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Doctor movie review: Sivakarthikeyan’s film is a deliciously wicked dark comedy

Doctor movie review: sivakarthikeyan's new film is unlike any you've seen him in before. with dark humour, nelson adds spice to a mundane script..

Doctor Director: Nelson Cast: Sivakarthikeyan, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Vinay, Yogi Babu and Archana Chandokhe

The first thing that comes to mind when you walk out of Nelson’s Doctor is it’s unlike anything you’ve seen from a Sivakarthikeyan’s movie so far. Taking a refreshing departure from the colourful entertainers he’s popular for; Sivakarthikeyan embraces a dark role-– of an army doctor who goes after a human trafficking gang--with minimal dialogues. Nelson whips up a deliciously wicked dark comedy that works despite its predictable plot and twists. Even the most mundane scenes are elevated thanks to the quirky treatment.

Watch Doctor trailer here:

The plot is simple and familiar. Early on, Varun (Sivakarthikeyan) gets a call from his fiancée Padmini (Priyanka), who decides to call off their wedding after realising that he is not hip enough. When Varun and his folks come home to find out the exact reason behind the rejection, they’re told that he’s not caring and emotional. As the wedding is called off, news comes in that Padmini’s niece has gone missing from her school and the family suspects a case of kidnapping. Varun comes forward to help them and he decides to take the law in his own hands when he realises the police are not too serious about the case. Will Varun succeed in saving girl by taking a human trafficking gang head on, forms the crux of the story?

Doctor takes off slowly and initially it feels a little odd to see Sivakarthikeyan deliver his lines like a robot. It feels like a very mechanical performance but once you get used to his character, the film works like a charm. No other Tamil film apart from Nelson’s own Kolamavu Kokila used dark comedy so effectively in recent years. 

Also read: Bhramam movie review: Prithviraj Sukumaran's pointless Andhadhun remake will blindside you with blandness

Nelson manages to evoke laughs out of the most serious situations and he pulls it off so effortlessly. Most scenes would’ve felt flat if they were not treated the way Nelson did with the aid of dark humour. There’s a terrific action sequence inside a metro train and it’s one of the best sequences in the first half. It’s inventive and extremely wacky. Not sure if this sequence would’ve worked in any other film. 

Despite a slightly predictable second half, Doctor stays afloat because of the way it uses humour to make every cliched sequence feel fresh. Yogi Babu, who usually gets a tiny comic roles in movies, gets an extended screen time here and he’s terrific in his portion. With impeccable timing and deadpan expression, he keeps the film alive in some of its more boring stretches. MTV Roadies fame Rajiv and Raghu Ram play key characters and they make for interesting casting choices. Vinay shines yet again as the sophisticated villain. Anirudh Ravichander’s music and score holds the film together whenever it dips.

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DOCTOR MOVIE REVIEW CLICK TO RATE THE MOVIE

Doctor is a film written and directed by Nelson Dilipkumar and jointly produced by Sivakarthikeyan Productions and KJR Studios. It has Sivakarthikeyan and Priyanka Arul Mohan in the lead roles, Vinay as the antagonist, while Arun Alexander, Archana, Deepa, Redin Kingsley, Yogi Babu and others play crucial supporting roles.

Sivakarthikeyan plays the role of Varun, a doctor who is engaged to Padmini (Priyanka Arul Mohan). The engagement breaks off due to certain reasons, while Padmini's niece Chinnu gets kidnapped on the same day. How Varun manages to rescue her forms the rest of the plot.

Doctor starts off on a middling note, which is partially due to the way Sivakarthikeyan's character has been written. It's very different from the man we've seen all these years and once you get accustomed to the change, the film is a dynamite. The film leaves you wondering if someone like Sivakarthikeyan ever smiled in the runtime.

He rarely emotes which adds on to the humour factor, and he's perfectly complemented by Redin Kingsley. Inarguably, each of Redin's lines make you roll on the floor laughing. In a way, Nelson has carved his own space in Tamil cinema with his brand of Black comedy.

The way he's written the sequences featuring Yogi Babu and Redin Kingsley again deserves a lot of praise. The first 30 minutes of the film had a lot of cinematic liberties taken was a minor concern initially.

It is often said that laughter is the best medicine. It's practicality is a question but it does seem to be the antidote for all the writing flaws the film has. The humour factor makes you forgive everything and enjoy the entire duration. One particular writing decision that works is not having any social message for the audience. The film sets off to entertain and it does that alone.

The film gets the casting part right with each one holding their fort well. From Yogi Babu to Deepa to Archana to Redin, they all give memorable performances, and their characters will stay in our minds for a long long time.

As far as the technical side is concerned, the CGI and visual effects in the climax could have been better in an otherwise visually mature film. The cinematography by Vijay Kartik Kannan is solid. The film has very few dialogues and it's Anirudh's music that carries the story forward. There's a stunt sequence in the metro and his score for that scene is a sample for his work in this film.

Overall, Nelson sticks to his strengths and delivers a laughter riot. It's often said that a weakness is a weakness only when it can be attacked. Here the humour provides the shield for all the weaknesses the film has. Nelson and SK succeed in delivering an engaging and entertaining film, and the former has also etched a space for himself, making him a director to look out for in the future.

