Chekka Chivantha Vaanam

4 major stars plus a few more are squeezed into a 140 minute timeline.

Most of them have moments which they own but it doesn't make them full characters. This would have worked better as a longer film with them being etched better.

Still, this is a decent film. Arvind Swami sort of wades through a unsurprising first half and comes into his own as the action builds up. Jothika gets exactly one terrific scene. Vijay Sethupathi is very good but he is one of those who suffers from a slightly incomplete characterisation. Arun Vijay and Simbu are ok in their roles.

Chekka Chivantha Vaanam - We are sitting here simply dissecting movies from their trailers but Mani Ratnam sits back and laughs at us from another dimension.

Not a typical Mani Ratnam classic but looks like he has understood the current trend of audience well and used every actor to the best of their strengths. Felt that a few scenes could've been made more tense though and that the suspense factor was lagging at some places. ARR's rocking songs used as BG made it more involving. The ending was little predictable but gave goosebumps due to the moral justified. Can watch this movie any number of times for Vj Se's witty, natural acting as in all his other movie (such a gift to Thamizh Cinema). Kudos to the legend Santhosh Sivan as well for continuing to 'enligthen' every single movie he's part of. Finally to top it, the dialogues in this movie were way better than last few Mani Ratnam outings. Hope he continues his mastercraft from here!!

This movie failed to keep me engaged. Watched it just because of its huge casting.

2nd half just collapsed.. Script fails but all actors where brilliant in this movie especially Aravindh Swammy.. could have been better.. 5/10

There is this scene towards the climax; when Rasool (Vijay Sethupathy) embarks on a rather lengthy speech.

Seems very much in context and goes well with the character - the opportunistic, motor-mouthed, corrupt officer of the law trying to prolong the inevitable; and is so identifiable as well with the actor himself who has portrayed quite a few personnel of underpar intelligence with that unique loudish half-nasal tone. It does tend to get a little too dragging, when all of a sudden; a shot rings out...and everything changes!

Yes! Everything had changed. Only, you hadn't noticed them at all. You had seen it all, now come to think of it, but didn't pay too much attention to it until that very moment.

The vague babbling had given way to a ruthless authoritative voice. Sharp, steely eyes replaced the meek, surrendering ones; those fearful quivering lips showed a firm resolve and the fidgety movements were now quick and precise. The transformation had been gradual but complete!

You are amazed. You want to go back...and see this one more time... and so you do! And then you appreciate the magic once again! The magic that happened when a fantastic actor combined with a master craftsman.

CCV would never rank among the finest of Mani's works; but for me this particular scene had that innate perfection that outdoes many other scenes from many other movies. It was so cleverly contrived and unexaggeratingly performed with a devious subtlety hiding a cunningly artful surprise.

Thank you both!!