Suseendran's 'Aadhalal Kadhal Seiveer'
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Movie Buff
Aadhalal Kadhal Seiveer - Brilliant. Suseentharan is back after the Rajapaatai debacle. Definitely a must watch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
balaajee
Movie have some flavor movie Rattinam.... Hatsoff Suseentharan...Tears @ end of movie...
ibnlive
Tamil cinema has always turned a blind eye to social problems such as honour killing, incest and even same-sex marriage for a very simple reason that such subjects might not click at the box-office.
Breaking away from the aforementioned outlook, director Suseenthiran crafts an intelligent and bold story about hormone-driven teenage romance. He makes us look at a domestic issue through the young eyes of his protagonists who stand testimonial to modern-day generation.
Suseenthiran handles the film bravely without compromising on the message it sets out to deliver to its audiences. Any story dealing with a social problem is either extremely preachy or overtly melodramatic, but what we get here is an intelligent output sans cliches. Kudos to the director for writing and narrating an impactful story.
'Aadhalal Kadhal Seiveer' (AKS) is a campus love story of two youngsters and how their immature love gets convoluted by various other factors, which impact not only them but also others. In only one hour and 46 minutes, which is the film's biggest plus, AKS is an honest effort backed by natural performances.
The intermittent laughs in the first half are a delight, while the slowed-down narration post-interval may not be entertaining but definitely piques the viewers emotionally. There are scenes, especially in the second half, that persuade you to slip into the shoes of the lead characters.
In essence, it makes you empathize with the characters till the end.
The film doesn't present a chauvinistic view of the issue, but highlights how carelessly youngsters take decisions in life without even an iota of guilt or responsibility. It also presents a viewpoint of the elders.
To top it all, AKS has a very powerful and unexpected climax to send us back home with a heavy heart. This is only to remind us about the harsh realities of our society and how we have been living amidst all this.
The film would've been appreciated with a better lead cast as Manisha and Ramesh deliver amateurish performance. Of the two, Manisha was far better but Ramesh, on the other hand, turned out to be unimpressive.
Jayaprakash and Thulasi as Manisha's parents portray a very polished and emotional performance. Their scenes in the second half weave a strong emotional bond with audiences. Arjun as the lead pair's friend ensures some laughs even in the most serious scenes.
Music by Yuvan Shankar Raja is a bonus, while editing by Anthony is definitely a blessing. With most Tamil films clocking nearly three hours, to make a film that addresses a domestic problem with unparalleled compassion in less than two hours is an achievement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rediff
Aadhalaal Kaadhal Seiveer is a must watch, writes S Saraswathi.
Director Suseenthiran’s latest offering Aadhalaal Kaadhal Seiveer (AKS) focuses on a growing social problem: the alarming increase in the number of teenage pregnancies.
Released by Udhayanidhi Stalin's Red Giant Movies and produced by Nallu Studios. the film features debutant Santhosh Ramesh and Manisha Yadav, heroine of the critically acclaimed Vazhakku Enn 18/9. Poornima Jayaram, Jayaprakash, Arjun, Thulasi, Durga and others form the rest of the cast.
AKS is love story set in an urban background. The film opens in an engineering college. Karthik (Santhosh Ramesh) is in love with Shwetha (Manisha Yadav). After some hesitation, Karthik declares his love for her, but Shwetha is not interested. Then, predictably, after the usual dramatics, where Karthik jumps out from a moving bus and injures his arm, Shwetha relents.
However, as their love deepens, Shwetha is cautioned by her friend Jenny, who has been ditched by her boyfriend recently. Ignoring their friendship of nearly 10 years, Shwetha continues to hang around with Karthik.
Both Karthik and Shwetha are not afraid to take their relationship to the next level and get physical while spending a day in Mamallapuram. It is only a couple of months later that a stunned Shwetha realises that she is pregnant.