DOCTOR VIDEO REVIEW

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REVIEW RATING EXPLANATION

பிரேக்கிங் சினிமா செய்திகள், திரை விமர்சனம், பாடல் விமர்சனம், ஃபோட்டோ கேலரி, பாக்ஸ் ஆபிஸ் செய்திகள், ஸ்லைடு ஷோ, போன்ற பல்வேறு சுவாரஸியமான தகவல்களை தமிழில் படிக்க இங்கு கிளிக் செய்யவும்      

DOCTOR NEWS STORIES

Woah - BIG NEWS arrives 3 days ahead of Sivakarthikeyan's DOCTOR release; Fans thrilled!

Enadhu?? TRENDING 'Chellamma song' from Sivakarthikeyan's DOCTOR reminds netizens of this VIRAL song!!

டாக்டர் படத்தின் மிகவும் எதிர்பார்க்கப்பட்ட செல்லம்மா பாடலின் Cute ஆன Glimpse வீடியோ!

"3 வருஷமா நடிக்கல".. "Whiskey Company-ல Work பண்ணிருக்கேன்".. Doctor பட வில்லன் வினய்.. Exclusive பேட்டி!

Doctor related news stories.

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Sivakarthikeyan's biggest சுட்டி fan... "வேற level-ல சிரிக்கிறியேம்மா" | the fan show | doctor videos, rowdy baby பாதி, butta bomma பாதி கலந்து செய்த chellamma glimpse video | doctor videos, other movie reviews.

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Doctor Movie Review: This inventive black comedy features an all-new Sivakarthikeyan

Rating: ( 3.5 / 5).

For a brief while, a few minutes into Sivakarthikeyan’s latest film, Doctor , I wasn’t sure if I’d stepped into a Selvaraghavan film by mistake. The protagonist, Varun (Sivakarthikeyan), sits quiet, staring mirthlessly at his fiancee, Padmini (Priyanka Arul Mohan), as she proceeds to call out his profound lack of emotion. His face, fittingly, is frozen—as it does for the remainder of this film—while he takes in her criticism. At this moment, the Sivakarthikeyan we have come to know over the years, might be expected to launch into a funny monologue, perhaps at the girl’s expense, but this role is a departure in his career. Later, the girl’s father approaches him and tries to establish male camaraderie by saying that his daughter, Padmini, needs a husband who can slap her and bring down her ‘ thimiru ’. Varun’s enjoyable riposte is this: “ Naanum thimiru pudichavan dhaan sir .” I laughed, in relief almost.

Director: Nelson

Cast: Sivakarthikeyan, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Vinay, Redin Kingsley

I wasn’t sure if this placid face of Sivakarthikeyan in this all-new avatar would go on to be sacrificed in this film for a more familiar version. However, I enjoyed—really really enjoyed—that this never happens. Someone, almost affectionately, dubs him, “ Loosu Doctor”. Someone else does one better: “ Paasakaara psycho”. This is Sivakarthikeyan in a comedy, albeit of the black variety, being secure enough to stay away from joining in, being secure enough to be a passive participant while characters around him chatter away. This is Sivakarthikeyan as we have never seen him before, and it’s admirable that he hasn’t just acted in this film but produced it as well.

I don’t remember the last time I laughed as loudly in a theatre as I did watching Doctor . This film’s jokes are so wild, so funny, that it makes you bide your time during the duller, no-joke portions, only so you can let director Nelson have you in splits again. The film is about child trafficking, about sex slavery, about a submissive family forced into acts of crime, but all this solemnity is a device with which to unleash inventive comedy. Sure, it’s rather risky because this is a film full of violence and darkness. Thumbs are lopped off, people are readied to be burnt alive, necks are carefully slit… And yet, with some terrific writing and uninhibited performances from actors like Redin Kingsley, this film finds ingenious ways of delivering laugh-out-loud humour. Director Nelson Dilipkumar shows an evident talent for it. Sample this. In one of several wonderfully bizarre scenes, a man’s kidney is removed, and he is told to comply, were he to need his organ back. Lying on the hospital bed, he doesn’t seem eager to comply. And that’s when a character throws the ultimate threat: “ Kidney-a thooki kakkoos la potruven .” It’s a warning so ridiculous, so unexpected, that it’s impossible not to spit laughter. Fear not, this film is a treasure trove of such absurd dialogues. As a man is whisked away on a boat towards his death, he demands a lemon because he feels seasick. Could a man really be as cool in the face of imminent death? These are questions you don’t ask, and frankly, shouldn’t, in a film of this genre, as it gets in the way of your appreciation of its humour.

If Kolamavu Kokila hadn’t convinced us that this filmmaker is an admirer of Breaking Bad , this film confirms it, with the assassin twins idea (Raghu Ram and Rajiv Lakshman). This is a film full of inventive ideas, like Yogi Babu’s ‘ ara kai ’ game, for instance, as part of which participants smack the back of each other’s hands—a game I dare say might be at home in Squid Game . Even beyond the joke portions, director Nelson shows an eagerness to do away with the usual. Composer Anirudh’s songs may have gone viral, but look at how the two most popular songs (‘ Chellamma ’ and ‘ So Baby ’) are used away—one at the beginning and another at the end—so the film can do its job without distractions. Look at how he deals with the mandatory fight sequence. He sets it in a train—okay, that’s not exactly novel—but then, he switches off the lights and equips the parties with infra-red goggles, and even better, proceeds to elicit non-stop laughter, as people fumble along. While on mandatory angles, in a film featuring Sivakarthikeyan, by now, it’s no surprise that some portions are going to involve his bond with children. And so yes, he rescues children here, but then again, the formula of it all is offset by how this is hardly an innocent film. Nelson even manages a great emotional moment when the otherwise quiet Varun tells the girl child that he rescued her, not to win favours with her aunt, but because he genuinely loves her.

