Chellam Sir is an exemplar of why we, as a nation, are such under-achievers. He's the Vidhayak Chacha of 'Deus Ex Machina' plot devices. Everytime the writers have absolutely no clue on taking the plot forward, he just steps in. The fact that we make a big deal of him also /1
shows up our mindset as a people. Like the fact that in one of our earliest rockets launched out of Thumba had to be ferried to the launchpad on a bullock cart. Because they failed to plan for a truck. And we think that it is a cool thing to do. This, by the way, is something /2
even our most celebrated writers have done. In Sivakamiyin Sapatham, one of the late Kalki's worst novels (which was the first made into a movie, predictably), the Pallavan Emperor plays 'Deus Ex Machina' disguised as a sannyasi to help a young prince woo his own daughter /2
As for the rest of the series, the plot is as old as the hills (copied from Day of the Jackal), settings from various English movies (Office Space) and stunts eerily reminiscent of 80s Hindi films. Manoj Bajpai is still reprising his roles as Bhiku Mhatre and Babu, except /4
that he's playing a honest cop and family man, not a psychotic gangster.
Samantha has given up Botox in favour of self-embalming, which is why we know she's going to die in her first frame itself. Smearing tan on one's face to play a Tamil is called 'brownface' and is as /5
Samantha has given up Botox in favour of self-embalming, which is why we know she's going to die in her first frame itself. Smearing tan on one's face to play a Tamil is called 'brownface' and is as /5
offensive as 'blackface' comedians in silent movies. Everyone is sweating all the time, can't find water to bathe and is eating idli with chutney. Yeah, they situated half the story in TN. Priyamani is quite believable as the middle-class Indian. She's not figured out /6
means of getting the home loan in order or proper tuition classes for her teenaged daughter, but is blowing money on 5000 per session counseling for herself. Typical of how we import first world problems without figuring out our third world ones. The teenage daughter's story /7
is believable, except that teenage girls who go out on dates with unknown 'Insta friends' usually end up raped or their throat slit, not escaping rom their captors. The series ends with a reprise of the climactic airplane chase from 'Mard' (1985). /END
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