Why you must watch Uttama Villain for second time

Myself being a die-hard fan of Kamal Hassan was eagerly waiting for this movie, and frustrated when the release was delayed. Wave it aside, it was worth the wait. Now let me tell you few scenes I noted/adored or maybe you missed. Or it maybe from my perspective. It's all about Uttama Villain- yet another master piece by the Legend Padmabushan Dr.Kamal Hassan.

*SPOILERS AHEAD! READ ONLY IF YOU'VE WATCHED THE MOVIE* 
*STRICTLY NOT A REVIEW*

Let me go chronologically about the scenes that one must not miss. If you are a Kamal fan or been an avid spectator of his films right from the beginning  you can logically and emotionally connect to each dialogue and scene in Uttama Villain.

As soon as the movie starts, the scenario is a gone-crazy audience in the theater applauding for the movie "Veera vilayatu" when Manoranjan steps on the dais, he addresses his fans with his usual sense of humor and mentions the word "thala vali" (head ache) and the rest of the movie changes because of that.

When they step out of the theater, Manoranjan gives a grim look to Chokku which he explains all. And the dialogue "Naan dhan nadigan.... en kitta nadikatha". This one gem of a reaction by Kamal Hassan not to be missed. 

Didn't we love the dialect of Kamal Hassan as Vishwanathan in Vishwaroopam? Indeed we loved it, in the clinic Manoranjan picks up the phone call of DS and says "Hello Doctor" with the dialect of Vishwanath, and changes to Madras bashai(dialect) "enna sadhaaikrala?". You must not miss this scene! Kamal Hassan sugarcoats this important scene with romance and humour, if you listen closely to what DS says in the phone line you can understand the importance and grimace in his tone. DS didn't wish to say this news to Manoranjan first, but to Dr.Aparna. But Manoranjan picks up the call seeing the caller-ID. 

During the party scene, there is a similar shot as in Manmadhan Ambu, where Manoranjan stands on near the balcony and looks down at Zacharia. Manoranjan here, Mannar there (lol). You had also seen Kamal Hassan's flair towards French in MMA, in this movie when Monohar sees his father Manoranjan hugging Aparna, Chokku immediately closes the curtain. When Manohar enquires Chokku, he immediately contradicts with what he saw back the stage. Manohar tosses his glass and says "touché*" Another coin to the bag of new words used by Kamal Hassan.

*Touché —used to admit that someone has made a clever or effective point in an argument.

Have a keen eye on the photos on the wall. Even in Rao's house. During the television show, Chokku hints the program head to ask Manoranjan about his next movie, but he says that Manoranjan warned never to ask any question about the movie. The main story takes pace from here. Also we can notice the slideshow on the backdrop, the fan-made images of Kamal Hassan, at the end we can see the photoshoot images of Kamal Hassan and Preity Zinta for the movie ROBOT which was eventually dropped and then released starring Rajnikanth. 

The conversation between Zacharia and Manoranjan, where we get to know about Yamini and Manonmani, where we were spellbound by Kamal Hassan's acting. His lips, cheeks, chin, eyes, his whole face seems to show the emotions as in Bharatnatyam, no wonder the whole theater was filled with applauds and awestruck faces. Ulaganayaga we owe to you!

During the initial stages of the movie within the movie "Uttama Villain" the production house is name "Mano-marga". Remember when Chokku asks later that who is going to produce the movie with your Guru as director? Manoranjan says "naan dhan". It shows his love to his Aasaan. And the "Uttama Villain" movie directed by Margadharsi and music composed by "Ghibran". 

Now coming to the 8th century part, the Queen Karpagavalli writes a letter to the neighboring king pleading for help but it never reaches him, but the news somehow passes to the King Uttaman by the minister Kaakapu Sundar and spy Later King Muttharasan orders his ministers to take Uttaman and shave his beard, but the Ministers plan to test themselves, one of the Minister kicks him and Uttaman drowns and eventually he gets caught on the fishing net and is pulled by a fisherman, wait a second! did you notice something at the start of this scene? The fisherman is the spy from the neighboring dynasty. It is evident again when the spy comes to the secret-passage/cave after a talk between Uttaman and Karpagavalli, the Ottaran says "enga mannar munnadi naa ivalo pesradhey adhigam" and gives a look at Uttaman  and while leaving he bows down with a vanakkam to the minister and to Uttaman (it's his duty to show respect to his king, nobody gives much respect to a koothu artist) and he notices that after few seconds. During this very scene we come to know that minister Kaakapu is on the side of Karpagavalli. 

Right from the beginning Uttaman seems to be a very a timid guy, but after the "Kaadhalam" song you can witness the KIng in him, he orders the minister to close the curtain and joins the dance with Karpagavalli, during the secret-cave scene he twice lifts his sword when he seems to have danger. And we come to know that Karpagavalli now knows Uttaman is actually the neighboring King, and also seems to fall for him.

Muttharasan forces him to tell any trick attain immortality, Uttaman tells there are three ways. First is to become a sage, second is to become a writer/poet, third is to become an artist, Kamal Hassan has done the two ways in this movie, he is the writer and actor, but he won't become a Sage like his friend Rajinikanth and go boundless of time and materialism. Or is he  trying to show the other way that Immortality is actually bane.