However, each time the jokes come to a trickle and the film soldiers on through its troughs under the delusion that it’s communicating some real tension, you get impatient. The villain (Vinay) is a cardboard cutout you learn nothing about, and yet, Nelson seems keen to project him as a serious threat. For lack of well-written transitions between the serious portions—particularly in the second half—and the comedy, you are sometimes left confused. I remember at least once when I had barely caught my breath back after laughing that I was pushed into an emotional scene that seemed to come out of nowhere. If I had to use an analogy as morbid as the humour in this film, I’d say that I felt like I were spotted laughing at a funeral.

I also didn’t care for a few jokes that come at the expense of women, with one particularly uncomfortable idea being about a man made to wear a nightie and called Gomathi. More importantly, Padmini (Priyanka Arul Mohan) might have benefitted from having something to do in the story, instead of being all dolled up and looking meek (in much the same way this actor does in her Telugu film, Gang Leader ). Perhaps even Nelson realised this at some point, for he throws in a jibe at her expense, when someone asks her, “ Summa lipstick pottutu unna madhri naan okaandha, unakku epdi irukkum ?” Till the end, I wasn’t really sure what Varun truly saw in her. Perhaps her ‘ thimiru ’? But we don’t see a whole lot of that either, after the opening scene.

However, it’s a film with some daring, astonishing ideas for jokes, and for that, I’m willing to forgive its weaknesses. There’s even a beautiful idea underneath the story that speaks of how empathy and emotion isn’t just about words, how it isn’t just about caring for those we know. In a world that is rather unkind to those who may not be great with the words, Doctor is a story of a woman realising that her understanding of what constitutes emotion and empathy is rather superficial. That Nelson has communicated such a difficult idea whilst having us in splits, is an indication that Tamil cinema has a unique directorial talent in him, one I pray that the star system doesn’t go on to stifle.

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Doctor Movie Review (2021)

Sivakarthikeyan's doctor movie review - a laughter riot from nelson and co..

Doctor Movie Cast & Crew

Amidst huge expectations and hype, Sivakarthikeyan's Doctor has finally hit the screens and it is directed by Nelson Dilipkumar who made an impressive debut with Kolamaavu Kokila. Doctor, which has music by Anirudh, features Priyanka Mohan as the female lead, alongside several other talented actors like Yogi Babu, Vinay, Redin Kingsley, Archana, Arun Alexander, Ilavarasu, Dheepa, and others. How has the film fared? Check out!  

STORY: Doctor takes us through the life of Varun (Sivakarthikeyan), a Doctor in the Military, who along with his ex-fiance's (Priyanka Mohan) family set out to search for their little girl, Chinnu (Zaara Vineet), who gets kidnapped. Did Varun and the family succeed in finding their dear girl is what Doctor is all about. Though the film deals with a very serious topic of human trafficking, the way the film has been packaged and presented is enjoyable.   

SCREENPLAY, DIALOGUES & DIRECTION:  Director Nelson Dilipkumar strikes gold with his packaging skills as the film is engaging for the most part. Nelson's brand of humour works in the favour of the movie, saving the film from its other flaws. Except for the initial few minutes post-interval (in Goa), Doctor keeps the audience engaged. The best part about Doctor is its freshness in the screenplay and when the humour becomes the USP of the screenplay, the final outcome is impressive. The makers have indeed underplayed in the trailer as the film has several pleasant surprise moments. Director Nelson uses Redin and Yogi Babu to their strengths and the wise usage of these actors makes Doctor quite enjoyable. Nelson and co. have executed several important stretches in an effective manner - for example, the metro train sequence.

On the weaker side, the villain doesn't pack a punch, in terms of writing. Nelson could've written the character with more strength and depth and that could've made the faceoff more exciting. Vinay's motive or plan in kidnapping young girls is touched only on a surface level and it would've been more authentic if we had known more about him. When you have a weakly written villain, the largely predictable climax comes as an add-on. Also, Doctor has logical flaws at places (the first encounter between SK and Sunil) and if you can let it go off as cinematic liberty, Doctor would be an enjoyable watch. If the logical flaws bother you, Doctor might be a mixed bag.     CAST: Sivakarthikeyan delivers a very mature performance that is subtle and calm for the most part. It is indeed refreshing to see SK in such a character that underplays at several points. We actually never see Sivakarthikeyan smiling and this is surely a standout film, in terms of his character sketch. Priyanka Arul Mohan gets a decent role in her debut Tamil film and she is sure to earn a good fan base here, thanks to her cute expressions and attractive screen presence. The show-stealer of Doctor is Redin Kingsley who sets the screen on fire with his wacky humour and eccentric body language. Redin and Yogi Babu together strike fantastic chemistry and the duo manage to uplift the film whenever there is a dip.

