Yennai Arindhaal (If You Know Me) is GVM’s breaking point. Sudhish Kamath’s article on how YA happened is a clear evident that YA was NOT just a mere attempt by GVM to keep himself in the industry, it was more than that.
Completely predictable storyline for a GVM’s film. What irked me even more was how GVM didn’t even try to prove that the audience’s predictions were wrong. An honest cop, logically thinking dad, gorgeous fiancé, a baby and tell me how hard is it to connect the dots right from the trailer itself. The ‘Thenmozhi nu pere vetchikite, Tamil therilena..’ dialogue was enough to decipher that Thenmozhi sitting beside Sathyadev in the flight was not a coincidence.
Yes
1. Ajith Kumar. Thank you being Sathyadev IPS and not ‘Thala’ on screen. Being a director’s actor, Ajith was exceptionally ‘perfect’ as a police. (Perfect in this context means = A policeman in real life with loosely cut/proper cut uniform with a slight ‘thoppai’. I had enough watching actors playing police officers wearing body fit uniforms with sleeves short enough to show off their biceps and boot cut pants.)
2. Arun Vijay. Take a bow. This man has finally gotten his much needed break after a long long time since Pandavar Bhoomi and Thadaiyaara Thaaka. GVM’s bad guys are always vengeful and require attention, so does Victor. He doesn’t look fake or inexperience. He was confident and brutal. Additionally, I wouldn’t want to watch Sathyadev, the stylish police officer going after a mainstream-overused-old villain. Arun Vijay was young and slick.
3. Trisha. 20 minutes was long enough to make Hemanika stay alive even after the THREE-LONG-HOURS of a police trilogy. It has been 2 days since I watched YA, and I can still clearly remember about Hemanika’s costumes, the colours, her hair-do and her eyes which were full of untold love. Trisha hit the jackpot when she did Jessie in Vinnaithandi Varuvaya. Hemanika is a bonus. Thank you Uthara Menon, for making Trisha to look like a million bucks. The last time Trisha was this gorgeous on screen was in Mankatha (styled by Vasuki Bhaskar), IMHO. Oh yeah, special mention for that pink/blue saree that Hemanika wore the night before the wedding. Goshhh!
4. The final 20-30 minutes. This compensated the slowness/draggy feel of the first half. Racy, slick and GVM-ish.
5. GVM’s trademark scenes. The love proposal, how Sathyadev and Hemanika’s relationship blossomed through Mazhai Vara Poguthey song, the communication between Sathyadev and Victor, Esha in the hands of brutal Lisa, Esha handling over Sathyadev’s shoes.
6. Harris Jeyaraj. Racy BGM with brilliantly visualized songs. Unnakena Venum Sollu, Mazhai Vara Poguthu and Idhayathil Etho Ondru made huge imprints in my mind. Too lovely that I’m listening to them while writing this. O.O
7. Not a single mention about Hemanika’s failed marriage by Sathyadev yet he was willing to marry her not out of pity but only due to love. GVM has teased us here yet again after Vettaiyaadu Vilayadu. How many of us are willing to accept a partner based on loved without rekindling their past?
8. Sathyadev and Victor had one similarity, their loved one was their weakness and they both made some reckless decision in order to defend them. Lisa for Victor and Esha for Sathyadev.
9. Loved Anikha as Esha in the film. Her body language and facial reaction when Sathyadev brought Thenmozhi home was too adorable. ‘Sure pa..enna pa..’ Such a cutie pie she is.
Nope.Nope.
1. Thenmozhi (The character, not Anushka). A collateral damage as Sathyadev said. Thenmozhi is a very crucial role in the film but was completely lost with the shallow characterization and the irritating introduction. If only, the movie skipped all those irrelevant scenes (her presentation/ponnu seeing/ poorly picturized Yaen Ennai song) and started off right from the ticket counter, at least Thenmozhi would have been a statement character. However, Anushka’s screen presence was decent.
2. The final fight. For a ruthless villain as Victor, I was hoping for an intelligent fight but GVM made it a ‘homely’ action sequence, probably to maintain the classiness of the film.
3. Lengthy dialogues. Loud and annoying mostly. Arun Vijay’s character was actually screaming throughout the film, reminds me of Kaaka Kaaka’s bad guy.
4. Runtime. 3 hours for a cop story is completely unfavourable.
5. Ajith’s look. I totally get it that the film shows the life of a cop in several stages hence, multiple style of appearance was necessary. His look changed constantly throughout the film with the flashback portion and at one point I completely lost which one is the higlight of the film. Too many looks spoiled the fun.
GVM’s films are usually unique. Three elements that are evidently clear in his each films :
- His appreciation and respect towards the elders in the family. His film mostly portrays parents-children relationship in a most lovable way. Fathers/grandfathers who are motivational, logical and who stands by their children no matter what may come.
- The characterizations of the lead actors. They win, loose, fall in love, get their heart broken. They smile, they cry. They get scared, they freak out. They got hurt, they are beaten up, and they fight. Most importantly, they are not superheroes.
- The lead ladies are exceptionally strong and independent. They don’t beat around the bushes and they are capable of expressing their opinions and feelings in long term. And they are always remarkably beautiful through GVM’s lense.
If Yennai Arindhaal is intentionally made to complete a cop trilogy by GVM, then IMHO, YA is the weakest. It fell flat in the fine line between action and emotion, the GVM’s recipe.
The film has charisma, style and stud rows of casts with a slightly repetitive storyline which was overhyped. Despite the draggy portions, Yennai Aridhaal is a one time watch for the brilliant work of the cast and crew and personally, I enjoyed the film as a normal movie goer. Else, if you are expecting a completely different police story without clichés, then drop your expectations outside of the theatre’s door and GO watch YA. Oh yeah, also do watch with an Ajith Kumar’s fan, you will be kept entertained no matter how the film ties up. Definitely worth your bucks, RM13-RM20 in Malaysia.
Love, SJT
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