Raavanan
Tags: good versus evil

Plot synopsis:
The film opens with shots showing Veeraiya (Vikram) jumping off a cliff into water. His gang is busy distracting the police. Police vehicles are set ablaze and women seduce policemen into a trap whereby Veera's henchmen attack. The police are ruthlessly murdered. Raagini (Aishwarya Rai), whilst on a boating trip, is kidnapped by Veera. Dev Prakash (Prithviraj Sukumaran), her husband and a senior police officer, is informed of the incident.
A brief montage of sorts showcases the story of Veeraiya. He is seen as a local hero, who runs a parallel govt in areas near Tirunelveli, with his brothers – Singarasu (Prabhu) and Sakkarai (Munna). Though considered a terrorist by the local police, Veeraiyya is respected by the villagers. He kidnaps Raagini hoping to avenge the death of his sister Vennila (Priyamani). He brings her to the edge of a cliff to shoot her to death. She refuses to die at his hands and jumps off the cliff into the water far below, hoping to kill herself, but fails to do so. This causes Veera to hold off the murder, being unable to kill someone who has no fear of death.
Dev and his team enter the forests with the aid of Gnanaprakasam (Karthik), a local forest guard. Despite searching deep in the forests, Dev is unable to hunt down Veera.
Meanwhile, Raagini develops feelings for Veera after she hears the story of his sister's death. Dev had led an encounter against Veera during Vennila's wedding. Dev's shot grazes Veera in the neck. Veera, fighting for his life, is unable to protect his sister, and he is led out of the fiasco by his gang. The police pressurise Vennila into revealing Veera's hideout. When she refuses, she is subjected to physical and sexual assault. Veera returns home to find Vennila distraught and traumatised. The next day, she commits suicide by drowning in a nearby well.
Unhappy with the way his brother is leading a war causing distress to his gang, Sakkarai offers a truce to Dev. Dev initially seems to agree but, when Sakkarai comes out in the open, Dev shoots him to death – revealing that he considers the destruction of Veera as more important than saving his wife.
Veera and Singarasu are enraged and attack Dev's camp; they wipe it out completely. A final confrontation between Veera and Dev takes place on a rickety bridge – where Veera triumphs over Dev – when he decides not to let Dev die. He tells Dev he is letting him live because of his wife. Dev manages to extricate himself out and finds Raagini bound and tied up – with Veera leaving her.
Dev is not entirely happy and, while returning to their hometown of Mettukudi, he accuses Raagini of infidelity and informs her that it was Veera who told him so. Furious, Raagini leaves Dev to meet Veera through Singarasu. She manages to meet him and asks him why he had accused her. Veera tells her he said that he had protected Raagini safely for the fourteen days and nothing else. He quickly realises that Dev lied, hoping Raagini would lead him to his hideout.
Dev appears with a police team and confront the duo. Raagini tries to save Veera, but he pushes her out of the line of fire, and is shot multiple times. Veera, content that Raagini has feelings for him, falls to his death with a smile.

Review: On the technical front, the music though not the best work of A.R. Rahman does pure justice to the theme of the story and BGM gives you a wonderful thrill.
The location, the camera angles and clarity are brought to near precision and gives the most delicious treat to the eyes of the viewers.So what could be the possible letdown for the movie, to begin with, it lacks clarity towards the climax which most usually matters to the audience because it is the final sequence that tend to have the final impression on them.
The ending is clouded with smoke giving no clear idea of the exact feelings of Ragini toward Veera and the tryout of grey shading Prithviraj's character tends to be a little more than required.
Apart from all these things, once you step out of the movie hall, you are forced to think back about the story, about the characters and most importantly, whether you liked the movie or not, you have a propensity of conflict in your mind about who was right and who was wrong.
Like everyone I went for the movie with huge expectations and as a matter of fact I m a die hard Mani Ratnam's fan like other million people.To start of with, Raavanan has Mr. Ratnam's class written all over it right from the start till the end.
To make things even more better, works of The Mozart of Madras Mr. Rahman, Santosh Sivan, Suhasini Mani Ratnam and Co have done an excellent job.
The story might not be very new to Tamil cinema, but even a love story involving just two characters can be portrayed in a very classical manner and the screenplay can make the movie a big hit.
May be she saves her best for Mani's films I m not sure, but such a wonderful performance by the beauty Queen.
Early in her Iruvar days to Raavanan, her success is for her hard work and dedication.I don't have anything to talk about Karthik and Prabhu as i can only be shocked if they don't give their best in all their movies.
