Fun-filled, traumatic, joyous, troublesome, boring, cruel, pleasing, satisfying, challenging, tempting, misleading - yes Life is full of 'em - that is why life is so very SPECIAL - and yet the thrill is in "living" life! And all the accompanying ordeals are the frills attached with the thrills.

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Beginning of the end

Inspite of climax being an important aspect of any movie, many movies have failed miserably on the climax part. And the oft heard comments from people walking out of movie halls would be "The last 30 mins was pathetic, the director did not know how to end the movie". Generally climaxes which have deviated from the norm impresses the audience but that again only if its impressive. Many directors, with an eye of ending their movies differently, have only invited criticism from audience. So I thought I would dedicate a post on climaxes which impressed me. Ofcourse the opinions could be very subjective. They just reflect my taste. [In the interest of fellow bloggers, I've tried my best not to quote the actual climax in most cases so that it does not turn out to be a spoiler in case you have not watched any of the movies before]

Kaadhalukku Mariyadhai :
A very novel theme where lovers part ways for the sake of parents (did any movie prior to this have a similar theme?). I especially love the scene when Srividhya watches Shalini and breaks down in the end. Its amazing how Srividhya's eyes literally "speak" in those scenes. I saw the original Malayalam version climax as well (Aniyathipraavu) and its equally good.

Love Today :
The story would not have made a mark had Vijay accepted Suvalakshmi's love. A fitting end indeed.

KB's movies :
Almost all of KB's movies have interesting climaxes including Sindhu Bhairavi, Iru Kodugal, Avargal, Kalyana Agadhigal. K.Balachander is a director who's movies were mostly ahead of his time. People often ridiculed the logic in Aboorva Ragangal about father in love with daughter and son in love with mom. But again, the end was amicable and there is even a dialogue by Sundarajan who advises against such "rational" actions.

Vaaname Ellai :
For all those dejected souls, Mr.Ramakrishnan comes as a tonic. Infact the scene in which he gets off his car and the reaction on the faces of the actors - I literally get goose pimples every time I watch it.

Bharathi Kannamma / Porkaalam :
Cheran's first movie definitely made a mark. A very decent movie and this is one of the best movies of Meena (who is mostly projected only as a wax doll - another movie which harnessed her acting skills is Rhythm). And also the climax in Porkaalam is worth mentioning and especially the dialogue of Vadivelu when he makes a poser to Murali as to why he did not think about him (Vadivelu) as his sister's groom.

Kaadhal :
When I knew this was a true story, the "effect" was multi-fold. I was curious to know the actual person who narrated the story to the director. What a character he should have been!! Hats off to him.

Kolangal :
Its not the climax exactly but I like the scene when Jayaram tenders apology to the media. The dialogues are very sharp and fitting.

Kai Kodutha Deivam :
Clearly, Savithiri takes the cake here. A slight over acting would have made Savithiri seem like an eccentric.

Ei Nee Romba Azhaga Irukka :
"How can you hate somebody whom you loved so dearly?" is the theme. Definitely a good advice to people who have gone thru' love breaks and rejections and turn hostile towards their ex-lovers. It was a very nice movie but I guess the title played spoil sport ;-)

Five Star :
I always used to feel Prasanna was a highly talent actor but did not get his dues. And this movie was one of those nice movies which did not fare well in theatres. Again, a movie with a nice ending.

Mugavari :
The movie was kind of okay but the end was definitely not on expected lines. Sacrificing ambitions for family was another novel theme and quite touching too.

Karpoora Mullai :
Fazil is one of my favourite directors but sadly many of his initial movies did not become hits and this movie is one such movie and tremendous acting by Amala and Srividhya. This climax is one the most straight forward and "un-cinematic" endings I have ever seen. Among Fazil's movies Bommukutti Ammavukku also had a very different ending.

Thulli Thirindha kaalam :
An off-beat movie - which maybe many would've not even heard of. The advice bit of Kushboo in the end to the youngsters is very apt.

