"Keep it simple."
"Make it simple."
"...Simple."
Ajith's (Thala) punch dialogues started off this way. So, am going to keep it simple. Anyway it's a simple plot. And the movie sequences make simpletons out of us. Saying it's Mumbai and then showing us Chennai for it, hmph. That sort of stuff. The simple plot is that an anti-terrorist/bomb squad team loses its officers due to the slipshod quality of the bullet-proof jacket approved by a top cop and politician plus a media person, who all make a lot of money out of it. A surviving member of the bomb squad team -- i.e. our Thala Ajith brings them the gory glory they deserve. Death by various ways. Off a Dubai skyscraper, off few dozen gunshots, off some big bombs, etc.
My dog's name is Rover and the story's over.
Now for the actors (I love this part).
AJITH KUMAR as AK i.e. Ashok Kumar in this film -- is the seemingly anti-hero who is in fact just a hero. I dunno about his acting skills, which really, I cannot comment on for some non-specific reason. It ain't bad and it ain't heart-stopping. Because acting is not the point with this guy whose head full of grey hair has been the talk of the town. His mere personality and consequent style is THE point. The fact is... that he isn't a supremely wonderful dancer like Vijay or a six pack hard-working, beautiful-eyed guy like Suriya, for example. He's a guy you and I may like or even find hot if we met him somewhere. He's very believable as a not-that-young guy with his 50 shades of grey hair, healthy body complete with a comfortingly cushiony tummy area, good legs (not that I saw them heheh), wide shoulders, fit arms and an extremely awesome gait. Sophisticated-looking and understated acting. And unlike some odd salutes and ridiculous-mock-ridiculous expressions, AJIT KUMAR'S style is made of one-liners which are each time delivered deadpan with an expressionless voice and just the way he wears his sunglasses, which is rather er, knee-weakening. I went prepared to scoff, and came away blushing. Seriously stylish man this. And I don't think he's acting!! When he got on to that Ducati, the audience roared and my pulse raced. If you're female, you'll know what I mean about this self-assured actor. Am afraid he's hot.
NAYANTARA is Maya and her relationship with Ajit in the film is rather up-in-the-air (but he did feel her up a few times, so...you never know how many shades of grey were actually there in their relationship). She is smoking hot. Skin, hair, figure, posture, confidence, acting...everything about her clicks.
The babies Arya & Taapsee -- feel sad for Arya, to club him with airhead Taapsee. But they are a pair with one baby-oh baby routine, silly jokes and overall extra silliness. But I guess, that's her part and Arya's cool as the indignant Fat Boy Slim entangled with AJIT and his comic timing is as good as it always is.
Ajit's Aarambam (The Beginning). I guess it will fly because of this style icon AJIT KUMAR. If he acts in a film, it's his and nobody else's these days. I believe it now. He's the crutch this film AARAMBAM and its makers lean heavily on and for his part, AJIT KUMAR - Thala, takes it in his stride and sweeps on, as he dons his coolers in a highly believable, everyday style.
*Sigh*
