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Why is "The Hindu " so harsh on ARR?

Topic started by Cheenu (@ 203.199.205.25) on Fri Mar 8 03:13:23 EST 2002.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Here is an excerpt from the review of Kann..Muthth... in "The Hindu".
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What is more, Ratnam must not yield to the temptation of breaking his narrative with meaningless songs and unrealistic picture postcard settings. These look, at best, like some glossy advertisements that rob the very soul of the film.
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Responses:

• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.132) on: Fri Mar 8 03:22:55 EST 2002
  
  I thought in this movie, the songs actually took a backseat as background scores except for Sundari??? Or did I get it wrong.
  I thought picture postcard settings were a beautiful trademark in all Mani films, what's wrong with those and how does it relate to ARR anyway. Anyway, this doesn't even say anything about ARR. Cheenu, try something better next time. btw, what's wit u and ur bolds? knock it off, will ya?
  
  
• From: AVR (@ 143.127.3.10) on: Fri Mar 8 04:16:55 EST 2002
  
  closing bold
  
  
  Ensure you close all html tags!
  
  
• From: avr (@ 143.127.3.10) on: Fri Mar 8 04:17:21 EST 2002
  
  
  
  
• From: avr (@ 143.127.3.10) on: Fri Mar 8 04:18:44 EST 2002
  
  
  
  
• From: Cneenu (@ 203.199.205.25) on: Fri Mar 8 04:18:50 EST 2002
  
  
  Knocked off.
  
  
  Why not, you are mistaken, as usual. Actually I liked the music of KM. In fact, it has helped to smoothen the flow of the film. I feel that the statement " Meaningless songs" is too harsh. Well, as you said, it does not isolate ARR. May be the whole team has been indicted.
  
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.132) on: Fri Mar 8 04:27:30 EST 2002
  
  You really like it eh, Cheenu?
  So how wud u describe such a statement?
  
  "From: Cheenu (@ 203.199.205.25) on: Tue Jan 29 02:41:39 EST 2002
  
  
  Even " Malae Malae song " was a big hit. Does it mean it is of high quality? KM casette sales may be at the top. But quality is at the bottom"
  
  http://newtfmpage.com/forum/16255.1490.19.57.17.html
  
  as always, I am mistaken....to even bother posting something in this thread.
  
  
• From: Cheenu (@ 203.199.205.25) on: Fri Mar 8 06:17:31 EST 2002
  
  WhyNot,
  
  You deserve a Nobel Prize for this discovery.
  
  That was the status on Jan 29th. Today is March 8th.
  
  I started liking the songs after hearing them for the 1025th time.
  
  
  Just take the example of in this website. KM was initally at the bottom, now it's in the third place. So with time, opinions may change. Shouldn't they?
  
  What is relevant here his the music vis-a-vis it's role in a film. When I saw the movie, I did feel that ARR has done a reasonably good job, and
  I truly feel that the song do not deserve such a comment in a review.
  
  If you still start doubdting my intentions, God save you.
  
  
  
  
  
• From: Common Friend (@ 203.197.141.186) on: Fri Mar 8 12:27:28 EST 2002
  
  Cheenu:
  >>>That was the status on Jan 29th. Today is March 8th.
  
  Nalla sappa kattu kattareenga..
  
  
• From: NCR (@ 206.30.30.2) on: Fri Mar 8 13:35:14 EST 2002
  
  Cheenu? where did you find this review in Hindu?
  
  
• From: sabesan (@ 170.35.240.203) on: Fri Mar 8 14:21:05 EST 2002
  
  Common Friend - i don't think it can be a "chappai kattu" - cause many ARR songs grow in u after *multiple* listenings.....
  
  
• From: sats (@ 139.177.224.101) on: Fri Mar 8 14:38:08 EST 2002
  
  sabesan
  
  adhellam pazhaiya kadhai , like the song growing in you after multiple listening, nowadays ARR songs grows only on ARR fans.he is certainly missing the magic
  
  
• From: sats (@ 139.177.224.101) on: Fri Mar 8 14:38:14 EST 2002
  
  sabesan
  
  adhellam pazhaiya kadhai , like the song growing in you after multiple listening, nowadays ARR songs grows only on ARR fans.he is certainly missing the magic
  
  
• From: Dil Se Kannathil Muthammittal (@ 209.244.65.165) on: Fri Mar 8 18:13:42 EST 2002
  
  I think The Hindu has woken up... but let us not have a riot here. Let us all please go ahead to Kannatthil Muthamidals
  
  
• From: Sri (@ 131.243.115.238) on: Fri Mar 8 19:10:49 EST 2002
  
  Guys,
  Though PP and KM songs were good they were not upto ARRs standards. More than tht i guess people are irritated with him bcoz hes not interested in scoring for Tamil movies. this cud be the reason for "The Hindu" prejudice.
  
  
• From: Naaz (@ 24.76.127.63) on: Fri Mar 8 22:18:37 EST 2002
  
  Isn't the criticism above - "Ratnam must no yield" (Hindu excerpt) about the director of the film and his tendency to insert songs and settings that distract? The clipping says nothing about the music per se. Where is the prejudice against the MD in the review?? Hence - the next question: Why this storm in many ARR cups?? That's perplexing.
  