Mahaanadi :
The climax was kind of in expected lines but what was soul stirring in the movie was the one in which Kamal sees his daughter in a brothel and when he hears his daughter talk in her sleep. Infact this movie earned the highest score till date in Ananda Vikatan's film review (I think it was 70%). The movie lingered on to my mind for a week - the scene of Kamal seeing his daughter in the brothel kept flashing repeatedly in my mind as if it had happened to me.

Azhagi :
More than being a love story, I felt this movie reflected about life. Nandita Das, who was from a well to do family ends up spending her life on the road whereas its the other way round for Parthiban and yet life has to go on and both of them take it in their strides. Nandita Das's acting was just mind blowing in this movie.

Kannathil Muthamittal :
The one which I would call "The scene" is in which Keerthana stops with her list of pre-written questions when she hears from Nandita that she (Nandita) had not lifted her in her arms even once. The reaction of Keerthana was enough to make her win the best child actor National award that year. And needless to say about Nandita Das - when she hugs Keertana finally (after Simran's insistence) and how the sky opens up. Simran too had a very different role and did full justice to it.

Thulaa Bhaaram :
I would never want to watch this movie again for the kind of emotions it generates. I read that the movie "Pasi" also has a similar ending. Very very moving.

Sirai Chaalai (Kaala paani) :
Many Indian freedom struggle movies have fascinated me like Kappal ottiya Thamizhan, Veera Pandiya Kattabomman. In Sirai chaalai, the ending makes your heart go out for Tabu and Mohanlal. For Mohanlal because he is executed during the tail end of his term in jail and Tabu because she keeps hoping that her husband would return one day.

Mudhalvan :
Shankar movies' screenplays are very narrative and the flow is pretty interesting. In this movie, when everyone would expect Arjun to shoot Raghuvaran, the story takes a different twist - totally unexpected but interesting.

Gokulathil Seethai :
I was amazed by the way Karthik handled his role (or maybe even director Agathiyan deserves credit here). His role was literally a walk on the edge of a knife. The role could have made him a total negative character had it not been potrayed the way it was done.

Dil To Pagal Hai :
Movie wise, I would not regard this as a very logical or very impressive movie but somehow the movie created a good feeling when watching. I like Akshay Kumar's signalling and the dialogue of Madhuri in the end.

The Associate :
I don't know if this movie was even a hit but I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and more so because Whoopie Goldberg is one of my favourite Hollywood actresses. The ending dialogue is a fitting reply to a casteist and male dominant society.

Cast Away :
To know what perseverance, will power, grit, determination is, one has to see this movie. The climax is heart rendering in that the reason for Tom Hanks' motivation to endure his life on the lonely island gets defeated when he gets to know that his lover has since married and has a little daughter. The scene when Helen Hunt comes running in the rain hugging Tom Hanks and the dialogue of Tom Hanks after that to his friend is something which would defintely make your eyes moist.

So what are your favourite climaxes? Would love to read your list too. So do post them in the comments section or in your blog and post the link here ;) I am sure there are many more which I probably missed and maybe you have them in you 'list'.

16 comments:

Sree's Views said...

Hello Ravi...
Ivalo tamil padam paapeengala..adengappa !! and adha ellam nalla nyabhagam vechu pottu irukeenga..so nice :)
Naan thaniya climax pathi yosichadhu illai...overalla padam entertaining aa irukkaanu dhaan paapen :)
But very interesting post !!
BTW...enakku castaway la towards the end Tom Hanks lighter a on pannara scene pidikkum :)

Ravi said...

Sree,
ivvalavaa? the list is very less right? Infact I am very choosy about movies. I just can't go and watch some movie just for time pass sake.

Yes, I remember that scene. It is to highlight the fact that how much he strugged (initially) when on the island to make fire and how easy it is now. Well, that depicts the realities of life - we take so many things for granted - illaya?

Ravi said...

Veda,
ha ha ha... 100 aayusu ungalukku. Indha post podum bodhu, I thought you would definitely comment on my "promptness". Adhe maadhiri potuteenga. Thanks!

Balaji S Rajan said...

