Billa – Slick and Sizzling…
To begin with, I am an hardcore fan of actor Vijay. I have never had a great opinion on Ajith as an actor. And yet, I will also go on record and say that Billa is one of the slickest and stylish movies that I’ve seen in recent times. The movie was worth every penny that I paid and, although I wouldn’t say it took movie making to a new high, it is a really commendable effort by the whole crew of Billa.
So what makes Billa one of the must-watch-again kind of movies ? The numero uno reason : Ajith. Just looking at this guy’s amazing persona in the movie, one is left wondering why no director had ever thought of portraying him the way it has been done now. Billa is the first and the only movie that has utilised Ajith’s personality to the maximum and the actor pulls off the style and image associated with the character with perfect ease. Wearing those designer clothes and sleek glasses, moving about in the exotics and ruthlessly killing people with the slightest remorse in his action, there is only one word that can describe the coolness that this guy exhibits – stunning.
One of the greatest drawbacks of Ajith in recent times has been his big mouth. Be it Citizen, Red or Azhwar, the moment he opens his mouth and delivers one of his lengthy discourses, you are put off. But fortunately for him, and for us, Billa has none of those theatrics. In fact, the dialogues for all the characters in the movie can be accommodated in 2 pages for each of them. (Its even lower for Namitha – her dialogues in the entire movie run only for 5 lines, with words double spaced.)
If Ajith is a major draw for Billa, the next major factor is the presentation. Billa has the look and feel of a true blue hollywood movie. Having been shot in Malaysia, the director had the freedom to bring in all the elements that added to the richness of the movie – be it those swanky cars, those rich designer wear or the stunning car chase, Billa showcases class and style in every shot. That a huge amount of money went into creating those sequences is clearly visible throughout the movie which ,if I can say, was missing even in thalaivar’s Sivaji. The way the picture has been shot is definitely a great effort from the Tamil movie fraternity. All credits go to the director.
The story remains faithful to thalaivar’s original Billa. There are no shocking twists or turns like the ones that were tried out in SRK’s Don, but what the heck, Ajith makes up for all that just through his on screen performance. And no questions, Ajith looks way better than SRK.
The other characters in the movie – Prabhu, Rahuman, Nayanthara, Nameetha have all performed their roles with relatively little effort, all of them fit into their roles to a T, although one is left wondering what Nameetha was doing in that movie. Her dialogues include
1. I hate her
2. Unakaaga naan edha venunaa seiven
3. Ava vandhadhuku appuram nee maarita
4. Nee yaaru.
5. Ava sanda podraalaa illa dance aadraalaa…
See ? I saw the movie only once and I am able to recollect all her dialogues ! And Nayanthara has now decided to flaunt her natural ‘beauty’ in this movie, which I’m sure will be another major draw for this movie 
.
The soundtrack by Yuvan Shankar Raja, although not upto the levels of Tamil MA, is still very good. It matches the pace set by the movie and the theme music of Billa is resonant in your ears even after you leave the movie hall.
The movie, on the whole, does not have one dull moment or sagging romance sequences. It’s all about Ajith and the way he goes about in his portrayal of the characters of Billa and Velu. In a couple of scenes, I am forced to agree with my friend Sriganesh’s post – the unmistakable “gethu” factor that Ajith portrays. Well, all credits to him. No actor in this present day Tamil cinema can even think of getting anywhere near Ajith as far as personality is concerned, as evident from this movie. He tries his hand at humor and also succeeds in that attempt although his dancing skills leave a lot to be desired.
Billa, on the whole, is one of those movies that leave you spellbound. It is Ajith all the way. It is said that Billa was a turning point for thalaivar. This Billa 2007 is definitely a turning point for this Thalai. If he can only capitalise on this success and choose his films with care, then Ajith will definitely have a better outing here in Kollywood.
Wishing him all the best.
Adios…
Bull shit!! it was like a patch work… no coherence.. just stints of brilliance made up here and there… evidently style and good looks were there… but that was the only thing there!!!.. It was like a bunch of brands flaunting their outfits with a super model..crap!!
Coherence ? What coherence are you talking about ? Fancy word u read in the morning papers ? Dude, it was racy…i don’t know wat u mean by patch work n all that crap..apparantely you guys only watch martin scorcese flicks..take my advice..go to America…
Personally I, and lakhs of other ppl , think the movie is good and deserves an accolade or two….don’t crib about a movie just for the heck of it…
You tried your hands at sarcasm..is it.? anyways.. better luck next time.!! I am not cribbing about it just for the sake of it… it’s no where compared to the original.. the film has got to have a purpose… just ramp walks won’t suffice..better go to a fashion show than movie halls for watching this crap!!
