News on Vijay Sethupathi - The man among us

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Junga [2018 : Tamil : 2h40m : Genre - Sitcom]
Written & directed by Gokul

Starring : Saranya Ponvannan, Sayyeshaa, Madonna Sebastian, Delhi Ganesh, Suresh Chandra Menon, Radha Ravi, Motta Rajendran, Yogi Babu, Vinoth Munna & Vijay Sethupathi with Vijaya as 'Don Pati'.

Music, Cinematography, Editing : Siddharth Vipin, Dudley, V. J. Sabu Joseph

Banner : Vijay Sethupathi Productions (with A & P Groups)



Airoppaa Kaanadha Hero Ivan
Ivanukku Eedu Evan
Eiffel Tower-A Osandhuttaan
Vellakkaran Asandhuttaan

Dariyalil Darr Aagum Parris

Junga is a frugal. He becomes thrifty after learning how his antecedents had lavishly spent their gross that paid way to lose an important family monument - Cinema Paradise, a vintage movie hall, which now stands abandoned. Junga vows to get back his family's architectural treasure from its current owner Chettiar. Going by the saying of Ernst Mach "Physics is experience arranged in economical order", Junga applies it in his own way by calculating his income and converting every paise into savings. He even goes to an extent of seeing any and every business opportunity while carrying out his operation as a 'Deadly Don' of Parrys, a neighbourhood in Chennai city (also known as George Town). When Chettiar plans to sell Cinema Paradise to a multinational multiplex company, Junga approaches him with all his savings, but Chettiar insults him and throws him out of his palace. Junga challenges Chettiar that he will get the ownership of Cinema Paradise that to in a way where Chettiar himself will come forward and offer it to him. Thus, the journey of Junga begins - From Parrys to Paris.

There are two kinds of beauty - one is birth and which withers as a flower. Gokul sketches the character of Junga in such a manner that he brings in the duality without putting much stress to understand. Junga readily spends 15k on his friend's bike, later he offers him a piece of 'croissant', a pastry named for its crescent shape, to quench his hunger - A typical man satisfied in his routine life that includes a romantic affair, withers himself into someone else. The change is so violent that Junga even rejects his excitement and mystery associated with love, but pursues possession of wealth.

Vijay Sethupathi as Junga, has fluently brought out both these character traits on screen - walking tall as a generous man in traditional wear, and hunch backed as 'Stingy Uncle Scrooge' inside lavishing cosumes. Hats off to both Gokul and Vijay Sethupathi for constructing and performing such unique and rare character. Every detail of Vijay Sethupathi’s attire has been worked out, right from his moustache, the style that is somewhere between his ancestor’s attire.

Gokul's idea - Parrys to Paris - is extremely funny. An half of the movie happens in Chennai city, while the latter presents itself in Paris. Gokul sustains the comical element in both the chapters, at the same time provides variety in both. Junga stocking the 'croissant' inside a plastic carry bag or tucking them inside his coat pocket causes laughter. Gokul fabulously uses sitcom (situational comedy) where the behaviours and attitude of the lead characters change according to the set of circumstances. There are four such chatacters - Junga, his friend YoYo, his mother and his grandmother – whose lives gets dependant on the action of the other.

While Junga has a week-end to digest the 'Kidnapping Episode', his friend YoYo does not show panic but could not take anymore of 'Junga's Economics' as his priority is to find a restaurant in Paris. On the other side (in Chennai), his mother has a rock rolling through her throat as she is aware of what she is covering for her son. Junga’s grandmother goes all guns blazing at Chettiar and his henchmen.

Gokul twists the outcome of the event and turns it around his characters to make them overcome what they experienced initially, notably; YoYo at the police station and when the grandma comes face to face with truth. The senior actress Vijaya (she acts as the Pati of Karthi in Kashmora), acts as 'Don Pati', is a scream. Vijaya is funny right from the start of the film, tickling everyone with her awesome one liners and attitude.

Gokul lights all these capers on screen effortlessly, of course, with an immense contribution from the four main artists. Hats to them all.

Paris is a wonder. All its places (indoor/outdoor) explored inside the film are attractive and splendidly captured. The fight sequence on the twin spiral staircase at the Château de Chambord (Chambord Castle in Loire Valley, France), is superb. The Château was built during the renaissance and The Helix staircase was designed by Lenardo de Vinci. The speciality of the twin staircase (where the brawl happens in the film) is that the two spirals are separate structures but give the observers the impression of being a single structure. Two visitors climbing the two stairs that seems to be intertwined could reach the next floor without crossing paths with each other, but they may take glimpse at one another through the slits carved into the inner side of the staircase. The architecture is a wonder, just like many wonders in wonderful France.

Thanks to Vijay Sethupathi & team for capturing historical monuments in Junga - Opera de Paris, Pont Alexandre III, Arc de Triomphe, Pyramide du Louvre, Place de la Concorde, etc., and of course my charming & glittering Lady Love 'La Tour Eiffel'.