Ravi,

You have plenty of patience to think about these movies and list them too. I know that you would have missed a lot because it is not that easy to bring them to our mind and sometimes the opinion differs.

As you have said, KB movies were my favourite during my younger days. He was revolutionary in his thoughts. Take 'Aval oru thodarkathai'. It was a classic, and then 'Yedhir neechal' and you can keep adding on. I have talked about this to Nagesh in person, and he owes all the credit to the great directors he has worked with.

Manirathinam too is very good in giving a good climax.

I am unable to produce a list now. But there are plenty of movies and I liked those which you had mentioned like 'Kadhaluku Mariyadhai' and 'Kannathil Muthamittal', 'Mahanadhi'.

Sree's Views said...

//- we take so many things for granted - illaya? //
Aamaam ...esp current ponaadhaan romba theriyum..ethana vishayatha we are taking for granted nnu :)

Ravi said...

Balaji Sir,
Thanks, yes neenga solaradhu romba correct. I think Nagesh got that extra bit in addition to being a comedian mostly in KB's movies. Thanks for your comment and am happy that your taste matches with mine :)

Sree,
Yes, very true. Current illaina kai kaal odathu namakku.

Ravi said...

Veda,
Thanks for that nice long comment. "Movies I like" list would be much much bigger than this, that's why I restricted to climax alone. But this list is also just a part of my whole list. Idhukke kannu kattudhaa?

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soumya said...

I like climaxes which make you go back laughing..Be it a one way love story or a 4 way love story....or whatever...

I can think of some tragedies and cry for months..I know it's just a movie but...me dont understand why I do that

The best climax was in Mr&Mrs Smith...both of them infact keep lying and hiding things from one another about their profession and family..I like the Romantic fiction which is involved

soumya said...

Moreover it's got a hubby and wife,in different phases....fighting against each other,for each other and together against another..

R. Prabhu said...

Good post Ravi! Nice train of thought about films, esp based on their climaxes. I like the following movie climaxes, Virumaandi, Raja Raja Cholan, Devar Magan, Edhir Neechal, Mudhal Mariyaadhai. These are all timeless classics that I loved to watch whenever telecasted. As of English Movies, I really liked Gladiator, Star Trek - Nemesis (of course all of the Star Trek movies) but this one was very touching :) Nice post!!!

Ravi said...

Soumya,
I could get your taste from your profile (he he). Yes comedy movies are lovable anytime. Thanks!

Prabhu,
The list which you have mentioned are also great ones. I missed "Marupadiyum" in the list. The ending is very nice and the dialogue of Revathi to Arvind Swamy is very practical and different (for a movie!). Thanks for your nice comment Prabhu.

Vinesh said...

Well compiled, RAvi.

Mugavari is one of my favourites, but when the producers realised the movie was flopping, they made the director add 10 seconds at the end to show that Ajith becomes a music director and gets Jyotika, that too after 10 years. It really ruined it for me, and each time they show the movie on TV, I watch it and switch it off before the last 10 seconds!

NizhalgaL is another favourite climax because the director chooses to ruin all the main characters' lives instead of playing to the gallery.

Ravi said...

Hello Vinesh,
Welcome here after a long long time. Still looking forward to your post after your return.

Oh, did Mugavari had that ending? The one I saw on TV did not show Ajith becoming a music director. Thanks for coming by.

balar said...

ravi ellarum movie reviewikku oru post poduvaanga..
neengae ippadi climaxsaa vaichu oru post kalakkala pottuirukkeengae.
neengae ivvalavu movie parpeengalae..:)
naan romba rarea than movies parppen...:)
KM movie mattum illai faziloada ellam movies climaxum nalla irukkum..:)

Ravi said...

Balar,
Thanks for dropping by. Movies-na periya post-a aayidum. So climax mattum vechu oru post. But am sure I missed many. Btw, I am very very choosy about seeing movies. I just cant walk into a theater to watch any movie or pick up any movie CD. Yes, I love Fazil movies too (infact I have mentioned most of his movies in the list too). Thanks Bala for your nice comments.