Review

It was after a couple of my friends recommended this program for me to watch that I decided to watch an episode of Kadhalikka Neram Illai, a primetime television serial in Vijay TV. Ram and Gokul were very much excited about this television series and Ram went to the extent of uploading all of the female protoganist’s stills in his orkut album!

Coming to the episodes, they usually start with a small slideshow of glimpses of Singapore (much similar to American Sitcoms and a first in Indian television)

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Before you begin to read this, let me assure you that I have not watched the older Billa starring Rajnikanth.

Billa, starring Ajithkumar came as a pleasant surprise to me seeing the quality of the technical details like direction, camera, hues etc.

With Ajith occupying almost every frame of the movie along with the Petronas Towers (The latter becomes an irritation after sometime!) he does a neat job with great histrionics. As Billa, the international smuggler, Ajith shines with minimal dialogues and as Velu, the small time crook with a slight sense of humor,he excels! Ajith could have worked more to reduce the pot belly which is visible despite the costume designers efforts. Also, Ajith struggles with the dance sequences.

Prabhu(DSP Jai Prakash) could have been better with most of the serious dialogues drawing laughter from the audience!

Nayantara(Saasha) is in the movie just for the cleavage factor. She turns out to be the stone faced lass looking for revenge throughout the movie. She remains the same in song sequences - expressionless. Namitha(CJ) also could have done a better job or atleast slimmed down to carry the costumes with more grace. Thankfully the plunging necklines were reserved only for Nayantara!

Actors Rahman(Interpol officer Gokulnath and Jagdish) and the inspector(What’s his name?) do justice to their roles. Vishnuvardhan has tried hard to move the audience’s suspicion about the gang’s mole in the police towards the inspector by panning the camera in his direction whenever news about Billa surfaces with the police, but that soon becomes an irritation.

Santhanam tries to provide comic relief and succeeds to some extent.

The costumes(Anu) in the movie are excellent and the concept of power dressing is totally ignored with Ajith sporting ruffled hair and unbuttoned shirt throughout the movie. The costumes are predominantly in black and white and so are the hues. Why is everybody wearing shades(sunglasses) throughout the movie?

The background music(Yuvan Shankar Raja) is excellent and the re-recording is perfect though the song sequences fail to generate interest.

Though there are many loop-holes and the film lacks in logic at places, Billa is a clear winner considering the fact that Indian films rarely have logic in them. That Velu and Saahsa would care for a drink-song-dance sequence when both the police and the thugs are hot on their heels is one such logic that fails. Also, that a tough girl like Saasha would allow herself to get kidnapped is another. Vishnuvardhan could have stayed away from this masala element.

The stunts are breathtaking and that Ajith himself has taken the risks and performed these is commendable. Some stunts look dumb!

As a whole, Vishnuvardhan’s Billa is a neatly packed film that provides the much needed break to Ajithkumar.

Commercial affair. Loop-holes galore!

Cast: In order of importance in the movie

1)Petronas Towers

2)Nirav Shah’s camera (One of the few things that make the movie watchable!)

3)Sunglasses (Yes! There seems to be an epidemic of Conjuctivitis in Malaysia!)

4)Ajithkumar

5)Plunging necklines

6)A bunch of dumb guys - members of the mafia.

7)Equally dumb policeman (Chk out the pen-drive episode!)