Special mention to the quirky sidekicks like Gabbar, Gabbar's assistant, and Sunil's assistant who add more flavour to the film's dark humour. Whenever you see them on screen, there is assured laughter and that makes the flaws take the backseat. Vinay looks menacing and stylish as Teddy, the classy villain, but there is no depth in his character, as already told. It is good to see a promising actor inside VJ Archana and her emotional performance is neat. Arun Alexander, Ilavarasu, Sunil, and Zaara do their part well, giving a sense of completeness. As far as the performances are concerned, Doctor has no worries. 

TECHNICAL:  Anirudh Ravichander is one of the main pillars of Doctor. He holds the film high with his fantastic brilliant score that acts as a booster to many scenes. The 'Soul of Doctor' score is sure to touch the audience. The songs have also got the crowd-pleasing appeal and it has been shot in an interesting fashion. There are just two songs that take place amidst the story and Nelson needs to be appreciated for his placement of songs. Vijay Kartik Kannan's visuals look rich, enhancing the visual quality of the film. The stunt choreography in the metro train sequence garners good attention as it is intelligently done. The CG / VFX in the climax looks a bit odd.    SO?  Doctor definitely has its own share of flaws, but the comedies manage to hold the film uptight, leaving the audience in splits. Doctor is definitely a film that deserved a theatrical release and thanks to the makers for withstanding the Covid waves to give the audience an entertaining theatrical film. 

Verdict Sivakarthikeyan and Nelson arrive in style with a laughter riot. Don't miss this one!

Galatta Rating: ( 3.0 /5.0 )

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• What is the release date of 'Doctor'? Release date of Sivakarthikeyan and Priyanka Arul Mohan starrer 'Doctor' is 2021-03-26.
• Who are the actors in 'Doctor'? 'Doctor' star cast includes Sivakarthikeyan, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Yogi Babu and Vinay Rai.
• Who is the director of 'Doctor'? 'Doctor' is directed by Nelson Dilipkumar.
• Who is the producer of 'Doctor'? 'Doctor' is produced by Sivakarthikeyan.
• What is Genre of 'Doctor'? 'Doctor' belongs to 'Action,Comedy,Thriller' genre.
• In Which Languages is 'Doctor' releasing? 'Doctor' is releasing in Tamil.

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Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar

A journey into the world of kidnapping.

An army doctor helps his love interest's family to find their kidnapped daughter.

Sivakarthikeyan Vinay Rai Priyanka Arul Mohan Yogi Babu Archana Chandhoke Ilavarasu Milind Soman Arun Alexander Deepa Shankar Redin Kingsley Sunil Reddy Shiva Aravind Rajiv Laxman Raghu Ram Zaara Vineeth Sreeja Ravi Bjorn Surrao D.R.K. Kiran Karate Karthi

Director Director

Nelson Dilipkumar

Producers Producers

Sivakarthikeyan Kalai Arasu

Writer Writer

Editor editor, cinematography cinematography.

Vijay Kartik Kannan

Executive Producer Exec. Producer

T Ezhumalaiyan

Art Direction Art Direction

D.R.K. Kiran

Stunts Stunts

Anbumani Arivumani

Composer Composer

Anirudh Ravichander

Songs Songs

Sivakarthikeyan Mohan Rajan

Sivakarthikeyan Productions KJR Studios

Alternative Titles

Varun Doctor, వరుణ్ డాక్టర్, ഡോക്ടർ, ಡಾಕ್ಟರ್, 医生, Ο Γιατρός

Comedy Action Thriller

Crude humor and satire Bollywood emotional dramas Show All…

Releases by Date

09 oct 2021, 05 nov 2021, releases by country.

• Theatrical UA
• Digital UA Digital Release on Netflix and Sun NXT
• Theatrical 15 Enkelte blodige draps- og voldsskildringer gjør at denne filmen får aldersgrense 15 år.

150 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by jack ★★★½ 11

Mahesh babu's acting was so good.

Review by Michael James ★★★½ 6

It is a well written dark comedy that revolves around human trafficking, but is loaded with quirky characters, witty dialogues and unlimited fun. Though the plot is straightforward and predictable, the narrative keeps the flow entertaining, one for the way it never takes itself seriously, two for its treatment and finally for Nelson’s knack to induce laughter even in the most serious situations. Similar to his first venture, he throws ordinary people into extraordinary situations and later engages one with just the right twist and turns. 

Siva Karthikeyan pulls off his poker faced mechanical performance quite impressively. While the entire cast is good, Redin Kingsley and Yogi Babu stand out with their impeccable timing. Anirudh is once again terrific with his…

Review by Nakul ★★★ 4

DOCTOR was a fun dark comedy with many memorable moments but it loses steam in the second half after starting strong. Yogi Babu's performance & Anirudh's score elevates this movie entirely.

Review by Arjun Rajput ★★★★ 3

This is an out-and-out director's film. Can't wait to see what Nelson has in store for VJna.

Review by Shivu Gowda ★★★½

Doctor is neurotic and needy and very entertaining. An innocent pleasure.

Review by cinema_made ★★★½ 1

Well not bad, but highly entertaining.

Review by Selva ★★★

Quite a draggy one yet it's able to engage you in most parts.Few comedies are hilarious for me and enjoyed it.Out and out serious charcter role for Sivakarthikeyan where he has given a convincing performance to it.Priyanka is cute but she is annoying and the initial thirty minutes are very draggy.

