Irandham Ulagam - " Love beyond Boundaries "
A Product from a daring film maker who becomes a meal on dinner table of many critics just for one reason that he steps out of his comfort zone to bring movies in a newer dimension never ever presented to audience before. But that doesnt stop him from making one. Irandham Ulagam ( IU ) is one such experimental film never ever tried before in kollywood , a genre which could be very new to majority of the audience who are never exposed to hollywood movies and for ones who are not aware of a genre called Fantasy. But every start needs a push , a beginning and none would want to step up to do that but Selva did. If lucia is appreciated for first ever mind bending movie ever made in Indian cinema , then it means Selva deserves a same applause too for introducing such a genre to hard core movie loving people belonging to kollywood. Okay lets get down to the movie part.....!!!
Me Not much interested to put in a spoiler by revealing the plot but in short this movie talks about Love story across parallel universe and both story belongs to the core cast Aarya and Anushkha . How their life cross over at one stage when they happen to travel to the other world ( Kind of warm hole ) concept and how love unites them all together forms the core part of the story. Well you would have heard parallel universe , Dual world , time travel , warm hole etc..and we think this always belong to Hollywood , but selva just proved it wrong. If they can make a movie like Upside Down , we made a same romantic fantasy film like Irandham Ulagam. What makes this movie so unique and pleasant is its visuals , from movie start till finish it was damn brilliant . The yellow tone for outer world and blue tone for the real world earth ,then the sky , the planets , flowers , lake , plateau , snow wow..that was dazzling and stunning. Every frame was mind blowing well supported by one hell of a stunning Background score by Anirudh. Yes , that was a best trumph card Selva used. If it was not of anirudh , this movie wouldnt have been this good , lucky to drop Harris J which was the best thing to happen for this movie. Every Visual and BGM just stays in our heart , Felt like a journey though space or a experience listening to Nanny's Bedtime stories . That was pure fun , it had that trademark of Selva's Touch at every frame of this movie. Cinematography is top notch and hats off to the team who put this together , it was meticulously done .
But never would miss to mention CG VFX works throughout the film. I really had a doubt if Selva could pull a best CG works with the budget he has and that he wants to make a fantasy movie like Hollywood , but not sure how , he did pull this up perfectly fine. At first scene when Anushka fights a dog like creature , seeing the grahic work i too felt like yack....!!! but as the movie ran through its course , i really started to get goosebumps and was really stunned by the way CG works are made to perfection. The monster at the mid intermission the Lion was one hell of a creation , even the great director like GDT would want to copy that to his movie. That fight sequence was too good provided it had a stunner BGM with it. I dont say it was 100% CG work like avatar..but it had the best we seen in recent times . One has to be really daring so much to try such a work when most of it involves CG and visuals but he won finally. I was really afraid if this will end up like Ramanarayanan sir film but lucky it didnt. There is a scene i shouldnt miss to mention , when aarya goes to top of a Mountain ( saami malai ) where the gods open a Time travel Portal kind of Warm hole, that particular scene , that mountain , the gods statue that entire CG works for that scene was shear brilliance. I liked that so much .
Well taking about the characterization, this movie didnt had so many character inclusions to it but the leads are always Aarya and Anushkha. Though at times seeing lipstick on aarya lips irritates me but yet most part of the movie he really performed well. The character of aarya varies between two different world one a strong built warrior and other a simple lean polite person. The way he managed both these characters was just awesome , he even toned up his body to look like a warrior which was good. Anushka was a charm , she was beautiful loving caring at one world and a angry , aggressive fighter on the other.She too played her role excellently . The chemistry between the two in real world was so good , the love proposal and the pain they get when they walk away ,the song En kaadhal Thee with visual , the scenes following it were so cool and beautiful. Its just anirudh everywhere...i am sure this film success will go to his contribution as the BGM were so divine and beautiful . Even at second half when Aaarya show anushka picture when they are in forest under heavy snow , that scene was captured so wonderfully well. This movie is a complete feeler , one must just enjoy it but not to think too much into it. This is not one movie were you go watch for story but instead a movie to be experienced , to be felt , touched. Though the scope of Script could have been packed with more punch but that would have spoiled the fantasy element it had and the feel of love it gives. The fight scenes were really good , though this movie didnot had too much lengthy stunt scenes to it , but yet even the smallest ones were all completely satisfying. The climax fight with a big hammer was damn good and was made to look powerful yet natural too.. Good job done by the stunt master and yes the key brain behind all..SelvaR.
Normally a romance subject on a fantasy film does give us a feel of dragging , because unlike hollywood this is a kollyoood which needs some scenes to be placed on purpose to show the love , fun and life people have so no wonder why people might feel the second half felt like slow or dragging but nevertheless it was not. It was rather in that way they intend to show. Moreover the first half script showing Anushkha and Aaarya love was really touching , went on with a steady phase but suddenly the movie completely twists itself and takes us to the other world were things are not normal like in earth , for sure they will feel different at second half. And more importantly Selva did-not use our Indian people for complete second half characterization in the other world which was purposefully done to prevent audience feeling the alternate world too normal giving a locale feel and that really helped to differentiate the parallel stories this movie had. Yes this being something very new to kollywood audience , chances it might give a different feel to it and some even might not like it too. This very common with anyone that when something served new , we tend to take time to get accustomed to it . Takes time but we got to evolve.
Verdict :-
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Overall this is one of a very genuine daring attempt by Selva. This is very unique to our industry and if we cant appreciate the effort he took atleast we can avoid humiliating him for the work he did for this and the contribution he did to the Film Industry. Its very rare to see film makers think outside the box and when they do its us who got to pat on their back , so they can provide much better results on upcoming films. But that said , this movie is one worthy entertainer , a very feel good movie , a simple fantasy subject like a life in dreams which just needs to be experienced. Keep your critic brain out before stepping into the theatre , stop doing post mortem of the movie and rather start to feel the wonder it gives by looking at the brighter side . This is really a nice beginning and really hats off to Director SelvaR for standing up to his word and proving it. This is just a whole new beginning. A must watch , a concept never tried before in indian cinema. Dont miss it . Rating : 4/5 .