  
  
• From: WhyNot (@ 203.24.100.132) on: Fri Mar 8 22:27:38 EST 2002
  
  Naaz, that's exactly wat I said in my first post. This doesn't even say anything about ARR.
  However, the starter of this thread claims The Hindu is being harsh on ARR. That's what I find perplexing.
  But if u look at the rest of the posts, they are mostly by ARR bashers who r making use of this to express their dislike for KM and ARR.
  
  
• From: Cheenu (@ 203.199.205.25) on: Tue Mar 12 01:49:53 EST 2002
  
  Well, it's not that i've singled out ARR for attacking. What I found intriguing was that the review says the songs are meaningless. Who should take "credit" for that? May be the lyricist did not give his best. May be the director did not impress the MD and the lyricict about the song situations. It would be unfair to pinpoint the MD alone. I agree.
  
  But, remember, this combination has given mind-blowing hits. I do not have to quote examples, The entire tfm audience knows.
  
  If it were some x, y , or z's movie, it's ok. It's a mani rathnam movie. Every one knows the importance MR gives for music.
  
  So, the comments on ARR are more conspicuous by their absence. Nothing is mentioned about ARR in the review explicitly. Agreed. Does it mean that ARR's music for this movie is not even worth mentioning? What about the BGM?
  
  Why not, instead of researching who raised this thread, it would do better if you write about the subject at hand.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• From: Cheenu (@ 203.199.205.25) on: Tue Mar 12 01:54:31 EST 2002
  
  For NCR, please see the folloing link:
  
  http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2002/02/15/stories/2002021501090200.htm
  
  
  
• From: suresh (@ 202.88.155.34) on: Tue Mar 12 03:07:58 EST 2002
  
  Cheenu, if I recall right, the said review was written by Theodore Bhaskaran, noted film critic, who is not to be confused with Malathi and Ashok Kumar who do The Hindu reviews regularly. Theodore Bhaskaran is noted for his significant knowledge of world cinema. He doesn't write reviews for tamil films as such, atleast not in the last few years.
  
  Viewed in this context, you should be able to understand that his grouse is directed more at a macro level, and is not to be reduced into a for/anti ARR diatribe. As a dispassionate observer, I agree with his views about the postcard settings and songs marring the intense flow of KM. This has been a sore point for long; even in Nandha, you see Suryaa wearing clothes and footwear that are more likely to be seen in urban coffee pubs than in the backyards of Rameswaram.
  
  However, ManiRatnam's reading of commercial cinema would probably view them as necessary indulgences in the battle to balance commerce and craft. Again, not mentioning the BGM could also be taken to mean that the score was subdued and played second fiddle to the story unfolding. Why don't you see this as another cinematic technique? There are people (read recent JeyaMohan interview) who see IR's BGM as too overpowering to their liking; it's again a point of view that you and me will not concur with, but as an opinion it holds its own merit with people who think likewise.
  
  
  
• From: suresh (@ 202.88.155.34) on: Tue Mar 12 03:14:58 EST 2002
  
  Sorry, read "Gautaman Bhaskaran" instead of "Theodore Bhaskaran"
  
  
• From: Cheenu (@ 203.199.205.25) on: Tue Mar 12 03:31:44 EST 2002
  
  Sresh,
  
  Thanks for the information on the reviwers.
  
  Is it the first time Gautaman Bhaskaran has reviewd a Tamil movie?
  
  To stress once again , the title is a misnomer.
  I would say that the review was regarding against the whole issue of incluing right songs in a serious movie like KM which would enhance what the director would like to convey. (For example, "Kutti" and "Azhagi"). It's not my intention to single out ARR.
  
  
• From: sheela (@ ) on: Thu Oct 7 05:18:59 EDT 2004
  
  Can i get the telephone # and postal address of theodore bhaskaran please
  
  
• From: nononocactus (@ 130.127.119.61) on: Thu Oct 7 10:34:52 EDT 2004
  
  u r crazy. arr is forever
  
  
• From: F e r r a r i (@ 192.138.110.8) on: Thu Oct 7 10:39:43 EDT 2004
  
  nononocactus is relative of hehehwalrus????
  
  
• From: Vazhipokkan (@ 40.0.40.10) on: Thu Oct 7 13:36:48 EDT 2004
  
  Suddenly it dawned on me why Hindu is very harsh with ARR because he is Muslim, duh!
  
  
• From: curses (@ 203.101.36.179) on: Fri Oct 8 08:43:38 EDT 2004
  
  And is that why the railways love the Indian Express?
  
  aaha, indha vishayam ellam theriyaama pochae..
  
  
• From: rs (@ 219.64.139.131) on: Fri Oct 8 13:16:12 EDT 2004
  
  appo TITAN and HMT loves Times of India va.... Postal department have crush with Dhina thanthi ya , enapa film katureenga
  
  
• From: hhhw (@ 130.127.104.183) on: Fri Oct 8 14:31:20 EDT 2004
  
  rs, thats funny :-)
  
  
• From: curses (@ 203.101.33.27) on: Sat Oct 9 05:00:52 EDT 2004
  
  why else do u think the flower vendor outside the Mylapore tank reads Dhina Malar? :)
  
  Vazhipokan dude,
  ur a genius! :)
  
  

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