8 Number Veedu

StarCast:Chinna, Mayuri, Devna Pani, Ramjagan, Jhansi
Director: Chinna
Music: Koti

Chinna and Asha Saini, rechristened Mayuri, move into a new house with their two kids. Chinna is an atheist but is shown as a man who is concerned about the tulasi plant drying up countless times in the portico. He is puzzled and curious about the weeping sounds in the house, his wife falling sick, getting hysterical periodically, the maid and a friend's death, the constant arguments that has been creating a distance between the couple and finally his kid getting aggressive and violent.

Ramjagan who plays Chinna's friend blames the house for all the mishaps and advises him to see an astrologer but the latter is reluctant, he on one occasion throws of the charm/armulet that's been tied around his son's wrist.

It is revealed in the very beginning that Mayuri is possessed but the director succeeds in grabbing your attention and makes one wonder who the ghost is and why she had possessed his wife. This is not a riveting story but the film does boast of some eerie moments, it could scare kids if not accompanied by an adult but the sad part is that the finale is bland. A better-penned climax, a fresh idea would have given it a taut finish.

Mankatha

Star Cast : Ajith, Arjun, Trisha, Lakshmi Rai, Andrea, Anjali, Premgi
Banner : Cloud Nine Movies
Music : Yuvan Shankar Raja
Director : Venkat Prabhu
Producer : Dhayanithi Alagiri

Ajith has appropriately chosen to do 'Mankatha' as his 50th film. It is a movie that has everything his fans would want. He shakes his legs vigorously, evokes laughter, does pulsating stunt sequences and utters catchy one-liners (with some of them going mute).

The first-half belongs to Venkat Prabhu where he shows sparks of 'Saroja' and 'Goa', while the latter part is totally dominated by Ajith. As a merciless baddie behind money, Ajith oozes venom in his eyes. His body language and dialogue delivery compliments it very much. Though the movie has over a dozen characters, it's Ajith all the way. With his remarkable screen presence, he is at his coolest best.

Coming to the story, 'Mankatha' revolves around a suspended cop Vinayak Mahadevan (Ajith) in Maharashtra police. He leads a happy life with his lover Sanjana (Trisha), daughter of an influential local goon Arumuga Chettiyar (Jayaprakash).

Vinayak is a man who dares to do anything for money. But a fun-loving person, he lives his life in his own way.

A suicide by a police officer investigating the betting mafia involved in Indian Premier League (IPL) hogs headlines. Assistant Commissioner of Police Prithvi (Arjun) takes charge to end betting scandal in the sport.