I felt that I was watching the movie like a side actor in the sets and not from the theater, it was so very real.To summarize the whole story, even though its a Mani Ratnam's movie,I felt it wasn't his very best as he has handled tougher subjects and the screenplay lacks the master's touch in few places.I always consider and compare Mani Ratnam to Clint Eastwood as both these people share something in common - The passion for quality cinema !
For people who look for a excuse not to watch a movie in theaters, I would suggest you to watch it and see the visual in big screen as only then you can realize their hard work.
I don't like comparing his other movies as each are good in their own standards, this one stands right up there but his best is somewhere round the corner.Wonderful movie, very creative, excellent performance by all its lead artists and all together a complete wholesome entertainer by the one and only Master, Mr. Mani Ratnam !
The modern RAM and RAAVAN...I watched both version...GO AND WATCH THE MOVIE IN BIG SCREENS..FEEL THE NEW KIND OF CINEMA I have read so many bad reviews for this movie....come on ppl ...
Overall ,Raavan and Raavan is must watch movie ..feel the director new imagination, wonderful direction, strong powerful performance from main leads.
But Mani Ratnam has brought to this movie a magical touch that would indeed change the trend of movies to come in Indian cinema.The movie is a tale of revenge and vengeance that Veeraiya (Vikram) unleashes on the people responsible for the death of his sister.
But only as the movie progresses do we find out his real character and the reason for such a transformation.The beauty of this film and the most appealing factor is the cinematography adapted.
Be it the black soot or sandhanam smothered all over Vikram's face or the many scratches and bleeding cuts on Aishwarya, the make-up department has done its best to make the movie look as realistic as possible !When it came to acting, needless to say the director Mr. Mani Ratnam brought out the best in each and every person cast in the movie.
It is impossible to stop staring at her immense beauty and now, after her portrayal of the modern 'Sita' you just can't help but be in awe at how much she has to offer.Raavanan, according to me is one of the finest movies made in Indian cinema.
Genius!and the bestpart of the movie is the atmosphere , it feels like one is really living the bandit character on screen, feel his emotions and know what he is thinking.
Watch the atmospheric visuals come to life with beautiful scenery of a lush jungle, with rain effect put to good use in all scenes...This is a gritty and thrilling drama of abduction, adultery, crime , a wild goose chase and a revenge tale rolled into one, all occurring in a middle of the worst monsoon season and surprisingly well crafted in equal parts carrying a strong flavor of crime film noir straight out from a David Fincher movie .
It has to be experienced on the big screenOne would love to think it cant be an Indian movie but though it is, it has little to do with conventional Indian film making antics but made as one that will challenge Hollywood with a genre bending tale with all the technical bells and whistles.Some critics may argue it is not maniratnam's best work, but definitely its Maniratnam's best turn towards a new direction ( Yuva, Guru) which no other director in the last few years have done.
Of all maniratnams;'s movies , Raavanan is probably one that makes u feel the same way as as his other Roja and Kannathil Muthamittal.The film is another magnum opus from internationally acclaimed director Maniratnam.
There is a terrifying sequence during Mani Ratnam's Raavanan, or 'Villain' out of the Tamil language and into the English one, that sees two hard-bodied men, both specialists in what it is they do either side of the line of the law, duking it out on board a delicate rope bridge hovering above a drop, which will bring about certain death, as its gradual falling apart syncs up with how much the two men's hating of one another escalates during this fight – such are the lengths you'd probably go for Aishwarya Rai. The sequence carries with it a great deal of both horror and trepidation, principally because it is as a fight to the death and we genuinely feel someone is going to get seriously hurt, but additionally because we are inclined naturally to get behind one man and yet are simultaneously invited to root for the other.
Those perpetrating the chaos are followers loyal to that of Veeraiya (Vikram), an influential and physically toned individual whom occupies lonely forestry up in the rural nowheres of India with his minions; a man whom the police so desperately desire to catch and someone who shares some back-story with that of local police chief named Dev Subramaniam (Prithviraj), against whom this war on the machine of law and order is effectively raged.
The existence between the two becomes particularly heightened when Veeraiya takes it on himself to kidnap Dev's wife, a Sita named Ragini played by the aforementioned Rai; thus kicking into action all sorts of strife and hard-edged plights which formulates the bulk of the film as Dev and a crack team of commandos plus one eccentric forest expert take it upon themselves to find her.Dragged through the jungles, Ragini's appearance as a smart, photogenic and outspoken woman amidst an array of disparate Veeraiya-led troops consisting of various unshaven; overweight and cross dressing individuals, is stark.
