7th Sense
Rating:2.5/5
Cast : Surya, Shruthi Hassan
Director : A.R. Murugadoss
Producer : Udhayanidhi Stalin
Music : Harris Jayaraj
7th Sense is a sci-fi thriller in which Suriya plays a double role: a circus artist and Buddhist monk. Shruti Haasan will play the role of Subha Srinivasan, a scientist. Director Murugadoss has done a lot of research on the role and sources who have seen the raw version of the film are amazed with Suriya's performance.Lets see how Murugudoss fared at much awaited movie.
Story:
Set in backdrops of 1600 years ago, the film takes us straight to the history of Boddhidharma (Suriya), a legend from Kanchipuram, who spread the philosophy of Zen, became the guru of ‘Shaolin Temple’, a medical scientist and commenced the art of martial arts in China.In China he cures a dangerous epidemic with his extraoradinary medical knowledge.Chinese believe that burying Boddhidharma body under their soil would keep all evil forces away.Boddhidharma realizes that food is poisoned and readily accepts the death.
Cut to the present day, Aravind(Surya) works as a trained master in circus and Subha(Sruthi hasan) as a Genetic scientist.She does a research on ‘RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY’ that is a method that includes the combination of DNAs from the lineage of warriors and versatile artist.In the research she founds out Surya is perfect descendant of Boddhidharma with 87% DNA match.On the other hand, China decides to do BIO-war on India.They plan to inject a virus and make India succumb to all their condition for the medicine.Dong Lee (Johny Tri Nguyen) land in India to inject a virus and kill Subha to stop the research, which would invoke Boddhidharma and he is capable of inventing a medicine for the virus.They name the operation as Operation Red.
How Subha will face Dong Lee and how she succeeds in RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY , to avert major damage through epidemic virus forms rest of the story
Performances:
Surya: He is perfect fit for Boddhidharma.His masculine strength and well built body makes it easy for audience to imagine him as a super power.The way he displayed the martial art skills is immaculate.However, his role lacks the required punch as Aravind(21st century role).Movie offers not much scope for him throughout the movie except for two scene,where he encounters villian for the first time and climax fight.Dubbed dialogues from him looked very ordinary and never matched with mood of the movie.On a whole, he is terrific actor with immence skillset.
Shruti Hasan: She looks like a beautiful princess.She got a meaty role in the movie and she almost justified it.However, she should do some homework in intense drama scenes, she lacks required expressions at times.But given her experience she is better than many current day heroines.Especially in the Muthayala song, she compliments the excellent background with her spotless beauty.She has a bright future, if she is toned in a proper way.
Others :Johny Tri Nguyen looked stylish and terrific on screen.He completely outplayed others by his invincible appearance as Villain.He did his job with ease , justified his martial arts profession.Rest of the cast did their part neatly.
Direction and Screenplay: Firstly one should appreciate Murugadoss for choosing such a novel concept.However the plot is almost similar to Kamal hasan's Dashavatharam.Murugadoss also receives the blame for patchy screenplay and ineffective narration.The Emotional scenes are dealt in a plain way , he could not pump the required energy, when it is most needed.He was successful in presenting a very good chemistry between lead pair in Ghazini movie, but he could not produce the same in 7th sense.On a whole he did a average job,leaving lot of space for improvement.
Other departments:Harris Jayraj is the first person to be blamed in the movie for scoring a below par background Music.Even though songs were shot in rich locations, they dint go well with audience because of medoicre music.Editing is very bad, lot of scenes ends abruptly.Cinematography and choreography are adequate.Stunt master deserves a special praise.However, he should have planned climax fight more effectively.Mano's voiceover for Boddhidharma episode is adequate.
Titbits:
We are presenting the highlight scenes in the movie, as we could not find any dialogues worth mentioning.
1. The point where Johny tries to hypnotize Suriya and fails.
2. The dialogue pertaining to the death of a Tamil Liberation Leader and his culmination due to betrayal.
3. The action sequences on the highway road, where the entire public crowd starts attacking Suriya and Shruthi Haasan.Though this scene is a bit lengthy,it shows the real power of Villain.
Positives:
Surya as Boddhidharma
Theme of the movie
Sruthi Hasan glamour
Villain character
Negatives:
Slow first half
Direction and screenplay
Background Score, Songs
Weak hero role (as Aravind)
Telugu dubbing
Final Verdict :
Concept of the movie deserves special applause.It talks about preserving Indian values and its great history of specialized educational values in various fields such as medicine and martial arts.Though the concept is different, the treatment became ordinary and predictable.Movie starts with Boddhidharma episode.Inspite of slow pace, Surya's performance made audience engrossed.First half of the movie ,except Boddhidharma episode, is just a medoicre.It haunts audience with below average narration.However,With the introduction of Villain, story takes the highway.Villian is the main asset of the movie.He possess the Hypnotism technique, which was taught by Boddhidharma ages back.The scenes where he uses the technique are definite show stealers in the movie.His character is invincible and he is made to look unbeatable for any normal human being.So people expect Aravind turned Boddhidharma's episode to be highlight of the movie.But Murugudass dissappoints packing up the climax in a hurried and routine way.He could not pump the adrenaline levels in any scene, even though many scenes offered bigger scope for such treatment.A typical telugu cinegoer might rate this movie as below average, given his inclination towards High voltage scenes.
On a lighter note; one would wonder why the title is 7th Sense, it is not justified properly and there is not much difference between 7th sense and Kamal hasan's Dashavatharam.Both plots have similar central theme of averting a major damage(Tsunami and Virus).On a whole, concept of the movie should be appreciated,taking should have been more effective.
Final Words: Has a thought provoking message, but a below average treatment…
