~~ Samar Reviews & Discussions ~'

The screenplay and story by S Ramakrishnan and Thiru is intricately plotted with just enough commercial elements. There are just three full songs and a bit which goes with the narrative. The film is racy and there are enough surprising twists and turns in the thriller. The hero concept is also given an all new look, which makes it interesting.

Sakthi (Vishal) is a guy who takes tourists on trekking in deep forest in and around Ooty. He is in love with Roopa (Sunaina), but breaks up with her and later goes on a trip to Bangkok in search of his lady love. Sakthi befriends Maya (Trisha), a mystery woman on the flight who proves to be his saviour in the foreign land. However our hero is caught up in a web of deceit when life become a reality show staged by two deadly guys John(JD Chakravarthy) and Arunachalam (Manoj Bajpai).

The film works largely due to the treatment and screenplay which stresses on moods, anxieties and sheer dread. The tension in the air between the predator (villains) and the prey(Vishal), crackles with energy.

It is technically slick with great camera work by Richard M Nathan in Bangkok and Pudhuchery, and film is racy at 2 hours 15 minutes. The action scenes are superbly choreographed by foreign stuntmen and Vishal chasing John Vijay through narrow alleys and streets of Bangkok is shot stylishly.

Holding the restless plot in place is Vishal's clenched and controlled performance. He underplays and his performance is unfussy, no-nonsense and largely humourless to accentuate the introspective nature of a troubled man. He is convincing with his expressive body and eye language.

Trisha is good as Maya, not the run-of-the-mill role you normally see in commercial cinema. She looks good and has played her part well. Sunaina has hardly anything to do while Manoj Bajpai and JD Chakravarthy are adequate. Music of Yuvan Shankar Raja is nothing much to talk about except 'Azhago Azhagu..' song.

On the downside, it lacks nativity and there is an American television reality show look to the film. Samar isn't what one would rate as great cinema but we assure it has enough zing, visual and thrills to keep you in your seats for its runtime of a little over two hours. A perfect for a night out at the movies.

Verdict: Good

Source : Sify

Samar Movie Review by Sir Voice Poet (Ravi)

Starring : Vishal, Trisha, Sunaina, Manoj Bajpayee, J.D.Chakravathy

Direction : Thiru

Music : Yuvan Shankar Raja

Cinematography : Richard M. Nathan

Editing : Rubin

Production : T.Ramesh

Samar is the next film of director Thiru and Vishal after Theeradha Vilaiyaatu Pillai. Samar which released on January 15,2013 opened to positive reviews for the making and concept.

Storyline

Shakthi (Vishal) comes to Bangkok to see his girlfriend Roopa (Sunaina) there he became friends with Maya (Trisha). But couldn't able to find Roopa some game is happening in Shakthi life and the rest of the story is about how Vishal find the game happening around him who is responsible for that is the rest of the story of Samar is about.

Performance.

Vishal gave a good performance his stunts, expression, acting everything was good he done justice to his role he fits to the role of Shakthi perfectly. Only problem I found in Vishal was sometime when he gets angry it is not that much power as his expression is something weak Vishal have to improve his expression for sure. Trisha got equal screen space like Vishal she gave a convincing performance and also she didn't just come as a glamour heroine in this film. Sunaina nothing to say about her just 2 scene in this film.

JD Chakravathy and Manjoj Bhajpayee undoubtedly this year best comedian of this year is both of them for sure. Note they didn't act as comedian in this film but their role turn as tragic comedy in this film. Director Thiru didn't use both the great actors properly they have been misplaced for this role for sure instead of JD Chakravathy and Manjoj Bajpayee they could have put some comedians or any other actor in their role so it would be interesting. As whenever JD and Manoj act it looks very unnatural. Nothing to say about other actors as they did a cameo appearance only nothing anything important.

Analysis (Positives/ Negatives)

Director Thiru comes up with a new concept which has lot of twist and turns somewhat new to tamil cinema. Especially in the first half hats off to Thiru direction as it is very engaging and it will make us to edge of the seat as screenplay is very engaging for that hats off to director Thiru. Audience will be in confusion on what will happen next next this is where director scores in the first half actually it is one of the best suspense, twist first half which I ever seen in recent films. In First Half thiru is like superstar but second half he did the direction, screenplay very differently but the end of the product turn as average in the second half.. Especially fter revealing who is behind the game in the first half slowly Samar going down and down and make little disappointed especially after the 15 minutes of second half Samar ecoming an very very average film . But still it didn't disappoint that much. If Thiru focus more on the 2^nd half means Samar would have been an brilliant mind game film but he missed the opputunity in the Second half.

One question to Thiru I have is mostly Samar looks like Hollywood inspiration films and it has some shades in Unknown and hunger games and some other Hollywood films. Like In Hunger games everyone will watch the humans playing the game like that in Samar Manoj and JD will watch every moments of Vishal. No offence on that but it looks like an inspiration as we see these type of films in Hollywood that's why. If Thiru did this mistakenly without knowing it means no issues but if he takes as an inspiration means please give atleast a small credit in the title card or ending credits. Because some of them won't consider it has inspiration they say copy that's why I am saying this. Next time don't take any inspirations from hollywoood.

Editing is neat cut as rubeen edit the shots perfectly but close up shots could have been edited properly like some of the close up shots didn't sync it out at all in Samar. But whatever it is Ruben has edited Samar nearly the best also he trimmed the film very well. Cinematography is the real screen stealer of Samar as picturization of the songs been osum especially Vellai Mazhai song and showed great techiniques and great visualization.

Songs are just average Yuvan Shankar Raja didn't do his best just listenable songs nothing great. Also they did picturization of each and every songs very well but songs are not needed at all in Samar Thiru could have avoid songs in samar. Some songs in Samar has been misplace especially Vellai Mayil. Background score of Dharan kumar is very ordinary nothing great if Yuvan done the background means it would be amazing I guess.

Conclusion

Whatever flaws we can say in Samar in Thiru direction but he makes the film interesting for that we need to appreciate Thiru for bringing and trying something different in commericial genre films. Rather than supporting the masala or a mass movies makers who gave us the same concept each and everytime make us tired on watching the repeated stuff instead we need to appreciate director Thiru. His attempt in Samar is not a failure at all but it is above average his direction and screenplay. He did some experiments in the film so what this is the first time right so mistake happens means happens so is that means he didn't give his best. Thiru gave his best but some place didn't work out in the second half that's the only problem with Samar. But with the twist and turn, intelligent ideas and thought , Vishal and Trisha performance , Cinemmatogrpahy of Richard Nathan Samar is actually rocking and became an above average product. Only problem is 2^nd half after revealing the villain and suspense film become very dull. Samar can be watchable movie for different expereicne.

Verdict : Samar is powerful, brillaint but we strongly need charger in the second half

Rating : 6.5/10