Perry Kate Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

YouHeart I gave it a 7.5 out of 10

Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

Allissa .Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Sheshank Joshi I saw this movie in a well equipped multiplex here in Hyderabad. Three things struck me immediately. First was the Cinematography. It was stunning. I wonder where and how they managed to get such a natural beauty. During break time, my friend reported that he wants to go to forest then and there. :) Of course I saw it a hundred times later, perhaps, and felt like writing a review, because how many times I watched it, the movie touches me with some or other aspect.The second is the music. Although, songs are not so great, the background music was excellent.. specially in the scene where Ragini tries to escape from Veera.Background music explains her helplessness.The third was Aishwarya Rai. I don't know if it was my eyes or the screen or the make up or whatever circumstances, she looked just WOW to my eyes. I felt I missed the beauty these long years. Not in a single movie of hers I liked her this much.There is no need to speak of Mr. Manirathnam. Dialogues should have been a lot lot better. A little bit of philosophy added through dialogues would have made it a marvelous movie (commercially also). When I first saw it, it touched me with a concept of blurred distinction btwn good and bad. Later it touched me with a concept that, if we know the reason behind evil, we'll pity the crime rather than punish it. Next time, it was that, a man gets his happiness only when he feels it. This is better expressed at a scene where Veera talks with Ragini near that Idol. Next Veera's death touched me. Why had he to die, and that too through Ragini. Next I hated that SP, but later I felt its wrong because he was doing his duty and meant to do it at any cost without any relations. Next I felt, a man when filled with hatred cannot think of love (when veera speaks to Aish that SP kept his photo to hers in his camp). Next I experienced Aish's feelings as to her doubt and insanity when she listens to veera's words. She doubts whether he really loves her. I experience Aish's feeling in her eyes when Veera leaves her to her husband, and when he returns back trying to find Veera rather than consolidating her. Finally, Veera's dialogues speaking how to choose good (I can leave you alive for your wife, and for the same I can help you. What do you want me to do?), and conveying his intention of doing good always in the past, present and future.To me its more than a film, a philosophy, a confusion and a feeling of interrogation of your own conscience.People who don't have heart, or can't think much about other's feelings, can't understand this movie. People who like me, liked the movie, try to watch out the above experiences and feel them. I am sure you'll feel them. Hindi version was too bad, too worse. Undoubtedly, the toughest role an actor can portray is this. Hats off to Vikram for showing various philosophies and ways of thoughts in just one character. He is the real Ravanan.

nashh13 Mani Ratnam's Raavanan is a visual masterpiece, a great work of art and almost nothing beyond that. Till more than half of the film, it is about its marvelous cinematography, eye popping locations, excellent acting, technical perfection, polished and gritty narration and visualization and good editing.The story of Raavanan runs parallel to epic Ramayana but as the film progresses there is a bold twist to the original story. We are directly introduced to the central story with a nicely edited prologue. Veeraiyya, a bandit and a 'protector' figure for the tribal, kidnaps Raagini (Aishwarya Rai) wife of Dev, a senior police officer, to settle some scores. We are shown the past of Veera through brief montages shown in between. The love between Dev and Raagini is shown hurriedly within the space of a love song. The non linear structure of the narration is notable. From then on it is a long journey through the forest. We have a jumping & drinking Hanuman, a Kumbhakarnan, Vibheeshanan and Shoorpanaka in the film. There not much happening in the first half. Its the second half of the film that strikes a chord on you emotionally. This is where that bold twist on Ramayana which was being build up all over first half happens. One wonders who is Ram and who is Raavanan.After seeing Vikram act this role out, I am certain nobody could have done Veera any better(didn't see Raavan though). Aishwarya Rai looked enchanting, and has done justice to her half baked character Raagini. Prithviraj looked perfect for the role as a honest but ruthless cop. Acting was generally great. Cinematography was outstanding. The soundtracks sounded a bit weird in Tamil. I got used to the Hindi version (tracks were originally composed in Hindi, I think, as the Hindi songs were released a month before the Tamil). I loved them all especially folkish+electronic Ranjha Ranjha, Sufi-ish Behene De and a powerful but short Beera Beera. Some may say its not Rahman's best but I personally think its a very good album. Mani Ratnam, who was dubbed Steven Spielberg of India, has mainly focused on the style over subject. A little more hard work on the script was needed. It is made clear that Dev's hunt for Veera is not just about Raagini. What is it then? There wasn't a decent space to show Veera's love for Raagini, grow. There were a lot of things missing in the movie. But I was blown away by the visual artistry of the movie.

