User reviews

The National Award for Best Direction for the year 2009 was won by Bala, and as you may all know, he won it for Naan Kadavul, a morbid portrayal of some of the lesser known characters of our dirty world. It was a spellbinding drama with loads of black comedy and sarcasm and i personally regard it as one of the greatest Indian movies ever made. No kidding.

And after making a rock solid movie such as Naan Kadavul, Bala announced that he was gonna change gears and direct a full blown comedy - Avan Ivan (2011). I wasn't skeptical at all. The kind of talent this man has shown has drawn enough respect to make the audience trust the director's intentions, and i am sure most of you will agree with me here. But alas ! Avan Ivan is so contrived and haphazard that it makes you doubt if it was Bala who was behind the lens. This is by far his worst movie till date and as far as critical success is concerned, his first failure.

Most of the comedy is lame or poorly timed. The script lacks development and the movie wanders aimlessly into a gargantuan mess. The music department has not done its job well either. Yuvan Shankar Raja's discography can do better without the addition of Avan Ivan. A villain pops up from thin air, a college girl falls in love with Arya (just like that!) and the Police never show up when we need them the most, not even at a murder site in full public view ! Vishal's character is the only shining light in the film and the actor manages to save many scenes with his honest expressions. Arya has little to do and comes across as loud and boorish, a stark difference from his fiery role in Naan Kadavul. The female leads do not help the film in any way, though Ambika has some wonderful one-liners to deliver. Applause should also be directed at Highness (GM Kumar), the zamindar who befriends the half-brothers. Only recently, in Aadukalam (2011) this old fella had rendered a wonderful performance.

But largely, Avan Ivan is completely devoid of any real content. There are many moments where the acting is grossly overdone, including Vishal's. The blame rests on Bala, and i will say Bala alone. When you don't know what or where your script is, the actors can't do much. My expectations fizzled out within the first 30 minutes itself and i found myself staring at another Tamil dampener. Bala, of all people has let us down. I wish him better days ahead. For now, its Go Vishal !

Last Nite I'd been to National Award Winner director Bala's "Avan-Evan", I can't say its amazing but it has its own elements to boast about! Note, here more Actor Vishal will be in the list of method actors, besides he deserve National award for his sensational acting in this flick! Its going to be proved again that whoever acts in Bala's movie will fetch a place next to the list of top celebs and leading actors in tinsel town so as Surya, Vikram and Arya and its now time for Vishal! From the unexpected opening scene in a song sequence to raging youth set out to avenge in the end its Vishal who captures every spectators attention and leaves everyone awestruck. And Aarya's role is just to be careless younger brother with humor and he justified it! And one more important character one can never forget after Vishal when after the movie over, it is GM Kumar who comes as "Highness", a Jamindar! He had an done an extraordinary performance through out the movie and he went on to go nude before the camera to add more realism for a particular scene, hope he would receive awards and recognitions for his performance.

Bala is highly praised for his unique characters presentation in his movies earlier. Well here too lead actors are portrayed in a strange way in fact little weird as the Vishal was presented with Squinted eyes and Arya with pot head hair cut with their job as part time thieves and of course they are brothers with different mothers but same father. Well rest of the supporting character have done their role as what Bala had in his mind of course justified!

As for the story concerned one has to wonder where the story goes until the beginning of the second half where you will get an hint of what shall be the climax. Story is based on the characters, one has to travel along lead characters and screenplay is wielded in Bala's own trademark manner. Though the movie is slow paced in second half and has scenes reminding Pithamagan, Bala has never let us down in entertaining! It was predictable where the movie going to end but not until the middle of second half. Commercial movie portrayed in a realistic way, interesting and never seen supporting characters, exotic locations, stunning camera works, neat editing, realistic slapstick humors, Vishal's exceptional and bedazzling performance, Aarya's fun, Yuvan's Extraordinary background score and heart throbbing climax well these are the factors will amaze and amuse you! And the end result is it did stand the expectations! Here is my honest ratting 7.5/10!

Being a Bala Die-hard..All I would say is Satisfaction.The Movie has a weak storyline which begins half an hour before the movie ends. Excellent Start which gave me a stomach-ache of Laughing.. Usually Love is something we expect high from Bala was let down by his lose script and Disappointing Screenplay.Vishal was the Highlight,Superb acting by him led up the spectators.Arya once again gave some excellent Humours.Yuvan Shankar Raja's BGM's were Superb..It was disappointing to see 2 of the main songs such as Oru Malaioram and Mudhal Murai Missing in the Movie..Good Cinematography and Dialouges.. Overall Avan(Vishal) + Ivan(Arya) + Bala = Not as Expected!! Powerpack performance by Actors Led down by Lose Screenplay!!

Wasn't like a BALA film! It seems Director BALA decided to take a break and has did this film just without seriousness I guess. He hasn't worked well with the screenplay(the van worth a crore inside it!). The direction just doesn't have the perfection required for the powerful characterization! And the characters had a lot of scope and no one did well. As if BALA was satisfied with the first take alone and didn't wanna go for another take. I mean there were situations where the actors could've given their best. for instance, when VISHAL performs on stage in front of actor SURYA...Did he really deserve that kinda applause? If you call that as some fabulous acting that brings tears to your eye, then what will you call the performance by VIKRAM in PITHAMAGAN after SURYA's death??? If you ask me I'll say that VISHAL did well in the climax and the opening song alone..since he risked his eye, does that mean that there's no need to put extreme effort in acting?He did well but should've done better! Aarya did not have much scope comparatively, He did his part. GN kumar and the rest of the cast definitely should have done a lot better. Music was sick!Unnecessary BGM results with inaudible dialogues and Yuvan should have played a bit emotional musics whenever necessary..so there's no feel for any! Editing was idiotic ending a movie just like that? It seemed to me like BALA knew all of the mistakes in the movie and just went with it! One thing is for sure, This 'll be the worst of BALA's .....HOPEFULLY!

a rating is given as a token of appreciation or critique to any experience served. expectations influence this procedure just as every good meal only makes you want better next time.. this is the greed attached to getting the experience we want and not try something new.. an audience is also wanting to settle down and make Bala a regular name on the menu for any "certain" experience, but this man is simply 'growing stories in celluloid naturally' and not under any formatted procedure for daily entertainment..

this story has a whole hill town of characters come to life in various age and roles of society in situations that make them flourish and shine even in the direst of environments, only to end as prey to the same hunger to thrive, manifested in others in means of different nature..

i'll remember this and even share it..

The good things in this movie are vishal,arya acting and yuvan's music.

yuvan's BG music was awesome. Vishal's intro track and is acting throughout the movie was awesome. arya's causal acting was good. Dialogues are extremely good.

But the movie has plenty of worst things. Comedy in few places was not good. Heroines doesn't help the movie. Arya's love is not natural and unbelievable. G.M. Kumar's death(which was one of the key part) in the movie have not impacted me. Songs in the album was too good but songs in the movie was worse. Arya is a thief in this movie but not even single scene supports that he is a thief.

Bala have not utilized yuvan's work. Bala have proved that film cannot be taken without story. I felt it has my failure.