We have been waiting years for Tamil cinema to take up 3D technology and come out with one product of their own; finally we get one. And, surprise, it is not the technological pioneers of Tamil cinema like Shankar or production giants like AVM or Gemini that have taken the bold step. A relatively unknown bunch of names have made this possible and for that simple reason, we should doff our hats to the makers of Ambuli.
The use of the phrase ‘doff our hats’ is not an empty one; you will understand that in the very first scene of the movie where a British hunter is mysteriously struck down at night in what looks like a thicket. In the gripping first 10 minutes, we are shown that the movie is good outing in the 3D format. The gun seems to be pointing at you, the snake seems to be in your face and almost everything on screen seems to come out to you. The makers might be relatively unknown names, but they do know their job; and very well at that.
Set in the 1970s, Ambuli is about a village folklore and the truth behind. Tracing its origins back to the late 50s, two young college students take it upon themselves to get to the bottom of things. Left with the prospect of 60 days of college holidays with nothing much to do, they embark on an adventure which comes within inches of claiming their lives as they find out what ‘Ambuli’ is all about. The good thing about Ambuli is that it has got the charm of an Enid Blyton adventure coupled with the grips and tensions of a Franklin W Dixon novel. It does not get overly childish or too sinister; and that is balance difficult to attain. It very easily could have turned into a cheesy horror film with screams and wails every 5 minutes. But, the makers have saved all that for the final few minutes of the film. It is what happens before that really grips you. The process that the young men go through to find the history of Ambuli. The way they stumble upon secrets that have been stashed away for 20 years by a British scientist, and follow the clues he has left behind to know what Ambuli is all about are all told in a very intelligent way. Also, the parallel progression of two groups trying to find out the truth about Ambuli is very neatly edited and presented.
One only wishes that the makers had the courage to do away with the duets in the movie; they are completely extraneous. They are really good at employing 3D and shooting some thrilling scenes, but they are yet to master the art of song picturisation. At times, we feel that we are watching amateur video. One also feels let down when they finally reveal ‘Ambuli’. For all the fearsome things that Ambuli was said to be capable of, the real thing looks a bit timid. It is like substantiating the old adage which says that it is the fear of the unknown that is bigger than the actual thing itself. We are told to expect something as fearsome as Bigfoot or the Abominable Snowman; but we get something much lesser. And, why is there so little screen time for ‘Ambuli; the movie was supposed to be about Ambuli, and we get just a few glimpses of it!
But, that aside, Ambuli is a really good attempt. It is not just a good attempt, it is a pretty good outcome too. The entire adventure, especially the process of discovery is just short of being fantastic. The flashback portions where we go through the chronicles of the Britsh scientist is quite superb. And, technically too, the movie impresses with the adept picturisation of scenes in dim light. BGM adds weight to the movie. And, you can see the depth of the performances for yourself on screen; the newcomers have really impressed, carrying off the 70s look with élan. Jegan does a volte face with a serious character. Parthipan has a small but substantial role; but it is pushed aside a bit by the script.
Watch Ambuli to have a really good 3D viewing experience, enjoy the minor thrills and the tensions of an investigative process. Take kids along; they will love the adventure, they may even be scared a bit. But its definitely an enjoyable experience.
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