As fantasy turns into reality, all their dreams come crashing down. A totally realistic approach by director Suseenthiran in the second half has made this ordinary love story into something special. The movie runs for only about an hour and 46 minutes, and so maintains the pace and keeps the audience engrossed.
Shwetha and Karthik are typical of the impulsive youngsters of today and many may identify with them.
Another interesting aspect of the film is the totally different upbringing of these characters. Shwetha has loving and over-indulgent parents, who treat her as their friend and give her complete freedom.
Karthik is brought up by more conservative parents who are strict and even discourage him from having friends.
It is ironical that neither method seems to have worked when it comes to matters of love. Shwetha, who once shared everything with her parents, begins to lie once she falls in love. Karthik becomes defiant.
Though the director offers no solution, he does force us to contemplate the hypocrisy and fickleness of love. The young brash lovers seem to have absolutely no clue that their careless attitude and irresponsible decisions have life altering consequences for others.
Both lead actors have performed adequately. Manisha is especially good. In her earlier film, Vazhakku Enn 18/9, she had played a class 12 student and in AKS she is a confident young college girl and seems totally comfortable in her character.
The friends in the first half are fun and provide the comic element. Jayaprakash and Thulasi as Shwetha’s parents have given an impressive performance.
Music by Yuvan Shankar Raja is melodious and pleasing to the ear, particularly the Poovum Poovum number by Vijay Yesudas and Vinaitha.
A simple and honest screenplay with a liberal dose of realism coupled with some excellent editing, but most of all, the totally unexpected climax, sets this film apart.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
behindwoods
Actor Vishal had spoken very highly about Director Suseenthiran’s Aadhalaal Kadhal Seiveer (AKS) a few weeks back in an interview to Behindwoods and our expectations about the movie naturally shot up.
Suseenthiran is known for quality movies such as Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu and Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai. He has always been choosing diverse subjects in each of his movies and now he has based his latest movie on a teenage romance, set in an engineering college in Chennai. Selvaraghavan had towed a similar line, a decade back in Thulluvadho Ilamai but his setting was a school.
Here, Suseenthiran has not just stopped with showing the rosy side of such hormone-driven college romance but he has also focussed extensively on the striking realities and grim consequences that arise from such a romance.
The first half has its share of fun thanks to some lively characters in the college such as Arjun (earlier seen in Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi), the guy with a feminine voice and the reference to Mankatha Ajith’s salt ‘n’ pepper hair. Arjun keeps the mood light amid the tension around, with his spontaneous comments. The girl who plays Manisha’s best friend Jenny, is another important character and she adds a different angle to the proceedings.
The way teenage lovers coolly resort to lying, to save their skin at home is again enjoyable. But we get the feeling that save romance, nothing else is on their mind. We might also wonder if ‘crossing the limits’ is something which is so easy for this generation’s youngsters.
The running time of the movie is a crisp 106 mins and the screenplay is unwavering. The gripping family drama really takes the movie along, post the intermission and the finale is sure to leave a lump in your heart as we are shown the unfortunate little victim of this entire episode.
The casting in AKS is mostly on the mark with Jayaprakash and Thulasi as the heroine’s parents, investing their heart and soul into the movie. Under intense duress, both these actors mirror how parents would react in real life. Jayaprakash brings out the concern and helplessness in his body-language while Thulasi stands as a pillar of support for her troubled daughter in the end. Poornima Bhagyaraj as the hero’s mother doesn’t have much of a role compared to Thulasi.
The way both the families react to the crisis on hand and how people respond to the same situation in a different manner, are nice lessons in human behavioral dynamics. This brings out some really engaging drama in the second half.
The hero Santhosh Ramesh could have been a lot more spontaneous. Manisha Yadav plays the vulnerable and the emotionally fickle college girl pretty well and this is an extension of her role in Vazhakku Enn 18/9. She too has some scope to improve. The chemistry between the lead actors could have been more sparkling.
