THAANAA SERNDHA KOOTTAM

“Indha idam, inga irukka azhukku, indha azhukka uruvakki intha akukkulaye oori pona, idho ivanunga maari aalunga, ivanungalellam paathale, veratti vetatti velukka thonuthu,” this dialogue of Suriya’s that comes in ‘Sodakku’ song sums up the concept of Thaanaa Serndha Koottam.

Whenever regional filmmakers decide to make a heist film with a bunch of big star cast, our imagination directly goes to the renowned Ocean’s series. TSK has a core plot that is pretty similar to the Hindi film Special 26. It must be noted that they have acquired the rights to the Hindi film and Vignesh ShivN has modified the screenplay completely to suit the local audience. TSK actually looks like a highly original product that is sure to get its applause.
 

Like any top hero’s film, TSK revolves around its lead Suriya but it is not just about him as he is accompanied by a bandwagon of stars like Keerthy Suresh, Karthik, Ramya Krishnan, Senthil, Suresh Menon, RJ Balaji and more.

It is a well-known fact that TSK is a heist film set in a period backdrop of 1980’s, so saying Suriya and his Thaanaa Serndha Koottam will pose as CBI agents to loot money from the rich wouldn’t be a spoiler after all.

Thaanaa Serndha Koottam is a fun-filled no-nonsense con film. The rule is to have constantly progressing predicaments, a guessing game on what is going to happen next, unpredictable twists/turns and a power-packed climax.

The second half gets a little intense and at times drags a bit. The film moves along at a pretty leisurely pace post interval and one can't go in expecting a racy ride from start to finish. Though the overall product is quite enjoyable, the audience might have wanted a few more high points than what was on display.

We get to see Suriya as youthful and well-groomed as ever. The fun and jubilant side of Suriya is also on view here, and TSK is an easy outing for this experienced star. Need we say anything more on Ramya Krishnan? The seasoned actress that she is, brings on the finer nuances of her character with a lot of dignity and understatedness. Keerthy looks pretty and shines in a couple of scenes, however, one feels she could have worked on her Brahmin accent.

Senthil who is making a comeback commands good screen presence. Even actors like Suresh Menon, Karthik, Nandha, and Sathiyan have a sizable part to play. RJ Balaji and Yogi Babu make you laugh in a scene or two. On the whole, this handpicked ‘koottam’ of Vignesh ShivN has done a brilliant job.

Anirudh’s songs are already a hit and they seamlessly move the narrative forward. Each one is a solitaire diamond and not once does a song protrude unnecessarily. Dinesh Krishnan’s colourful visuals and Sreekar Prasad’s skillful cuts count among TSK’s numerous pluses. Art director Kiran deserves a special mention for giving enough detailing, however the glossy outlook doesn’t give you a period film feel.

Vignesh’s formula to tease his audience by setting up scenes of possible cliches and then to surprise them with something else has worked big time for the movie. He seems to know the exact feel of the younger generation and what they would expect from a Suriya film.

Naanaa Thaana
Singer: Anirudh Ravichander
Lyrics: Vignesh ShivN

Like a "kutti size-u busvaanam" itself, Naana Thaana glows brightly without any loud bang. The tunes carry to the listener the sheer joy of a guy who is smitten by a pretty girl he just found, and Anirudh's vocals are an important reason for that. The Dholak and Tabla portions are fresh, and accompanied with the Mandolin, create a rustic feel that can help your lazy mornings become fresh!

Sodakku
Singer: Anthony Daasan
Lyrics: Mani Amudhavan, Vignesh ShivN

From start to finish, Sodakku is an express ride. You may not have sung along, but merely listening to it may well leave you gasping for breath at the end. Anthony Daasan packs a powerful punch - and every other layer of sound is no less a match. There is no doubt that it will be one of the biggest kuthu songs of the year. On a lighter note, where is the sodakku sound in the Sodakku Song?

Peela Peela
Singers: Nakash Aziz, Jassie Gift and Mali
Lyrics: Vignesh ShivN

Yet another example of how Anirudh is experimenting and bringing us music from the world is Peela Peela, which is a Baila song, a Sri Lankan music form. Giving it a retro twist, he has made it a pleasant, jolly experience - you will gently shake your limbs as you listen, regardless of where you are.
 

Thaanaa Serndha Koottam
Singers: Vignesh ShivN, Anirudh Ravichander
Lyrics: Vignesh ShivN

Thaanaa Serndha Koottam is the title track of the film, and accordingly is filled with high energy choruses to increase the mass effect. Vignesh's lyrics are powerful, and he has added his own unique style at the same time, making it the backbone of the song more than the composition itself.  A racy song nonetheless, so try it out for yourself!

Engae Endru Povathu
Singers: Anirudh Ravichander, Shaktisree Gopalan
Lyrics: Thamarai

Tailoring a genre of music (Rock) that is still quite new to Tamil audiences in a way that it reaches them from the first second of the song, Anirudh has done a fantastic job Engae Endru Povathu. The nature of the composition itself is designed to bring depth, impact, and seriousness, and it does - hand in hand with Thamarai's solemn lyrics. To say the least, Engae Endru Povathu is inspiring.