Ram Mohan Bhat Been there. Done that. Watched Raavanan today. Was not bad, tho' could have been better. I sort of liked it i guess. Haven't made up my mind yet. Having said that, there was definitely some amount out of disappointment at the end! Vikram was splendid i felt. But few things seemed missing. For one, i felt Mani Ratnam needn't have to so strictly stick to the Ramayan story through out like the nose reference to Surpanaka (Priya Mani) and Monkey like behavior of Karthik (reference to Hanuman) At least I was happy seeing a slight deviation towards the end.Vikram really proved as why he was worth the billing. He was splendid throughout. Even though u feel that the movie might fall apart, you can never stop enjoying watching this guy act. He grunts, he shouts, he howls, he says that 'buck buck buck' ;-) He does everything in this movie to make that character work. I can't wait to watch his performance as Dev in the Hindi version. There was one thing that I couldn't avoid through out the whole movie. I always kept thinking how Vikram would have done that particular act of Prithvi in the Hindi version or how would have AB done a particular part of Vikram.Prithivi does a decent enough job as a tough cop. No one seems white/Black in this movie. Everyone seem to have a gray shade to their character. Dev is not all-good and Veera is definitely not as bad as Raavanan (from the Mythology) Ash surprisingly didn't look that old as she was from our recent memories. She even looked cute in a few scenes.One more disappointment was that few songs were never fully shown. Veera veera was part of the initial credits. Kaatu sirukki only had an old lady humming it once in the movie (wonder who it was!!!) I wanted to hear Shankar Mahadevan/Anuradha Sriram's version. Only 3 songs Kodu poatta, Kedakkari and Kalvare had some screen presence. Usire Poghudey had a couple of dialogues in between.The big plus of the movie was the Cinematography and the camera work (V. Manikandan and Santosh Sivan) which were ably supported by the splendid BG score by Rahman. I have definitely heard a lot of bad reviews for this movie and know that many people felt cheated and disappointed at Mani's work. As I said earlier, it could have been better. But I guess it works for some and doesn't for the rest. Whatever it is, it was definitely worth a watch for Vikram's acting and the way in which a bright and green rural India was shown through out.

kimian First things first. 'Raavanan' is not what everyone thought so. It isn't a contemporary adaptation of Ramayana. Instead, it's the Valmiki's epic meeting Shakespeare's Othello. The master filmmaker Mani Ratnam has apparently taken inspiration from these greatest works to narrate a gripping story in his own inimitable style.'Raavanan', right from the day it went to floors, has been rising a huge hype and hoopla. And expectations soared a never before high before its release. Does the end product lived up to all? To this question, the answer is- With a huge star cast chipping in with their best, mesmerising shots, crisp editing and riveting music, 'Raavanan' ends up satisfying the appetite of the masses.It has been a gripping narration from the very first frame. After 'Sethu' and 'Pithamagan', another side of Vikram's acting credentials is exposed. As Veera, he is at free touching almost every aspect of acting.Aishwarya is pretty and comes out with her best. Prithviraj and Priyamani have taken the challenge of being part of a Mani Ratnam's film and delivered their best. John Vijay walks away doing a negative role.Karthik as forest guard fits the role to T. His expression and body language are something interesting. Equally attracting is Prabhu. Munna as Vikram's younger sibling gets a meaty role to play, which he utilises well.The shots especially in the huge jungle, water falls, hot chase and stunts have been canned at their best. The tone and texture is amazing. All credits go to Santosh Sivan. Rahman's music is the highlight and it gets more sheen with the way it has been shot. 'Veera Veera...' and 'Usure Pogudhey...' still chime in our hearts even as we walk out of theaters.Running for little more than two hours, 'Raavanan' will go down in the history of Tamil cinema as one of the finest and best. Cheers Madras Talkies and Mani Ratnam for rendering a class movie that is racy and entertaining too.Watch only in theaters...............