Cuckoo

[MysteRy]

Cuckoo Movie Review

Cast:  Dinesh, Malavika
Director: Raju Murugan
Production: S. Shanmugam
Music Director: Santhosh Narayanan
Lyricis: Yuga Bharathi, Gana Bala, RK Sundar

Love is blind, yes we know that! Raju’s cuckoo makes this phrase meaningful by bringing the rightful blend of emotions. The journalist turned director comes up with an awe inspiring film taking a page out of the real life story that he came across, adding a few cinematic elements “Cuckoo” is a soulful musical journey without a doubt.

There is no hoopla nor antics, its plain and simple love that springs open between two visually impaired people. The craft of making a film without deceiving the audience is something not which we come across often and Cuckoo is one such film that will deceive your consciousness and fill the mind with simple awesomeness. Two actors Attakathi Dinesh and Malavika bring about a performance of a life time and take u on a whirlwind of romance.

Dinesh as Tamizh is chirpy and happy go guy who makes a living out of selling stuff in the train and also a stage actor and Malavika Nair is Sudandirakodi the girl who aims big and looks to complete her college degree. The director’s calm story telling shows the amount of research being put into this movie, both the lead actors performing flawlessly. Cupid strikes slowly between the two out of circumstances, where the audience are daunted with the guessing game if Tamizh’s love for Kodi will succeed or not. The side actors do their part well, Dinesh’s friend the troupe and Malavika’s friend all live upto the expectations and contribute generously to the movie’s emotional touch.

The first half sums up with Tamizh’s love for Kodi and the slow approach on how’s-how its done. The screenplay is poignant and more than pity, it makes you joyful and feels good. That said, the entire movie gives an outlook of these specially challenged people and how they jump through the obstacles on their journey called life. Kodi the college student has her life ridiculed with hardships as she is hurdled by a brother who would rather make money out of her misery than help her out.

The second half is a galore of awestruck acting by Dinesh, who loses no hair in finding his lost love and the director takes enough time to show the pain and suffering he goes through. The film itself sets in flashbacks with Dinesh narrating his side of story to Raju Murugan in a Railway Station i. The end sequences is arguable as it appears like an age old formula of finding each other, however has been conveyed in a way that you won’t regret.

The director is quite careful with his script and has not let this movie out to be a complete emotional journey and has juggled a few commercial aspects by introducing a lot of look-alike in the drama troupe. Without a strong cast, he has made the best use out of the lot and Murugadoss in particular as Dinesh’s friend comes out with a few giggles and makes the comic presence solid. No matter how much our hearts reach out to the Visually Impaired persons, there are people in society who would always take advantage of them and Raja has touched that as well, like an uncaring brother, a deceiving Policeman, and quite a few. Dinesh and Malavika’s acting are nothing short of experienced professional acting and a first time viewer would definitely not agree that they are indeed sighted people.

The review would be totally incomplete without two other things :Santhosh’s soul rendering music and Varma’s magical cinematography. In particular the music forms the backbone of this movie, with a BGM that the composer can be proud of. His magnificent tribute to Ilayaraj is something to be in the talk for a long time!

Though there are some elements that might give a documentary feel to this movie, on the whole there is nothing to complain and it’s a must go movie for its direction, music, and aspiring acting sure to enthrall our emotions.

[MysteRy]

Cuckoo Music Review

Cast:  Dinesh, Malavika
Director: Raju Murugan
Production: S. Shanmugam
Music Director: Santhosh Narayanan
Lyricis: Yuga Bharathi, Gana Bala, RK Sundar

Life is an ordeal for ask of us, and there are also the ones who are physically challenged, yet perfectly happy with their lives. Director Raja Murugan has taken up the challenge of featuring the lives of visually challenged as normal individuals. Considering the concept is quite a handful of challenge, Santhosh Narayanan has taken charge to compose for this entirely new concept. And here’s a sneak peek into ‘Cuckoo’.

1. Manasula Soora Kaathu
Voices: RR, Divya Ramani
Lyrics: Yuga Bharathi

The first song that welcomes us to this innovative album is a melody. The speciality of this song lies in its near nil usage of beats; the song is predominantly supported by varying key notes, while the only beats is the occasional gentle tablas. The number opens in Divya’s soft yet deep voice, later joined in by RR for a mesmerizing duet. The voices well suit the protagonists and the singers have ensured to modulate their voices to a sweet note, to suit the roles of protagonists perfectly. There is a set of strong flute notes that repeat all through the song,and also ends on the same, completing the ethereal feeling.