It's a logicless heroic and lengthy flick still a decent entertainer for sure.

Review by Rakshan ★★★★★

I actually don't remember the last Tamil movie I laughed so much while watching. Didn't expect to watch such a good quality black comedy film. The timing of the dialogues and the treatment of each scene - especially the metro fight sequence, Yogi Babu's game sequence, the boat part, the climax, and so many more were a riot! Every actor did their role well. Anirudh's score you know how good it is. Unique fresh writing and engaging screenplay by Nelson who is the actual Soul of Doctor. I'll easily call this my fav film of SK and fav film of 2021 so far. Me being a huge Vijay fan can't wait to see how enjoyable a Nelson - Anirudh union can get in Beast. Overall Doctor was insanely satisfying and fun to watch (more enjoyable when watched in theatres).

And yes that heart is for my girl Priyanka. She was gorgeous throughout the entire film ❤️

Review by Dhanush ★★★½

i stand by my theory that an anvil fell on nelson's head, moments after making this film bc this was genuinely very good but then he made 2 bad movies back to back lmfao (beast and jailer)

Review by Jaisri Nandhini ★★★½

This movie is RIDICULOUSLY FUNNY omg!!

I am actually amused by the fact that someone literally sat and wrote this entire comedy stretches and none of them are spontaneous. Like how can a film with such a dark, intense core be this spontaneous with fun?! With full intention?! I wanna know how the writers room were coming up with these parts that we saw in the film.

I expected the least even after all the post release hype the movie generated coz Nelson's previous film, Kolamavu Kokila didn't work that well for me. But damnn man now he got me completely booked for whats up in his sleeve in his next outings, especially the one with Vijay, whose strong fort…

Review by jack ★★★★½ 2

nelson kutty umma

Review by kattyyy ★★★ 2

Beast 2nd half olunga panirunga bro pls 🚶‍♂️

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Critics Review

A smart entertainer.

Director Nelson holds a unique style that feels refreshing to watch. His knack with dark humor and picking people with peculiar mannerisms to play vital roles pays off yet again. (more)

Source: Meera Chithirapaavai , MovieCrow

An enjoyable comedy-caper that has Sivakarthikeyan playing down his strengths

The first half crackles with humour, with comedy actor Kingsley having us in splits with his brash dialogue delivery. Nelson packs a lot of comedy in the scenes, so much so that even action sequences have a dose of humour (check out the one shot inside a Metro train compartment). Though he loses the plot to an extent in the second half, the interesting set of characters he has designed and their performances keep you invested till the end. (more)

Source: Srinivasa Ramanujam, The Hindu

Doctor is a deliciously dark comedy

This is certainly a different role for Sivakarthikeyan, who, unlike in other films, is made to be less expressive and less talkative. Nelson doesn't let go of this darkly humorous tone even when things get serious. The humour quotient does dip in the second half, but Nelson manages to inject a funny quip or two to keep the tone from getting too serious. (more)

Source: M Suganth, Times Of India

Doctor, is a laughter riot from the word go

It is often said that laughter is the best medicine. It's practicality is a question but it does seem to be the antidote for all the writing flaws the film has. The humour factor makes you forgive everything and enjoy the entire duration. One particular writing decision that works is not having any social message for the audience. The film sets off to entertain and it does that alone. (more)

Source: Editorial Board, Behindwoods.com

A dark comedy which is enjoyable

The first half of the film is thoroughly enjoyable and it's refreshing to see Sivakarthikeyan in a subtle character but he pulls it off with great elan and also brings in laughter within the dark humor zone. Varun is not the cup of tea for Siva but still, he makes it delicious for us thanks to Nelson's strong characterization. Priyanka doesn't have a strong role but she looks cute and also contributes to the comedy department along with an ensemble of actors including Archana, Ilavarsu, Sunil, Yogi Babu, Deepa, Redin Kinsley, and others. (more)

Source: Movie Buff, Sify.com

This inventive black comedy features an all new Sivakarthikeyan

This is Sivakarthikeyan in a comedy, albeit of the black variety, being secure enough to stay away from joining in, being secure enough to be a passive participant while characters around him chatter away. This i s Sivakarthikeyan as we have never seen him before, and it's admirable that he hasn't just acted in this film but produced it as well. I don�t remember the last time I laughed as loudly in a theatre as I did watching Doctor. This film's jokes are so wild, so funny, that it makes you bide your time during the duller, no-joke portions, only so you can let director Nelson have you in splits again (more)

Source: sudhir srinivasan, The New Indian Express

Sivakarthikeyan�s film is a deliciously wicked dark comedy

Doctor takes off slowly and initially it feels a little odd to see Sivakarthikeyan deliver his lines like a robot. It feels like a very mechanical performance but once you get used to his character, the film works like a charm. No other Tamil film apart from Nelson�s own Kolamavu Kokila used dark comedy so effectively in recent years. (more)

Source: Haricharan Pudipeddi, Hindustan Times

Sivakarthikeyan's logic defying film is a thorough entertainer

The best thing about the film though is that it doesn't punch above its weight. One of the best talents of Nelson is his ability to write comedy. And banking on artists Yogi Babu, Deepa Shankar and Redin Kingsley, he packs a punch. Yogi Babu is a riot throughout the film. Nelson has focussed on the Yogi Babu character by writing a good role for him, who is very important to the plot. (more)

