REWIND: The Films of 2010 - Part II

Cinemimi[Tuesday, December 28, 2010]

Those who feared ‘Raavanan’ were relieved and they were mostly budget film makers. There was again a gush of new releases and quality mattered. Only ‘Kalavani’ that had worthy content succeeded. The period film ‘Madraspattinam’ managed to photo finish at the box office while Shankar’s home production ‘Ananthapurathu Veedu’ got no visitors.

By July, the industry and the people were taken over by ‘Endhiran’ mania. Gripping fear to challenge the mighty ‘Endhiran’ held back many indoors. As the ‘Endhiran’ release was anybody’s guess there was deafening calm in the months of July, August and September. Everybody was at back foot except a few daring souls who followed ‘Endhiran’ very closely.

When the ‘Endhiran’ date was speculated right ‘Thillalangadi’, ‘Baana Kaathadi’, ‘Vamsam’ and ‘Naan Mahaan Alla’ from influential banners tried to make use of the little time they had but couldn’t make waves as they would have made on a normal season. Yet some of them released advertisements completing 100 days of run.

Another interesting film to release during this pandemonium was ‘Sindhu Samaveli’ which scratched the self styled moral police and the publicity created saw the film through. Another true winner of the year ‘Boss Engira Baskaran’ released just a few weeks before ‘Endhiran’ and endured the ‘Endhiran’ Tsunami that struck on October 1. In many places ‘Boss Engira Baskaran’ returned to theatres after ‘Endhiran’ storm was over.

But the monumental movie of the year ‘Endhiran’ is a case study for researching contemporary Indian cinema. There was no film ever in history that stimulated the minds of pan Indian audiences as much like ‘Endhiran’ before.

When the film was finally released on October 1, the entire nation stood up and watched ‘Endhiran’ in awe. Apart from palabhishekams by fans in his home town, ‘Endhiran’ saw even celebrities swooning for the first glance of the film. There was no single release in the weeks before and after ‘Endhiran’. That was the ‘Endhiran’ impact. Until Diwali the whole state was under nickel spell of the robot.

On Diwali the scattered all regrouped. Three films all with some sort of expectations built around them released. Mynaa, Va-Quarter Cutting and Uthamaputhiran. Among these one was average another was a wash out. The remaining ‘Mynaa’ was a harbinger of hope. The low budget ‘Mynaa’ with remarkable screen play made great business apart from winning critical laurels. Thanks to the foresightedness of Red Giant Movies that appreciatively adopted the movie. There was also ‘Nandalala’ by Mysskin at the end of the year. A great artistic film for all reasons, ‘Nandalala’ is undoubtedly the movie of the year.

When the year was closing there was a final charge in December. The gruesome ‘Raththacharithiram’ was rejected outright, ‘Chikku Bhukku’ is not on fast track. ‘Easan’ and ‘Manmadhan Ambu’ were the final sparkles of 2010.

In 2010 the Tamil film industry learnt many new lessons. Even the audiences were exposed to wonderful variety. But when they came together it did not give the aspired results. Success was unpredictable as ever. If ‘Endhiran’ was at one side basking in all the glory there was another deserving film ‘Thaa’ went unnoticed. If ‘Aasal’ and ‘Sura’ failed to rise to the occasion there was ‘Kalavani’ and ‘Mynaa’ that spiritedly held heads high.

Life is all about constantly learning and with the lessons learnt this year lets hope for a great 2011 to Kollywood.

Top 5 Movies of 2010

1. Angadi Theru
2. Endhiran
3. Kalavani
4. Mynaa
5. Nandhalala