TOscars 2009

This is a Desi Tamil version of the Academy awards :)

The movies are based on what I have seen and felt. There might be a few more worthy contenders left out. If there are any, kindly post a comment.

Here are the nominees for the various categories. Winners will be announced on the first day of the New Year!!

(Winners listed at the end of post)

The categories are simple: Best movie, Best Actor (Male), Best Actress (Female) and Best Album (Music Director). More categories might be added in the future :)

So, here goes the list *Drum Roll*

Best Movie 2009 Nominees

• Naan Kadavul by Bala

This movie deserved every bit of its nomination for the director's bold effort in handling a subject that many would not even dared to think about. He was ably supported by an excellent cast including the lead pair Arya and Pooja who made the movie complete.

• Yavarum Nalam by Vikram Kumar

A nice horror/thriller in Tamil after a very long time. Many have made an effort in the recent few years but only in vain. It had all the components to provide a nice thrill and kept us on the edge of the seats all the way.

• Naadodigal by Samuthirakani

One of those films which went on to prove that block busters don't really mean huge production costs. In a year where films like Kandhaswamy which largely relied on the huge budget/hype and star cast failed to make a mark, few films like this showed that as long as the story is fine, people welcome a movie with both hands.

• Eeram by Arivazhagan

Another not-so-big-budget films and a nice thriller like Yaavarum Nalam. It was visually appeasing and the cast was very good. Virtually unknown actor Aadhi (earlier starred in Mirugam) made a mark for himself with his performance. And ofcourse Sindhu Menon came up with one the best performance from a female actor this year.

• Unnaipol Oruvan by Chakri Toleti

This one movie I had to think a lot before including it for the nominations. It was not an original screenplay. It was a remake of the Hindi version 'A Wednesday'. But it was not a remake that spoiled the original even though you could not say that this was better than the original. The 2 veterans in the lead made sure they carried the movie on their shoulders.

A special mention has to be made for few more splendid efforts. Pasanga by Pandiraj, Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu by Susindran and Renigunta by Paneerselvam won the favour of the critics and did well at the box office too. Hope there would be more such honest efforts in 2010.

Best Actor 2009 Nominees

• Arya for Naan Kadavul
• Kamal Haasan for Unnaipol Oruvan
• Sasi Kumar for Nadodigal
• Aadhi for Eeram

Best Actress Nominees

• Pooja for Naan Kadavul
• Sindhu Menon for Eeram
• Tamanna for Kandean Kadhalai
• Abhinaya for Naadodigal
• Padma Priya for Pokkisham

Best Album (Music Director)

• Harris Jeyaraj for Aadhavan, Ayan
• Devi Sri Prasad for Kandhaswamy, Villu
• Yuvan Shankar Raja for Sarvam, Vaamanan
• Vijay Antony for Nenaithaley Inikum, Vettaikaran, TN07-AL-4777

*** The winners ***

Best Movie

Naadodigal

Best Actor

Aadhi (Eeram)

Best Actress

Pooja (Naan Kadavul)

Best Musician

Harris Jeyaraj

Bucket actors

Release of 'Naan avan illai - 2' shows that Kollywood has high tolerance for Bucket Actors. Wondering what an actor got to do with a bucket!? Its just those elite group of so-called-actors who don't know how to emote or do such a poor job at it that a water bucket would have fared better!!

Speaking about such actors, Tamil Film Industry has always been blessed with quite a handful, more so in the recent times. One is the subject in question, Jeevan. I wonder how producers are still ready to invest in projects involving him! But, shockingly he seems to be doing a fair job at the market too!! His only movie with an exception was Kaaka Kaaka where the story was too haunting for this acting to be noticed. His acting was well advertised in movies like University, Machakaaran and Thotta.

Another specimen would be RB Choudary's proud son (sorry, not proud.. that would be Jeeva) Ramesh A.K.A Jithan Ramesh. I have seen ppl preceding their names with movies which made them popular. Once, he is associated with a movie like 'Jithan' which sucked, you can know the calibre of this actor. I really wonder, how could he have been from the same family as Jeeva. A world of difference between the brothers. His famous flops include Madhu, Nee Venunda Chellam, Madurai Veeran, Puli Varudhu other than his horrible debut movie.

Another was Sathyaraj's cousin 'Sathiyan' (Am not sure abt his name). He mansatchiye-illama acted in his first movie as a hero. Even if the director and producer forced him, he should have known better. But, the poor guy has had some reality struck in him. Now he has switched over to the comedian roles and seems to be doing an ok job. Recently you would have seen him as Vadivelu's cousin in Aadhavan.

And there was this guy Manoj. He was Director Bharathi Raja's son. The Director is known for his hard ways of getting the work done from his actors. But, he seems to have failed bitterly with his own son. The lame movie 'Taj Mahal' stands as a nice testimony.

I wouldn't justify the term bucket actors, if I don't talk about this gem of an actor. Yes, its our very own Sam Anderson. I really wondered whether the makers of the movie 'Yaaruku yaro' took him for a ride making him believe that he was into a serious movie meanwhile they made a movie that couldn't be anymore hilarious.

I think I have spoken about quite a few. I guess there a lot more of these kinda actors not just in Kollywood but also in its 'B' and 'H' counterparts. I just hope they realize it sooner than later and pick jobs that are meant for them and stay off the screen.