Source: Balakrishna Ganeshan , The News Minute

Laughter therapy

What works best in 'Doctor' are the laugh out loud moments that are sprinkled throughout the screenplay. Many of them land when you least expect it making it that much more enjoyable. There is a freshness to the way the story moves forward that is a big plus. The action sequence on the metro train is choreographed in a novel way balancing comedy and the thrills. The audience is won over when the hero looks beyond love and family and goes to rescue the girls which is a powerful plot point that saves the day for the film. (more)

Source: Editorial Board, IndiaGlitz.com

Thrills to an extent

The film has dark humor and is executed quite well by Nelson. The message showcased regarding women�s safety in the film looks good. Also, the thrills in the pre-climax have been executed well. (more)

Source: 123 Telugu Team, 123telugu.com

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'Doctor' film review: This inventive black comedy features an all new Sivakarthikeyan

For a brief while, a few minutes into Sivakarthikeyan’s latest film, Doctor, I wasn’t sure if I’d stepped into a Selvaraghavan film by mistake. The protagonist, Varun (Sivakarthikeyan), sits quiet, staring mirthlessly at his fiancee, Padmini (Priyanka Arul Mohan), as she proceeds to call out his profound lack of emotion. His face, fittingly, is frozen— as it does for the remainder of this film—while he takes in her criticism.

At this moment, the Sivakarthikeyan we have come to know over the years, might be expected to launch into a funny monologue, perhaps at the girl’s expense, but this role is a departure in his career. Later, the girl’s father approaches him and tries to establish male camaraderie by saying that his daughter, Padmini, needs a husband who can slap her and bring down her ‘thimiru’. Varun’s enjoyable riposte is this: “Naanum thimiru pudichavan dhaan sir.” I laughed, in relief almost.

I wasn’t sure if this placid face of Sivakarthikeyan in this all-new avatar would go on to be sacrificed in this film for a more familiar version. However, I enjoyed— really really enjoyed—that this never happens. Someone, almost affectionately, dubs him, “Loosu Doctor”. Someone else does one better: “Paasakaara psycho”.

This is Sivakarthikeyan in a comedy, albeit of the black variety, being secure enough to stay away from joining in, being secure enough to be a passive participant while characters around him chatter away. This i s Sivakarthikeyan as we have never seen him before, and it’s admirable that he hasn’t just acted in this film but produced it as well. I don’t remember the last time I laughed as loudly in a theatre as I did watching Doctor. This film’s jokes are so wild, so funny, that it makes you bide your time during the duller, no-joke portions, only so you can let director Nelson have you in splits again.

The film is about child trafficking, about sex slavery, about a submissive family forced into acts of crime, but all this solemnity is a device with which to unleash inventive comedy. Sure, it’s rather risky because this is a film full of violence and darkness. Thumbs are lopped off, people are readied to be burnt alive, necks are carefully slit… And yet, with some terrific writing and uninhibited performances from actors like Redin Kingsley, this film finds ingenious ways of delivering laugh-outloud humour. Director Nelson Dilipkumar shows an evident talent for it.

Sample this. In one of several wonderfully bizarre scenes, a man’s kidney is removed, and he is told to comply, were he to need his organ back. Lying on the hospital bed, he doesn’t seem eager to comply. And that’s when a character throws the ultimate threat: “Kidney-a thooki kakkoos la potruven.” It’s a warning so ridiculous, so unexpected, that it’s impossible not to spit laughter. Fear not, this film is a treasure trove of such absurd dialogues.

As a man is whisked away on a boat towards his death, he demands a lemon because he feels seasick. Could a man really be as cool in the face of imminent death? These are questions you don’t ask, and frankly, shouldn’t, in a film of this genre, as it gets in the way of your appreciation of its humour. If Kolamavu Kokila hadn’t convinced us that this filmmaker is an admirer of Breaking Bad, this film confirms it, with the assassin twins idea (Raghu Ram and Rajiv Lakshman). This is a film full of inventive ideas, like Yogi Babu’s ‘ara kai’ game, for instance, as part of which participants smack the back of each other’s hands—a game I dare say might be at home in Squid Game.

Even beyond the joke portions, director Nelson shows an eagerness to do away with the usual. Composer Anirudh’s songs may have gone viral, but look at how the two most popular songs (‘Chellamma’ and ‘So Baby’) are used away—one at the beginning and another at the end—so the film can do its job without distractions. Look at how he deals with the mandatory fight sequence. He sets it in a train— okay, that’s not exactly novel— but then, he switches off the lights and equips the parties with infra-red goggles, and even better, proceeds to elicit non-stop laughter, as people fumble along.

While on mandatory angles, in a film featuring Sivakarthikeyan, by now, it’s no surprise that some portions are going to involve his bond with children. And so yes, he rescues children here, but then again, the formula of it all is offset by how this is hardly an innocent film. Nelson even manages a great emotional moment when the otherwise quiet Varun tells the girl child that he rescued her, not to win favours with her aunt, but because he genuinely loves her. However, each time the jokes come to a trickle and the film soldiers on through its troughs under the delusion that it’s communicating some real tension, you get impatient.

