What works and what not in CCV

Big star cast and top performers in the industry coming together to share screen space in a maniratnam movie for CCV is unexpectedly a welcome approach for the industry. Chekka chivantha vaanam deals with a thin story line presented in the gangster generation. Also its a commercial version of a gangster movie with maniratnam touches blend to it.

Its basically a fight for the leader seat within the family to take over the power once the head of the family is no more by a planned trap. When the plan itself is from their own family, a rivalry is taken place to get the power seat. Who wins the battle and what their moto is CCV showing to us.

👍 Maniratnam movie is known for his magical visual elements and few of the frames he keeps repeating in all his movies showing it as an identity! Here too we see in many places throughout the movie like Arvindswamy sees Aditi from a top of the ladder inside house, Jayasudha shakes hands from a close up to long shot, a scene involving rain, a grandeur family function with colors in complete screen, color shades to differentiate characters.

👍 As there are so many starcast, we able to get it like one cant say a back story for each but then its still needed to understand the depth of the character connect or atleast for the needed character. We are getting introduced to all the character in the present day and straightly goes into the main plot. But the very fact to accept is most of the first half is finished just to introduce the character with their own style and makeover!

👍 Music is one such big backbone and without that this film definitely will not give such an impact. we get to see bits and pieces of songs throughout the movie and one time we get to the feel like we are sitting in a musical album where story is presented through a musical journey! Yet the highlight is, song lyrics exactly matches the scene. Based on the situation, even the romance song comes with a sad version. Thunderous bass music is delight to hear in the Atmos system.

👍 Cinematography is top as usual in maniratnam movies. Hardly 3/4 locations alone and with that complete movie itself finished. Top drone shots at few places have pixelated is bit on downside. Climax shots are captured so brilliant that looks great on screen. With the fast cuts throughout the movie, we feel the adrenaline rush through bgm, action sequences and cuts. we could able to see the different colour shades used for the main characters as well.

👍 In the male leads, everyone are performers and did their part so well with their unique styles though few have little scope! Arvindswamy, VijaySethupathy and STR have little more screen time and utilized that very well with their excellent acting skills. Arunvijay, though he comes for a short time, his style and the energy is comparable.

👍 Among the lead ladies, Jyotika stands out in few places but her acting sometimes didnt go well with the nativity and looks artificial! Other womens in the movie doesnt have much scope to perform well. Undoubtedly we see the importance of women’s character in this movie is less and just for sake of support they are all used in the movie.

👍 This is a story to be told in 4/5 hours so that we really get into everyone’s characteristics but as it is a film of regular length we seem to miss lot of authenticity in what they do and why they do!

From the beginning, every character points a person for all the mishap and the same is maintained till pre-climax which is so obvious when knot unfolds and this loses the surprise element for the viewers, instead if they could atleast show a very well bond between the brothers in the family, then we could have some conflict in finding the actual person and that will actually engage you a bit more!

👍 To pin-point a particular flaw, a scene at the very beginning, when senapathy totally down and in ICU, when all his sons come to see him, they just greet themselves so happily and spend time entertaining together by playing games instead of rushing to see their father, that scene totally not fitting what is happening at that time!

👍 Big starcast and technical brilliance alone will never make the movie outstanding unless the story content and screenplay is tighter enough. Commericially movie will stand good but critically its just another film. People now start looking for the core content rather than seeing the gimmicks all around the movie. In that aspect CCV falls flat and didnt make a mark on it!

Apart from all, what we come for a maniratnam movie is there but not completely. Its like a hit and miss in a proportion!