were falling in a heap in the T20 match...
THIS SERIES IS SPONSERED BY KFC AND THE WICKETS ARE FALLING FASTER THAN THEIR (KFC's) DELIVERIES....
18. When Gambhr was dropped twice on consecutive deliveries, - " We should conduct a dream job in Australia & the winner will get to stand in the slip region!!!!!!"
19. When Kumble and Ishant were batting, Hussey dropped a catch of Ishant off the bowling of Johnson and Harsha exclaimed," It's autumn in Adelaide. It's the time when leaves change their colour and they start dropping. Here, as well the catches are dropping..".
20. In a match, Dravid left a ball alone while batting. To this Gavaskar, who was commenting alongside Harsha was very impressed by the way he left the ball. He went on appreciating that for a minute or so. After this Harsha's comment was, " Sunny, you nearly got an orgasm of happiness, didn't u!" & then both burst out into laughter!
21. Dhoni is battin with Anil Kumble.. Dhoni calls for a tight single,n Harsha has this to say," Dhoni scrambles for a single n causes Anil Kumble n all of his 37 yrs to rush to the other end.."
22. After Shaun Tait did not live up to the hype Cricket Australia created around him, Ponting took him off the attack. Harsha, in his own inimitable style: 'Shaun Tait should go up to Ponting and say " Hello Mr ponting, my name is Shaun Tait, and I am supposed to take 45 wickets in this test match "
23. HB was analysing the innings of Laxman...Laxman made a crucial 79 in the second innings. HB said something like- " Aussies must be feeling that whenever we are on the verge of 17th,this man(Laxman) comes in between!"
24. RP SIngh walked in but it was Laxman on strike. So the Aussies wanted him to take a single and get RP on strike... so they spread out the field completely, with only the keeper, one slip and one gully inside the 30 yard circle..
That's when Harsha says .. "now suddenly, Don Bradman is batting out there in the middle... "
25. Seeing the flock of seagulls flying across the pitch Harsha tells Wasim Akram : " As you would say in Punjabi... kee gull hai? sea gull hai!!! "
26. When Michael Clarke was caught at slip off kumble , he was still watin 4 da decision , over this Harsha said, " I think he is waiting for tomorrow's newspaper to declare him out"
27. Yuvraj hit the long six off brett lee went outside the stadium in durban 'are there people working late in the office there....... we want the ball back'
28. In T-20 gayle hit a monstrous six but but fell just short of the golf course outside the stadium Harsha: " wat a poor shot just misses the golf course "
29. " If i cannot be Tendulkar then Tendulkar can also not be me "
30. The players told their favourite shots while coming on to bat.... Collingwood said "a little nudge of the pads" and Pietersen said blocking the ball.... Harsha commented " the next thing they'll say is that their favourite shot is to leave the ball alone"
31. What an introduction to India -Australia semifinal: " This is a battle between unstoppable force against immovable object "!!!!

DEVARMAGAN HERO-SIVAJI Or KAMAL

Recently, I watched the movie,Devar magan.I have watched the movie umpteen times before,but this time it had a big impact on my mind.Perhaps, I have matured with age.What a stupendous movie it is??? But I still feel it didn't receive the kind of accolades that it should have received.For that matter many of Kamal's movie had suffered similar fates,notable examples being "Anbe Sivam" and "Hey Ram". The major fact that the movie had a bigger impact on me this time is the performance of the legendary thespian Sivaji Ganesan who plays the role of Kamal's father.It was a treat watching the actor perform.I staunchly believe that this movie is his best work till date.Many would disagree.Of course he has given us some superb movies like "Vietnam Veedu","Veerapaandiya Kattabomman","Rajapaart Rangathurai",to name a few.But Devar Magan ranks atop for the sheer fact that none of his other performances have been as natural as this one.For a change, Kamal Haasan was completely over shadowed in all the scenes that he appears along with Sivaji.In my opinion apart from Kamal and Bharathiraja(in "Mudhal Mariyathai") no one has utilised Sivaji better in his later years as an actor. When you have Amitabh Bachan doing variety of roles in his later years I sincerely pity for Sivaji Sir that we haven't been able feed his thirst for good roles. While waching the movie two scenes caught my attention.The first one is when Sivaji asks kamal to do something good for his people.His expressions and dialogue delivery are absolutely chanceless.The second one is the scene when Kamal asks the "Kanakku Pillai" to cancel his ticket. One thing is for certain.Tamil Cinema certainly misses this great actor who could have given much more than what he has delivered.

KANDHASAMY-MY REVIEW

In recent times how often have you come out of a movie theatre with a sense of satisfaction? The past two years have not been good for Tamil Cinema altogether with only as many as 10 movies being profitable ventures.The rest have all been crap, to say the least.Kandhasamy belongs to the latter category.Its shocking that a wonderful actor like Vikram has acted in a movie with such a wafer thin story line and a dreadful screenplay which has consumed more than 40 crores.

When Tamil Cinema is moving towards neo-realism with movies like Nadodigal,Pasanga..etc Susi-Ganesan comes up with a SUPER-HERO story involving Vikram,Shreya Saran,Ashish Vidhyarthi,Vadivelu and others.Kandhasamy IPS(Vikram), does exactly what Rajni had done in Sivaji, but as a CBI officer.He does a RobinHood, takes money from the rich and distributes the money among the poor.The only difference is in the fact that he does them in the disguise of God.Yup..You got it right..God.There is nothing interesting in the screenplay apart from this fact.

Shreya has shown everything that she could. From here-on she could only go nude.She just comes,fights with Vikram,dances and goes.Adding to the viewers misery is her voice.It is so shrill that you get frightened at the first instance.Except the climax, the director has failed in justifying his expenditure.

Now let me take a look at some of the positives,though there are very few.Vikram,as usual looks handsome and does what is expected of him and does them with a penchance.Though the veterans Prabhu and Y.G Mahendra tries to lift the movie with their natural potrayal,the screenplay is so poor that the movie falls flat.The rest of the actors just fall apart.The music is just about okay.The movie could have been crisper but still the editor had done a fair job.The camera-work by N.K. Ekambaram is one of the high points of the movie.

Iam still shocked by the fact that I have watched this movie buying the ticket for 150 rs and the overall expenses have crossed 300 bucks.My sincere advice to all those wanting to watch this movie is "BETTER SPEND THEM ON CHARITY".Atleast you'd make someone happy rather than sitting in a theatre with a grim face wondering what the director is trying to conveyy.Let two weeks pass by and you can download them for free.If you are still interested in watching this movie,may your soul REST IN PEACE

VERDICT: AVOID IT

MARKS: 5/10