In spite of my comment made in jest about what one would do to get Aishwarya Rai back, there is this burning question hanging over proceedings, even highlighted by those within, as to whether Dev chases the villain out of personal motivation due to his wife's taking, or professional levels born out of the fact he has hated Veeraiya for a lot longer than he has loved Ragini.
Mani Ratnam's Raavanan is a visual masterpiece, a great work of art and almost nothing beyond that.
Till more than half of the film, it is about its marvelous cinematography, eye popping locations, excellent acting, technical perfection, polished and gritty narration and visualization and good editing.The story of Raavanan runs parallel to epic Ramayana but as the film progresses there is a bold twist to the original story.
One wonders who is Ram and who is Raavanan.After seeing Vikram act this role out, I am certain nobody could have done Veera any better(didn't see Raavan though).
The master filmmaker Mani Ratnam has apparently taken inspiration from these greatest works to narrate a gripping story in his own inimitable style.'Raavanan', right from the day it went to floors, has been rising a huge hype and hoopla.
Prithviraj and Priyamani have taken the challenge of being part of a Mani Ratnam's film and delivered their best.
Cheers Madras Talkies and Mani Ratnam for rendering a class movie that is racy and entertaining too.Watch only in theaters................
Raavanan - Not among the best works of Mani Rathnam!!!!.
Santosh Sivan and Manikandan have so effectively captured the beauty of the southern forests in the most mesmerizing manner.Coming back to the story, we find nothing new added to the epic except for the fact that the good has now turned evil and vice-versa.
At the end of the movie, after witnessing the glorious work of the cinematographer, especially the climax scenes, we sense something missing altogether and the truth beckons on us that there is no credible storyline to the whole affair.SP Dev (Prithviraj) is on the look out for Veera (Vikram), a notorious tribal lord, a Robin Hood for many.
But soon something happens (revealed only in the second half) that makes Veera so revengeful that he kidnaps Dev's wife, Ragini (Aishwarya Rai).
The story moves on when the monstrous Veera starts a liking for Ragini.There was a time when I watched Nayakan, Iruvar, Roja, Dalapathy all with great enthusiasm and what I received from these movies were really great satisfaction as a movie buff.
It seems like the crux of the whole movie lies on the camera work.The acting of Vikram and Aishwarya Rai has to be applauded.
It's okay and goes with the film smoothly.The plus point of the movie is cinematography, acting and the last 15 minutes.The movie deteriorates because of the absence of a fine story line and a poor screenplay which I believe are the most important materials in a film.It is not one of the best Mani Rathnam films and it cannot be called a thriller as there is no remarkable storyline to boast off and excite us.
But mainly, watch the movie to witness the amazing locales where the movie was shot through the eyes of Santosh Sivan and Manikandan, especially the last cliffhanging fight between good and evil.~ dillitalkies.blogspot.com ~.
Though he has had some duds at the box office even in his previous attempts no one has doubted his mastery over films.But I am sure that every loyal "Mani fan" or for that matter any viewer expecting quality movies would be thoroughly disappointed on watching this "CRAP".A film will never be rated as "GOOD" for any individual(s).This film boasts of a great technical crew...Rahman , Shreekar Prasad, Santosh Sivan,Manikandan,Sameer Chanda....and the list goes on.I have to accept the fact that every one has been very professional and loyal giving their 100% for the film except for two ....."ManiRatnam" and his beloved and so called brilliant wife "Suhasini".The most important aspects of films in India are " Story, Screenplay, Dialogue".
Stunningly spectacular visuals, Sleek and stylish technical aspects, crispy narration, powerful characters and magnificent performance from the cast makes Raavanan one of the best movies of 2010.Raavanan is the 21st century Ramayana by India's acclaimed writer- director Mani Rathnam.
Veera intolerant of the action against his clan, kidnaps Ragini, wife of Dev, and there begins the cat and mouse game which bears shades of Ramayana.
The climax is the best of 130mins of the film as the performance of Aishwarya Rai and Vikram reach the highest level.
Thanks to Manirathnam for the best casting.Vikram has played his character Veera with perfection, making it his own, in few instances taking it away from mani.
Prabhu, who has played the right hand of Veera in the movie, has given a good performance.