Yuvan Shankar Raja proves why he is the ‘Little Maestro’ in the finale of the movie and the little pathos song sung by Yuvan himself, will surely move you. The little child that comes in these scenes is a delight to watch though it’s really heart-wrenching as well. Great work by the team in capturing all the myriad reactions of this child in a candid manner.
Among Yuvan's songs, ‘Mella Sirithal’ is well-choreographed and comes in the title credits. ‘Thappu Thanda’ has been aesthetically shot too. He has composed some extra songs for the BGM score of the movie and they gel seamlessly with the screenplay.
The cinematography by Soorya is functional and shines through in the songs particularly.
On the whole, AKS is a ‘slice of life’ tale topped by a really impactful climax. Teenagers and their parents ought to watch this one, for sure.
Verdict: Suseenthiran is back in form with a short impactful teenage romance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Synopsis: Collegemates Karthik and Shweta fall in love and take it to the next level but the girl soon discovers that she is pregnant. And, when the parents find out, the consequences are startling...
Review: Love can be a tricky thing, especially when the lovers are young and do not really know what they expect out of it. And, when they take mere physical attraction as love, there will be unfortunate complications. This is what Suseenthiran conveys with Aadhalal Kadhal Seiveer, a return to form for the director after the misfire that was Rajapattai. To do this, he has trained his lens on a couple of college students, capturing their friendship, family life, romance and the resulting tragedy.
His Karthik and Shweta are just ordinary 20-somethings, instinctively self-centred and with misguided notions of romance (mobile phone conversations) and a reckless streak of hormonal needs (Mahabalipuram trips). They do not hesitate to manipulate their trusting families and supportive friends, as long as it serves their needs. Shweta saves Karthik's number in the name of one of her girl friends and doesn't bat an eyelid while lying to her affable mother, who in moments of motherly instinct has suspicions about her daughter's activities. She also cuts her relationship with her childhood friend Jenny, who expresses reservations about her boyfriend. Karthik actually wins the love of Shweta, who initially refuses to succumb to his wooing, by willingly falling down from a moving bus. At a later stage, he cuts his veins in front of his family members in a very obvious effort to blackmail them into agreeing for the marriage.
And, Suseenthiran adopts a fly-on-the-wall approach, content at capturing the moments from the lives of these characters, rarely asking us to cheer for them or condemn them. These characters, for the most parts, behave in a believable manner. When Shweta's parents come to know of her pregnancy, their break down doesn't feel melodramatic but natural; you feel the pain they experience as their world crashes down. It is, in fact, refreshing to see both the fathers sitting down (accompanied by their closest friend or family member), putting across their standpoints and trying to arrive at a solution. There is just a mere suggestion of violence, which might have made it eerily similar to last year's Raattinam, which too was about infatuated college-goers and the impact their affair has on their families.
But, Suseenthiran doesn't go there. Rather, he chooses to talk about the consequences of the premarital sex between the leads. It is here that the film turns slightly manipulative (and preachy), urging us to loathe the lead pair for their selfishness. And, by the time the melodramatic climax song has played out, you are moved and repulsed at once. Thankfully, it doesn't turn the film into a two-hour advertisement for condoms, as the journey to this end feels credible — and memorable — enough.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sify
Suseenthiran is back in form with his latest realistic Aadhalal Kadhal Seiveer. It is a poignant love story about today’s generation told in a hard hitting manner without making any compromises.
The film works because story is relevant to the times and it moves really fast (107 minutes), with a climax that leaves a lump in your throat. The supporting characters mainly Thulasi and Jayaprakash bring a lot of life into the film. And Yuvan’s music and background score is in sync with the theme of the film.
Karthi (Santhosh Ramesh) and Shwetha (Manisha Yadav) are immature Engineering students. They move in the same gang in the college and soon Karthi falls for Shwetha who initially does not respond as she treats him more like a friend.
