The Rainmaker

Movie: Vinnaithaandi Veruvaaya.
Language: Tamil
Date: 06th Mar, 2010

Review
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Good Love stories are like rain in the summer. Heart warming and Refreshing. And it makes you feel that it has been a long summer all the while.Goutham Menon's New Movie 'Vinnaithaandi Veruvaaya' is special because probably its a pure romantic movie after a long long time. A perfect two character play in all its complexities, the movie takes itself very seriously when it comes to telling a true love story.And for that one factor, it rises above being just good.

A Lasting Love Story
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The tale of Karthik (Chimbu) and Jessie (Trisha) is a love story that is not only true and realistic but also creates a lasting impression. Karthik is the quintessential next door boy. Young, Lacklustre and without much of an aim in life except for his love of cinema. Karthik is not different from many other heroes that you have often seen in movies. He is daring when it comes to love and ready to go the extra mile to make things happen. The twist comes in the second portion of this 2 way tale.
And that is Jessie. Completely unsure of what she wants for her, fearful of her father, she is that modern day girl who tries to be different when she is outside home. She is ever afraid to show her love or even accept it. Confused between whether to commit or reject even though she loves Karthik. As she tosses up Karthik's life and plays around with it, Jessie creates a beautiful character out of herself.

VTV is memorable because of the love story between these 2 well defined characters. Kudos to Goutham for writing such beautiful characters.

Director - All about Trust
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Goutham believes strongly in the movie and the theme that he has made. Its visible in how genuine and true he has been to the subject. VTV is not an action - romance or a romantic comedy or anything else but it is a pure romantic movie. Goutham takes his time building his characters and as an audience you get to know their various untold facets which reveal slowly. You grow with these characters as an audience. For the sheer sincerity with which the subject has been treated, I rate it at par with his best movies till date.

Jessie - Drives you Crazy
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For me, VTV belongs to Jessie. Trisha's career best role till date, is a revelation. She is so perfectly cast that she lives through the role. Looks simple and gorgeous as Jessie. She looks completely deceptive when seeing Karthik's love. Charming and lovable when she accepts Karthik's love. Helpless and Restless in love when her father rejects Karthik. Calm, composed and mature towards the end. All rolled in to one, the movie is interesting beyond a point only due to the spice which Jessie adds to it. Chimbu has put in perhaps his career best role and taking nothing away from him, he also stands his space and holds on. Chimbu's Karthik is almost a routine role done well but 's Trisha's Jessie is special.

Music that makes your heart skip a beat
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The soul of any love story is probably the songs and the music and for me this is the best album (in terms of the number of good tracks) for atleast 2 years now. In an era when each movie has hardly one or two good tracks, VTV boasts of 5-6 really beautiful tracks. AR Rehman is stupendous and his compositions are breaking the barriers of culture and fusion. Hats off to Goutham for extracting such an awesome album from him. The rerecording is mint cool especially the 'Jessie drives me crazy' bit.

Cinematography is good and Editing could have been tighter at some instances but movie has a nice pace of its own.

Negatives
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The interval scene and dialogues could have been handled way better. It quite looks silly and abrupt in a poetic movie. Same is the case with the sudden love interest from Karthik's Cinema Colleague. Songs are soulful but 3 of them (Omana Penne, Hossanna and Kannukkul Kannai) have been picturised in the very same way (road dancers). Some more imagination, thought and effort could easily have been applied to make these songs have different identity. May be Goutham can learn it from Shanker or Mani Ratnam. He has done proper justice only to 3 songs (Aromale, Mannipaya and Anbil Avan). Some dialogues are completely silly and Trisha's dubbing inaudible at times.

'Vinnaithaandi Veruvaaya' is not devoid of shortcomings but the sheer sincerity of the movie, truthfulness to the subject, interesting character sketches, superb performances and breath taking music leaves an impression for some time ahead. After all when did we see the last genuine love story?

Verdict - 4/5 as Rating. 'A Treat for your Heart' as an opinion.

Vinnathaandi Veruvaaya - ' Crossing the realms of Love'