Talking about stunts in Junga, as usual, the stuntmen have done a lethal job of full body crashing, skidding, bouncing and rolling just like in any other Vijay Sethupathi (action) movie. The 'Bus-Depot' fight sequence along with an apt song is an assert - Raiganai Rasikum Thalaiva - playing in the back ground while Vijay Sethupathi walks towards the crowd of audiences for every catchy lines uttered in the character elevation song. There is an umbrella fight at the courtyard oozing with lot of style and attitude. Hats off to Siddharth Vipin, whose original music score plays as the canvas to colourful pictures of Paris as well as showering thrills during action blocks. His loudness, coupled with Vijay Sethupathi's pitch during dialogue deliveries has created wonders to the output. Junga OST has currently occupied my playlist and it’s there to stay for a while.

I fell that after Rajini and Ajith, Vijay Sethupathi carries himself elegantly portraying original screen acting. He has got his own style tool that he uses to chisel himself while jumping from one film to another. These three are the few people who don't dig for gold, but turn whatever they possess to gold; maybe that's what is referred as charisma. Vijay Sethupathi's aura reflects bright inside the dark room. I see a lot of Rajini in Vijay Sethupathi, like how Rajini marked his presence, yet Vijay Sethupathi is completely a different kind. He is an asset who keeps on knocking the cinema hall doors with multiple releases each year, each movie entirely different from the other. Even though Rajini intros are exploited beyond my imagination, it’s Vijay Sethupathi and Ajith who have sketched a unique path for themselves, where they have made up a special intro in their movies. As Ajith's head appears first on screen in reference to how his fans address him, 'Makkal Selvan' Vijay Sethupathi approaches the screen from the audience POV. His intro in Junga is his dancing hands set as though some one seated in front row from the screen is stretching their arms. And a spl mention to Vijay Sethupathi's awesome dance moves.

There is a joke in Asal with Yugi Sethu where they try to locate an address in Paris. There are plenty of such jokes in Junga. Yogi Babu, playing YoYo, turns away from Junga to walk into a restaurant. He returns quickly and says "That's a church and not a restaurant". Or be it the jokes on shopping - the telephone conversation between Junga and his mother after the purchase of costumes and hotel reservation is hilarious. The language-related jokes - YoYo ordering Chinese food / Madonna's 'Telugu-Tamil' are funny. There are a few humorous imitations thrown inside the film that mostly expresses a pop-culture rather than turning into mockery. The songs and lyrics are funny too, esp. 'Lolikiriya' song sequence (Jone Jone Yenna Jone ... LoL) in Paris. The other two songs 'Rise of Don' and 'Parrys to Paris' have hilarious montages.

Junga is not an invented name like Padayappa. Other than being a taluk in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, India, there are several people named as Junga and also, it’s given as a title at few references. A famous 'Junga' is Junga Bahadur of Nepal (1817 to 1877) who established the powerful Rana dynasty. He had visited France (and Britian) is 1850, the first ruler from Nepal to visit Europe. His real name is Bir Narsingh Kunwar and was addressed as Shree Teen Maharaja Sir Jung Bahadur Kunwar Ranaji. Mathabar Singh Thapa gave him the name Junga Bahadur, where 'Bahadur' is an honorific title that stands for 'a great man' and Junga polishes the name Bahadur to shine brighter. Junga stands for honest/determined/original/creative and refers as an able leader too. Junga relates to inheritance of courage and endurance to accomplish 'The Impossible Dream'.

When Itharku Thaane Aasaipattai Balakumara' released five years back, the film was not warmly welcomed, except by a few. Then it slowly got the needed attention and enjoys 'cult' status now. Another film by Arumuga Kumar 'Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren' was stoned down, just because it explored a genre alien to Tamil Cinema. Humour has several sub-genres, and one such is called "Deadpan Comedy", where not much of emotions are thrown into the jokes, which gives the film a varied, yet unique style. "Restoration Comedy" is another type of comedy that was banned in the 18th century. It concentrates more on a personal view of character and conduct, mocking the restraints. 'Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren' includes both these sub-genres and twists various practices and rituals present in the society. The two song sequences (Yae Elumba Enni Enni & Lamba Lamba) are a type of entertainment called 'Vaudeville' - a mixture of 'Burlesque Comedy', song and dance. Rarely films like these are made and Gokul's Junga has come into the same radar scrutiny, which saddens me a bit - When Ignorance speaks, Intelligence goes on vacation!

Junga should be watched for its jokes (dialogues), a tiny flash back narration about Cinema Paradise (Lingaa & Ranga atrocities), all new characters on screen and for its excellent presentation of Lovey Paris.

Vadakke Ganga, Kizhakke Vanga, Annaikke Sonnaru Annan Junga.



Junga - Comedy Break