Yutham Sei

This movie plot is adapted from S.Korean movie "Akmareul Boatda" (I saw the Devil) released in 2010 directed by renowned Korean director Woon Kim-Jee. Though the story is different, the main plot remains the same. Myshkin has done his homework and intervened a new storyline to the source. There are lot of movies coming out in Tamil with interesting themes. I think its time to doubt almost all the Tamil directors who churn out innovative movies. Interesting part is that the background score usage is also inspired from the parent movie. Nothing wrong in inspiring, we can observe and learn the technical sides, storytelling methods and all those sort of things from International movies. I think Cheran was a mis-fit in this role.

The general consensus of Yudham Sei: "An edge of the seat thriller." I agree with the choice of words. I was actually on the edge of my seat contemplating on walking out of the theatre. That was thrilling, compared to the film.

Yudham Sei is self-indulgent pretentious garbage that I wouldn't watch even if I was to get paid for it. Homeless beggars would rather sleep on the streets than sleep in an air-conditioned theatre that screens the film. Director Mysskin has tried too hard to make a powerful film by playing with the audience's emotions. With the film he shocks, provokes, inserts twists, milks sentiment as and when he wishes.

The lead character is J.Krishnamoorthy. He runs fast, he takes on eight people with a penknife and wears leather shoes. The man is labeled as a "good" guy. That's how the central character of the film is written. He has hardly any depth. All you know is that he is "the best police officer" and that he wants to find his kidnapped sister. How are we to understand him and his wants? He is glorified by making every other character around him seem insensitive. This is the limit of Mysskin's talent. He might be able to capture and invert beautiful shots of cobwebs, cardboard boxes, watermelons, snakes, skies, lampposts and water, in various colors of light, but a consummation of all that doesn't qualify as a film. It's no more than a power point presentation of google image search results.

You know right from the beginning that it's a talented crew and they could be good at what they do. Unfortunately, they're in the wrong hands. Mysskin uses them in all the wrong ways. He has an eye for detail but not the honesty of an artist. He goes to the extent of making a direct reference to Rashomon by using the film's name. It wasn't a tribute or a token of appreciation; it was a shameless attempt at letting the audience know that he's someone with international exposure to films. As if we've forgotten about him not giving credit to the original material that Nandalala was adapted from. Mysskin has low self esteem, he doesn't have faith in his script and therefore he tries to get the music to drive the film. Newcomer K certainly has talent but it's the truth, everyone has to start at the bottom.

The screenplay is laughable. It's so horribly contrived. Half the story is narrated by a nearly dead man who laughs and drinks despite having two bullets lodged in his intestine. The characters keep doing things that are out of character. Mysskin, the director should never hire Mysskin, the screenwriter again. From Mysskin's films, it's pretty obvious that he's a film-maker only because he wants to be one, not because he enjoys making films. It's shabbily overdone and the visual metaphors just make it worse. Yudham Sei is like eating a burger filled with just mayonnaise. You're going to feel like throwing up. I could write another thousand words about why the film sucks so hard, but I'm going to spare you of that. It's poison. Stay away from it.

Rating – 0/10

Intelligent movies have become a rarity in Indian Cinema over a period with Producers not willing to take risks in executing a new genre of cinema. Instead, they concentrate on tried and tested stories with established stars who are nothing but cash cows for the Producers. Though, Yudham Sei is not the first serial-killer Indian Film, this particular genre can still be considered as virgin as compared to various cinema's of the same genre outside India. The movie takes its own time in establishing the story, which is where one might go a little off track. But, my sincere request is to sit through the initial phase before the story actually catches pace after which there is no looking back.

This is my first Myshkin film and I am already in look out to watch his other two films Nandalala and Anjathe. The director has ensured that the story and its characters are focused in investigating the killing and not swaying away from its topic by adding pointless humor by a comedian after every 20 minutes or a song and dance sequence, which normally happens in Tamil Films, in order to release the heaviness. This proves that the story had enough meat in itself to justify the runtime of the movie.

Cheran (JK) an intelligent but emotionally weak cop, who is unofficially searching for his missing sister (reason for being emotionally weak), is forcefully assigned to investigate a string of patterned murders in the city of Chennai. Will JK be able to crack the code and understand the motive behind such heinous murders by reading between the lines? Will he be able to find his missing sister is what the story is all about.

Cheran looks focused and makes us believe that he can pull this case off. Especially, the scene where he convincingly battles a dozen of goons with a nail cutter on a foot over bridge. The content is the main hero in this film supported by some very interesting characters. Apart from Cheran (JK), there is another character Judas (Jayaprakash), who adds life to the small part played by him.

I would recommend anyone who is into character and content driven movies to grab a copy of Yudham Sei even if you are not a Tamilian as it is worth investing 2 hours of your time.

The movie portrays a dark theme and tries to justify violence as a means to curtail crime that are not really effectively handled in the legislature of the country. Leaving aside whether I buy the argument or not, there isn't a good attempt made in the first place. Screenplay is too slow for what could have been an excellent thriller. The plot has enough details and has been etched meticulously. The characters are not, unfortunately. Music by first timer K uses strings well but nothing notable otherwise. Mysskin's characteristic trademark shots like focusing on the feet of the characters and a "dapanguthu" song with some female model showing her hip movements wearing yellow saree and all have grown to irk you. Would be nice if he gives a break to these. Overall, a good movie that could have been great. Definitely doesn't meet the bar that the director set himself with Chithiram Pesadhadi or Anjaadey. Would love to see more such original themes though.

When I write more and more reviews I realize that my knowledge about cinema grows too! Though YUTHAM SEI is a very well made script, it has failed to impress at certain places. Mysskin's ANJATHEY was kinda the same story but it was executed well. The mistakes done by the Director in this movie is that he tries to carry over the same methods and techniques that he implemented for ANJATHEY. Editing at a few places were nice. Camera and BGM hasn't helped the movie a bit to carry the tempo!

When an investigation is depicted as a movie the screenplay tend to be slow at certain places. I figure that MYSSKIN got those places wrong! Unnecessary lengthy shots placed in certain sequence wasn't really impressive. For instance, Instead of showing a girl walking 50 yards, he could've used that kinda shots in the climax gun fight sequence which would have increased the thrill, I suppose. The good thing is that the movie is very detailed which is required for this kind.

An Important aspect of a movie is that everything should be on frame. In certain shots I had to bend down to see what is actually happening and I realize that the screen is over...oops! So, now you know how was the camera works and the so called tricks. The acting department could've done better given the scope they had. Inspector ESAKKIMUTHU and JUDAS alone impress in acting. Better luck next time MUSIC DIRECTOR!

Ultimately, MYSSKIN has proved that just with a good investigative and detailed screenplay alone a movie can't succeed. It has do be made well too.. A good written work executed very normally to get only a few good scenes on screen from paper! I'm giving it a 6 only because of its written work!