The villain (Vinay) is a cardboard cutout you learn nothing about, and yet, Nelson seems keen to project him as a serious threat. For lack of well-written transitions between the serious portions—particularly in the second half—and the comedy, you are sometimes left confused. I remember at least once when I had barely caught my breath back after laughing that I was pushed into an emotional scene that seemed to come out of nowhere. If I had to use an analogy as morbid as the humour in this film, I’d say that I felt like I were spotted laughing at a funeral.

I also didn’t care for a few jokes that come at the expense of women, with one particularly uncomfortable idea being about a man made to wear a nightie and called Gomathi. More importantly, Padmini (Priyanka Arul Mohan) might have benefitted from having something to do in the story, instead of being all dolled up and looking meek (in much the same way this actor does in her Telugu film, Gang Leader). Perhaps even Nelson realised this at some point, for he throws in a jibe at her expense, when someone asks her, “Summa lipstick pottutu unna madhri naan okaandha, unakku epdi irukkum?” Till the end, I wasn’t really sure what Varun truly saw in her. Perhaps her ‘thimiru’? But we don’t see a whole lot of that either, after the opening scene.

However, it’s a film with some daring, astonishing ideas for jokes, and for that, I’m willing to forgive its weaknesses. There’s even a beautiful idea underneath the story that speaks of how empathy and emot ion isn’t just about words, how it isn’t just about caring for those we know. In a world that is rather unkind to those who may not be great with the words, Doctor is a story of a woman realising that her understanding of what constitutes emotion and empathy is rather superficial. That Nelson has communicated such a difficult idea whilst having us in splits, is an indication that Tamil cinema has a unique directorial talent in him, one I pray that the star system doesn’t go on to stifle.

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Ncuti Gatwa Delights in Disney+’s Audacious and Adventurous ‘Doctor Who’: TV Review

By Aramide Tinubu

Aramide Tinubu

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As the new Doctor at the helm of the Tardis, the police box-shaped time-traveling ship, Ncuti Gatwa takes “ Doctor Who ” on a thrilling ride that doesn’t disappoint. The ancient alien and his latest companion, Ruby Sunday ( Millie Gibson ), embark on a vibrant season jammed with all the magical elements that have made the show a British television staple for 60 years.

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The episode opens with Ruby scoping out the Tardis and the Doctor explaining his origin on the planet Gallifrey. Intrigued by the knowledge, Ruby is overwhelmed when the Doctor activates his ship, landing them in the age of the dinosaurs. Since the Mesozoic Era wasn’t exactly human-friendly, their stay is brief, and they catapult into the future, landing in the 22nd century on a stinky space station run by a group of talking babies. While the episode is full of adorable tots and one very special guest star, its critiques of forced birth and Western societies’ refusal to protect children also resonate.

With the new season, Davies offers callbacks to past iterations of the show — with a twist. The Tardis has a stark white interior and backlit circles, echoing the original 1960s ship. However, the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver has been updated with a new look and bears a Rwandan proverb, a nod to Gatwa’s heritage.

Even with this new energy, some episodes are more riveting than others. Episode 2 leans into the twist-dancing and beehive hair of the ’60s. But it doesn’t quite come together, despite “Drag Race” winner Jinkx Monsoon’s appearance as the music-stealing Maestro. Yet the profound bond between Ruby and the Doctor keeps the season from ever going off-kilter. While the voyagers share a zest for excitement, their true connection is born of the sense of loss that simmers in both their hearts. The series’ strange adventures and the chemistry between the leads will be enough to keep viewers tuned in. But it’s Gatwa’s star turn that elevates the season. With his megawatt smile and colorful costumes, he dives into the role, delivering a refreshing dynamism that makes the season a uniquely mesmerizing watch.

The first two episodes of “Doctor Who” premiere May 10 on Disney+ with new episodes dropping weekly on Fridays.

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Friday , 10 May 2024

தமிழில் உள்ள நுணுக்கங்கள்

Star Movie Review: ‘ஸ்டார் படம் தாங்குமா? தாங்காதா?’ நேருக்கு நேர் உடைத்து பேசும் விமர்சனம் இது தான்!

Star Movie Review: படத்தின் ஒன்லைன் சின்னதாக இருந்தாலும், அதனை தன்னுடைய திரைக்கதையால் முடிந்த மட்டும் சுவாரசியமாக மாற்றி இருக்கிறார் இளன். முதன்மை கதா பாத்திரங்கள் மட்டுமல்லாது, துணை கதாபாத்திரங்களுக்கும் அளவான இடம் கொடுத்து கவனிக்க வைத்ததிற்கு தனி பாராட்டுகள்.

பியார் பிரேமா காதல் திரைப்படம் மூலம் கவனம் ஈர்த்த இயக்குநர் இளன் இயக்கத்தில், நடிகர் கவின் நடிப்பில், இன்று வெளியாகி இருக்கும் திரைப்படம் ஸ்டார். படத்தின் ட்ரெய்லரும், யுவனின் இசையும், படத்தின் மீதான எதிர்பார்ப்பை கூட்டி இருந்த நிலையில், படம் எப்படி இருக்கிறது என்பதை பார்க்கலாம்.

ட்ரெண்டிங் செய்திகள்

கதையின் கரு என்ன?