Prithviraj, Priyamani and Karthik (outstanding in his come back) have given their best; with Prithviraj playing Dev, the 'good' policeman with shades of grey, Karthik, in fact, seems to be the 'Hanumam' character of the movie brings back the flavor of his yesteryear touch, and Priyamani expresses with her eyes and jazzy voice.
The movie has the stamp of Mani Rathnam's style in the narration, scene execution, but still, one does feel the scenes in the first half slack a bit in continuity and connecting characters.
Even though u feel that the movie might fall apart, you can never stop enjoying watching this guy act.
Dev is not all-good and Veera is definitely not as bad as Raavanan (from the Mythology) Ash surprisingly didn't look that old as she was from our recent memories.
I have definitely heard a lot of bad reviews for this movie and know that many people felt cheated and disappointed at Mani's work.
But Raavanan is unique in the sense that a viewer cannot tag this movie under any of the two Bs. This film has got it all - Big time pre-release Hype, Technically astounding visuals, sensational music, exceptional acting from the Lead characters, powerful visual metaphors and the fascinating intellect of the director, yet one feels at the end of it all something critical is missing.
Raavanan stands up tall, but one expected it to fly high, which it never does.Mani Ratnam's movies prosper in the Hype surrounding it before its release, but Raavanan needed less of these hypes.
For, the story is just a modern adaptation of the Ramayana and almost all of us know what the epic holds in its stable.STORYLINE : The face-off between Dev (Prithviraj) an upright police officer and Veeraiya aka Veera (Vikram) is the central post around which the movie revolves.
The power of dialogues cannot be questioned and one wonders how come Mani Ratnam over looked this aspect of the movie.
One feels Mani Ratnam is unsure of how he wants to project his characters.
In concentrating on making the movie in three languages, it seems the director's concentration has slipped and the screenplay and the story as a whole have sufferedBOTTOMLINE : Ravanan scores high on the technical front.
The characters needed more definition, the scenes needed more pace and the dialogues needed to be more powerful, menacing and explosive.The movie scorches the screen in parts.
When I first heard that Mani Ratnam was making another film I was more than excited, when I heard that Vikram and Aishwarya Rai were acting in it I nearly flipped.
Mani Ratnam was the only director in India, who handled melodrama in the most natural way; and that was evident in his films like Nayagan, Roja, Bombay, Alayipayuthe, and even the recent Guru.
And I have to admit that most of the film's major flaws went unnoticed by me during my first watch of Raavanan, and later on ended up noticing a few in the Hindi Raavan, mainly due to the above mentioned reason.In the end when you leave the theater, all you remember is the stunning camera work, the nerve pumping action scenes, and a little bit of brilliance spread out in the 2 hour 7 minute saga!
Its far from being a classic, but nevertheless entertains to an extent!Hindi Raavan: 3/5 (Manages to entertain) Tamil Raavanan: 2/5 (Dull)PS: My rating is very very liberal, and that's mainly for the love of Mani Ratnam's film making style, which seems to be drowning away now; Raavan is just a stupendous piece of eye candy!
:) Of course I saw it a hundred times later, perhaps, and felt like writing a review, because how many times I watched it, the movie touches me with some or other aspect.The second is the music.
specially in the scene where Ragini tries to escape from Veera.Background music explains her helplessness.The third was Aishwarya Rai. I don't know if it was my eyes or the screen or the make up or whatever circumstances, she looked just WOW to my eyes.
People who like me, liked the movie, try to watch out the above experiences and feel them.
just for 4 people nd not for story.and there's a surprise in the end..1)Mani Ratnam 2)AR Rahman 3)Santhosh Sivan 4)Vikram.
For one, Mani Ratnam has failed to develop some of the characters that have been a highlight of his earlier movies.
Second, it looks like Mani Ratnam has tried very hard to link this to the epic Ramayana.
It is very difficult to empathize with Dev or his relationship with Ragini unlike what Mani Ratnam did to the relationship of Madhu and Arvind in Roja.Something that remains etched in memory long after you watch the movie is performance of Vikram as Veera and Aishwayra as Ragini.
Just do not expect it to have the standard of Mani Ratnam's more successful movies and you will not be disappointed..
As Mani (The Director) puts it, this is a story between the hunted (Ragini), the hunter (Veera), and the haVED (Dev).
The movie clearly shows that in the eyes of Ragini, the opinion about Veera is a continuum, moving towards positive shade.
This movie is definitely worth your "Buck Buck Buck Buck, Buck Buck!"***** Scenes depicting negative shades of Dev: 1.