2. Potta Pulla
Voice: RR
Lyrics: Yuga Bharathi

This song begins with a very pleasing violins joined in by equally beautiful flute, elevating the mood completely. The first stanza runs continuously with quick ups and downs, befitting the mood ofbeing freshly in love. RR sings again in his captivating voice, after a beautiful piece of flutes, about how impressed he is with his lady love. This is a little challenging, as no mention of visual description has been used, keeping in mind that the story is about visually challenged – Yuga Bharathi has done a tremendous job at this. Beats are supportive but not heavy, ask through the song. The third stanza marks the real beauty of this male solo, be it in rendition, score and poesy. The song comes to an end in beautiful violins and flute after the third stanza.

3. Agasatha
Voices: Kalyani Nair, Pradeep Kumar
Lyrics: Yuga Bharathi

This song is a surprise, as it begins on choir-like notes. It is entirely supported by rapid violins and gentle keys, with zero beats. This is yet another carefully worded song, bringing out the striking irony in the story. It is Kalyani’s voice that opens the song, later joined in by Pradeep’s. Both the singers have rendered the song with the protagonists’ sweet joy of being in love which gives them the confidence to conquer the world. The song is deep and haunting in every aspect and note. The second stanza easily gets noted as the best of the song, while the background score is a beautiful song on its own, ending in captivating violins.

4. Kalyanamam Kalyanam
Voice: Andony Dasan
Lyrics: Yuga Bharathi

This one is quite an interesting song – though aimed at being a melancholic number, the song is sung in haste at the separation of love and turns out to be relatively much lighter than probably intended. Nadaswaram usage in this song is upbeat and inviting. Andony sings in a voice that borders regret on haste, making it sound interesting. The song is carefully worded at each note that carry it sequentially add though it is a story narrated in complete order. The song is entirely folk, supported by typical folk beats, and climaxing in the same beats, improvised.

5. Kodaiyila
Voices: Vaikom Vijayalakshmi, Kalyani Nair, Pradeep Kumar
Lyrics: Yuga Bharathi

This track is a song of promise that breezes through the strums and keys, gaining depth in Vaikom Vijayalakshmi’s unique voice. Unlike the other tracks in this album, this one changes tempo in each stanza. While the first and third stanza flow in the same order in solo by Vijayalakshmi, the intermediate stanza is set on a different tempo. The track breaks for rain after the first stanza, followed by the second stanza which is a beautiful duet with choicest words; it is predominantly sung by Vijayalakshmi while Pradeep’s voice joins in for couplets in his soft voice. This is yet another song in the album which does not have any beats, but instills depth only through the choice of voices.

6. Enda Mapla
Voices: Gana Bala, Sathish, Dhee
Lyrics: Gana Bala

The last track of this album is a quirky number, which is inspirational of sorts. Typical of Gana Bala, this track is worded lighthearted, simple and straightforward. There is extensive use of keys all along the song and especially at the end where it plugs off and climaxes. Rhythmic beats are used all through the song, except its fag end, and chorus plays a vital role in this song. While the first stanza is same as the last, the second is penned down on a funny note, and the third one is strongly influenced by lyrics from a few other songs. In all, this one is a lighthearted gana song with no hard feelings, as it states the facts as is.

When the eyes shut off, ears turn on into high sensitivity. And Santhosh has captivated us with the right notes to grab our attention and draw audience towards this different and compelling film, ‘Cuckoo’.

[MysteRy]

Cuckoo Movie Preview

Cast:  Dinesh, Malavika
Director: Raju Murugan
Production: S. Shanmugam
Music Director: Santhosh Narayanan
Lyricis: Yuga Bharathi, Gana Bala, RK Sundar

Love stories have been a part of Tamil cinema for ages, and directors across Kollywood have racked their brains in trying innovative scripts at work. Enter the story of two special people, who share their love dismantling their disabilities. As the trailer and the looks of this movie say, this is touted to be the infinite and simple love that dwells between visually challenged people.

Cuckoo is supposed to be inspired from a real life story, in fact the director a journalist himself came across this story from a visually impaired person and taking a page out of this, adding all movie ingredients to it, the shape is eventually “Cuckoo” the musical journey.

Attakathi Dinesh is Tamizhand Malavika is Swatantrakodi a college going girl, how the unusual couple fall in love amidst their social and economic background forms the plot. The film originally supposed to be produced by reputed director Shankar, however owing to his Ai commitments fell in the hands of FOX star studios and The Next Big film Productions. Raju’s expertise in magazine industry will help him steer this movie in a positive way as we hear and the director is all ears and eyes waiting for March 21.

Both the actors have enough experience when it comes to hard hitting cinema and the trailer speaks more than it has to, with simple reactions from the stars. They went through some workshops on how visually impaired people behave and learnt how to respond, act and react. So getting the best was Raju’s main agenda and the outcome is clean and simple says the team.

Music by upcoming composer Santhosh Narayanan is another big plus as the man is known to produce some awe inspiring BGM. Varma has taken care of the cinematography who also pictured Attakathi.

[MysteRy]

Cuckoo Movie Trailer