சிறு வயதில் இருந்தே சினிமாவில் நடிகராக வேண்டும் என்ற கனவோடு இருக்கும் கலையின் தாகமும், அதற்கு உற்றதுணையாக நிற்கும் தந்தையின் அன்புமே படத்தின் படத்தின் ஒன்லைன்.

கலையாக நடித்திருக்கும் கவினின் நடிப்பில் அவ்வளவு நிதானம். பள்ளி, கல்லூரி, வேலை, கனவிற்கான தேடல், குடும்பம் என ஆல் ரவுண்டராக நடிப்பை வெளிப்படுத்த அத்தனை களங்கள். அனைத்திலும் அவர் சிக்ஸர் அடிக்க முயன்று இருந்தாலும், சில இடங்களில் அவை பவுண்டரிகளாக மட்டுமே சென்று இருக்கின்றன.

கலையின் அப்பாவாக வரும் பாண்டியன் கதாபாத்திரத்தில் நடித்திருக்கும் லால், ஒவ்வொரு காட்சியிலும் அன்பை நடிப்பால் பொழிந்து இருக்கிறார். பாண்டியனின் மனைவியாக நடித்திருக்கும் கீதா கைலாசம், எமோஷன் காட்சிகளில் சிறப்பான நடிப்பை கொடுத்திருக்கிறார். 

முதல் பாதி கதாநாயகியாக நடித்திருக்கும் ப்ரீத்தி அழகால் கவர்கிறார். இரண்டாம் பாதி, கதாநாயகியாக வரும் அதிதி நடிப்பால் கவர்கிறார். (சில இடங்களில் ஓவர் ஆக்டிங்கை தவிர்த்து இருக்கலாமே அம்மணி). துணை கதாபாத்திரங்கள் அனைத்தும் நெஞ்சில் நிற்கின்றன.

எதிர்பார்ப்பு நிறைவேறியதா?

படத்தின் ஒன்லைன் சிறியதாக இருந்தாலும், அதனை தன்னுடைய திரைக்கதையால் முடிந்த மட்டும் சுவாரசியமாக மாற்ற முயற்சி செய்திருக்கிறார் இயக்குநர் இளன். கவின் போன்ற இளம் நடிகருக்கு அனைத்து ஏரியாக்களிலும் நடிக்க களம் அமைத்து கொடுத்து இருந்தது சிறப்பு.

முதன்மை கதாபாத்திரங்கள் மட்டுமல்லாது, துணை கதாபாத்திரங்களுக்கும், அளவான இடம் கொடுத்து, கவனிக்க வைத்ததிற்கு தனி பாராட்டுகள். ஆனாலும், சில காட்சிகளில் அவர் ஒன் மோர் கேட்டு இருக்க வேண்டும்.

குறிப்பாக, மும்பையில் அவமானப்பட்டு அப்பாவிடம் கவின் டெலிபோனில் பேசும் காட்சியில், கவினின் நடிப்பில் ஒரு கட்டத்திற்கு மேல் செயற்கைத்தனம் தெரிய ஆரம்பித்து விட்டது. அதே போல கவின் மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டு இருக்கும் போது, அவரது அம்மாவான கீதா கைலாசம் வெளிப்படுத்திய எமோஷனிலும், ஒருக்கட்டத்திற்கு மேல் செயற்கைத்தனம் எட்டிப்பார்க்க ஆரம்பித்து விட்டது. 

முதல் பாதி கதை ஒரு கலைஞனின் கனவு, அதை நோக்கி வைக்கும் முறையான முயற்சிகள் என சுவாரசியமாக சென்ற நிலையில், இரண்டாம் பாதி அதன் நேர்கோட்டில் இருந்து விலகியது போல தெரிந்தது.

குறிப்பாக கவின் முடங்கி இருக்கும் காட்சிகளில் ஆழம் இல்லாமை, அதிதியின் கிரிஞ்ச் காட்சிகள் கதையை சோதித்தோடு நம்மையும் சோதித்து விட்டன. படத்தை இவர்கள் அனைவரும் ஒரு பக்கம் தாங்கி நின்றால், இன்னொரு பக்கம் முழுவதையும், தன்னுடைய இசையால் தாங்கி நிற்கிறார் யுவன்.

பாடல்களில் பெரிதாக ஸ்கோர் செய்யா விட்டாலும், பின்னணி இசையில் தான் அப்போதும், இப்போதும், எப்போதும் யுவன்தான் என்பதை நிரூபித்து இருக்கிறார். முதல் பாதியை சுவாரசியமாக கொண்டு சென்ற இளன், இரண்டாம் பாதியில் கோட்டை விட்டது படத்தின் பெரும் பலவீனம். அதிலும் ஸ்கோர் செய்திருந்தால் இந்த ஸ்டார் ஜொலித்திருக்கும்.

தமிழ்நாடு, தேசம் மற்றும் உலகம், பொழுதுபோக்கு, விளையாட்டு, லைஃப்ஸ்டைல், ஜோதிடம், புகைப்பட கேலரி, வேலைவாய்ப்பு, சமீபத்திய செய்திகள் என அனைத்தையும் இந்துஸ்தான் டைம்ஸ் தமிழ் இணையதளத்தில் உடனுக்குடன் தெரிந்து கொள்ளலாம்.

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The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.

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