However Karthi emotionally traps the vulnerable Shwetha by threatening to commit suicide. And soon Shwetha is eating out of Karthi’s hand and they spend some intimate moments in a sea side resort resulting in her getting pregnant. All hell breaks loose when their respective families come to know the truth. The immature lovers have to face the consequences.
Suseenthiran has cleverly worked on the script which mirrors how the couple’s immediate family and society at large reacts to a difficult situation. And it is always the girl’s family which suffers the maximum humiliation and suffering. The director has worked on the old saying – ‘whether the leaf falls on the thorn or the thorn falls on the leaf, only the leaf will get damaged’.
The supporting cast in the film with their controlled performance steal the show, especially Jayaprakash and Thulasi as the heroine’s parents. Poornima Bhyagyaraj is ok as the mother of the boy and the person who plays the dad’s role is good. Arjun (KSY fame) is hilarious as the hero’s best friend.
On the downside the lead pair Santhosh Ramesh and Manisha Yadav lacks that fizz and it shows in their pairing. Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music is peppy and the pathos song sung by the music director in the climax and picturised on the child artist is heart-warming and will move you to tears.
On the whole Suseenthiran has dared to take the road less travelled. He has come out with a different kind of film which is sure to pull at your heartstrings and at the same time make you think of the realities of life.
Verdict –Good
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
kollytalk.com
Storyline
The film is all about college love stories and how the characters suffer when things begin to go wrong and the impact it has on their respective families.Karthik (Santhosh) is a typical college-going lad, who falls for Swetha (Manisha Yadav). Their romance chugs along smoothly till it runs into rough weather due to a careless dating.How the hero and heroine react after they ‘cross the limit’ and how the parents (the heroine’s dad Jayaprakash and mother Tulasi and Poornima Bhagyaraj as the hero’s mother) cope with the stress forms the rest of the story.Script reviewDirector Suseenthiran, the man behind village-based romantic tales like Vennila Kabbadi Kuzhu and Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai has returned to his favourite subject (love) after the dud in Rajapattai’ and shows modern-day college romance in another light.He does delve into the ups and downs of love during the student days and how present day youth resort to methods to fool parents and also rarely hesitate to cross the threshold. The climax is indeed touching and caps the good work of the director, in some style.
The depiction of college girls fooling their parents is done well but the portrayals of love and careless dating lack credibility. So are the failed attempts of abortion.The emotional aspects have been dealt with perfection. Swetha’s parents’ reaction to the incident is worth mentioning.In the first half, it is fun and romance and the lead pair does enjoy their time under the sun, in the company of friends. The second half takes a serious and sentimental note and the climax is, without doubt one of the highlights. The message is well told by the sequences lading to climax. The climax has the potential of making a strong impact. Suseenthiran has to be lauded for conveying the message focusing on the state of the child.Performances
Santhosh, a debutant, has done a pretty good job and has the potential to get better. He is particularly impressive in the second half.Manisha of Vazhakku Enn 18/9-fame seems to have improved a lot from her debut performance and shines through in the light-hearted scenes in the first half.Versatile actor Jayaprakash is one of the pivots of the movie and makes a mark while Poornima Bhagyaraj as the hero’s mother, essays a crucial part. The actors donning the role of the hero and heroine’s friends add pep to the proceedings.Music director Yuvan Shankar Raja‘s growing stature is underlined by his background score and songs. The climax song Aararo stands out.Soorya’s cinematography is another highlight of the movie.Pluses
- Director’s good work
- Film’s message
- Performances
Minuses
- The slow second half
- Lack of credibility and finesse in love sequences
Verdict
The love story talks about the dangers of irresponsible approach towards love.
Aadhalal Kadhal Seiveer: A message for youngsters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
www.moviecrow.com
After a minor slip in Rajapaatai, Suseentharan is back big time with Aadalal Kadhal Seiveer. AKS is a must watch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baski
<font color="#000000"><span style="font-family: Arial">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upANQjqxEpc
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prashanth R
<font color="#000000"><span style="font-family: Arial">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfuUJoP86LE