Margadharsi finalizes the shot and says it has come well and is shocked by seeing Manoranjan's nose bleeding, but waves it aside with his usual humor. Before the interval Manoranjan stares at the fishes just caught by the fisherman, and he visually indicates us that he is also living the last few moments of his life like the fish. Such a brilliant depiction by Kamal Hassan.

When Manonmani meets her biological father for the first time, the background turns out to be a film equip, just sheer brilliance and wit of Kamal Hassan. When Manoranjan tells that he's the villain in the life of Manonmani and there is medium-shot showing the mannerism of the daughter and father being alike, he also mentions that "Nijam nu onnu iruke"

When Manohar comes to know that his dad is affected by Grade 4 brain tumor, it is a hear-melting scene when Manoranjan struggles as a father and as a Celebrity, his emotions and his tone tells it all, Manohar hugs his dad and cries "Why you?" and he replies "Everybody does, even you my baby" but they never show the face of Manohar, maybe Kamal Hassan didn't want to adulterate that scene if his his emotions aren't conveyed aptly.

During the beginning of the movie, Manohar walks oout of the theatre and tells to his Girlfriend in phone that Veera Vilayatu is a cliché movie and he didn't like his father doing commercial scenes like riding a bike with the female protagonist sitting in front, later we come to know that his actual interest was screen writing and wanted to show the film industry what is father was really capable of. 

Then when Manonmani reads the letter, we get to know the Hero inside Manoranjan and eventually the truth unfolds, Later Maoranjan peeps from the window and adores his children, but Manonmani is hugged by Zacharia, and the Hiranyan nadagam commences on the background "En Udhithrathin vidhai, en uyir udhirtha sadhai, ver oruvanai Bhagavan ena poruthiduvena" Manoranjan still isn't able to witness Manonmani loving her father Zacharia, though he is thankful in a hundred ways. And Hiranyan nadagam commences.

And few dialogues "Ivana yaar dhan love panla" "Adhana unaku satisfaction e irukadhe"

When Varalakshmi faints hearing the tragedy about Manoranjan, she is admitted in hospital, tells to Aparna rejecting her praise "Was beautiful. Kalyanathuku munnadi. Ippo ellam thinney theethiten" these are the exact words said by Urvashi's sister Kalpana in "Sathi Leelavathi" the best part is Urvashi herself said these words to Kamal Hassan in "Rama Shama Bhama" the kannada remake of it, wait! it isn't over, Ramesh Arvind the director of this film played as her husband in "Rama Shama Bhama" coincidence? I don't feel so.

Kamal on his death bed wearing his oxygen masks cracks a joke to the nurse "Revive panna marandhudadhinga" and kisses and winks at Dr.Aparna.

Manohar doesn't seem like a normal teen though he has an iphone and a girlfriend. He doesn't consume any snack in the theater, or boozes during the party, when his mom Varalakshmi asks why he isn't like other teens he replies "kettu poiduven" (If anyone understood the reason behind this characterization do mention in the comment box, because Kamal Hassan isn't a person who scripts a character just for the sake to fill the screen)

Let's come to the notch how this movie connects with the real life (unintentionally of course)

In this movie Guru (Margadharsi) is losing his sishyan (Manoranjan) in reality, Kamal Hassan lost his mentor K.Balachander. It happens to be vice-versa as in the story. Guru has directed the last movie of his shishyan. Here, Sishyan (Kamal Hassan) roped in his mentor's (K.Balachander) last movie.

In this movie son (Manohar) can't bear the near demise of his father (Manoranjan). In reality, Nasser's son (Basha) met with a terrible accident and was struggling for his life in ICU. This was during the shooting of Uttama Villain. Happy that Basha is safe and sound now. 

These are some of the lines not to be missed in the songs:

• Single kiss ke love dhan, SINGARA VELA love dhan.
• Nee thodaatha uccham unda, saadhanaigal miccham unda.
• MUTTHATHIN Aasaan'e.
• Saagaavaram pol sogam undo?
• Seyul pol oru kadhal vendum.
• Arasiyalvaadhi avan unmaiyai chonnar pol, adhisayam naanum kanden.
• Vendiyadhelllam vaaitha oruvan, saavaiyum vendi settha kadhaigal aayiram undu.
• Meen'ai thaam endraan, aamai thaam endraan. Vekkam ketu pandri'yum thaam dhan endravana Kadavul.
• Evarum, endha porulum Kadavul aanaal, kumbitta kootam podum, kuppai kooda sorgam serum, agila ulagam azhiyum azhiyum. Va va vada engey Hari'yai nee kaatada.
• Perithaana velaikku Pillayar suzhi dhan muttham.
• Mogathai sollida mozhiyum oru thadai aagumo.
• Sambalam indri nadanam aadum ammana Nataraja.

Maaladhadhu kalaiyum kaviyum, maayadhadhu enbum nam arivum, anbum. Saagavaram pol sogam undo? Theera kadhayai ketpar undo? 

Thalaiva! thankyou for this masterpiece! 

-Lohithaksha Sreedharan

Here are few links you must read, for the dissection of Uttama Villain:

http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/uttama-villain-a-superb-core-let-down-by-lacklustre-filmmaking/article7164505.ece

http://uttamavillaindissection.blogspot.in/

#UttamaVillain #UV #KamalHaasan #UlagaNayagan #Kamal #RameshArvind #KBalachander #Jayaram #MSBhaskar #PoojaKumar #Andrea #Parvathi #Urvashi #KVishwanath