Sarcasm, my ass….dude…what did u expect when u decided to watch this movie ? A brand-new-story-line with infinite twists and turns ? btw, what difference do u find between the original and this one ? “Nowhere compared to the original”… you got to be kidding ! do you mean to say the original billa had a purpose and this one doesnt ? man, when u read a 600 page dumb ass novel just for the literary style it has, why do u try to dumb down a movie because its stylish ? how many movies have you seen in your lifetime that had a purpose ? (and that book did not have any purpose either…and so did the one that i lent you…)
Friday noght show Billa parkalamnu pona it was packed..Didn’t get the tickets. So went to “Kalloori” instead.Though I knew the story I was very much moved by the movie to the extent that I had nightmares abt it!!It’s a must watch.
But I did see Billa the next day.The first half was too good.For the very first the director has attempted to make a Hollywood like movie and has succeeded in that!!But the 2nd half was a let down.Mayb because of the all too familiar storyline,or seeing Ajith in his designer suit and dark glasses walking down in slow motion for the umpteenth time or because of the lack of racy scenes like the car chase in the first half.But overall its a great effort by the director and his crew.Vishnuvardhan has achieved wat gr8 directors like Shankar and Maniratnam couldn’t achieve. A chic movie packed with style from the word go.
But all said the story could’ve been changed.I mean wats the point in sticking to the original story as everyone knew it? I was expecting a twist till the very end but was very much disappointed.A coupla twists could’ve made this a complete package.
@ Ezhil..
“A brand-new-story-line with infinite twists and turns”.. it is not necessary for it to have a brand new storyline… but atleast a story line or a mere pretence of it is important.. u can’t take a movie with shear style and brands.. and expect it to win.. unless the target audience are a mughead like u…
The focus of the movie was on “dior and rayban glasses”.. “benz and jaguar cars”… “nike and reebok” outfits…WTF!!! I am here to watch a movie….
Dude.. the original one had a purpose.. it was trying to remake a hit Hindi movie for the tamil audience… what the heck does this one do… just flaunt away all the hi-fi brands in the world??..A ramp walk of some kind???.. what purpose??? with not even a change in the story line… god knows..
Don’t ever try to compare literature with this bull shit… it’s no way near…
P.S: Atleast next time try to put in sensible arguments…
@ Devarajan
You knew that this movie was a remake of the Tamil Billa right? Therinjidhaana poyi paatha ? what did u expect it to be remade into ? Mandarin ? Adhavadhu machan,pesanumenu pesaadha…you saw all those things because you thought and you were intent on finding out the brands that were there…Frankly, except for Dior, i didnt see a nike or rbk or bata anywhere in that movie, which means it wasnt prominent…and bmws jaguars and mercs ? come on, they are there to be flaunted..thats wat makes it a stylish flick…bon padathula aston martin vandhaa mooditu dhaanadaa paakareenga..rolex watch-a kaatnaa vaaya polakareenga..adhe ajith padathula vandha aen 1008 kuttram soldreenga….
PS1 : frankly, the books that you said are a good read, suck…
PS2 : look at you arguments and see if u make sense…
PS3 : This movie has already been declared a hit…
PS4 : You are a bigger mughead than me…
Padathula ithellam kaatlam thappe illa…Aana…. padathula atha mattum kaatraanunga… atha vitta padame illa… unakku ithellam sonna puriyathu… this movie is taken for people who keep their brains at home!!! sorry i am not one..
P.S1: Another insensible comparison!
P.S2: They do..
P.S3: Who declared that?? Even films like thiruppachi were Super Hit.. so i don’t give a fuck!!
P.S4: Yeah should be.. i am still arguing with a nitwit who forgot his brains!!
I am not gonna reply anymore… u can go abt saying anything u want!!!
padathula adha mattum kaatla..aanaa nee padathula adha mattundhaan note panni paatha…unakkum sonna puriyaadhu….so u left ur brain at home and went to the movie as is evident from ur own statement…
dude…you read a senseless book and call it interesting which tells volumes about ur taste, which sucks too…thirupaachi is a dumb movie..even i call it a useless picture…so if kaakha kaakha was a blockbuster and u compare it with thirupaachi, does it make kaakha kaakha a stupid movie ? u n ur comparisons…
and stop using vulgar language in my blog…
i havent seen the movie yet… so i better refrain…but i do know that both deva and ezhil will be wrong… always…
Ezhil, i guess your blogposts are not only for those who agree with you … And knowing how you argue even if it is against someone better informed, i can only pity Deva!!!
@Arya Koothadi
Aamaa machi…
@Dravida Kaakaa
Kaaka dude, you can pity Deva all that you want, but that doesn’t mean I should change my opinion about a movie that I like. I know what to expect from a Tamil movie and this movie satisfied me. So if Deva doesn’t like it and puts forwards his arguments against a movie, I pit my arguments on why I like the movie. If opposing a movie standing from an altar means they are well informed, I am ignorant. But I care a damn…
Wish more people like you realise why being an Ajith fan is way better than being a Vijay fan!
And good to see you understood what I meant by “Gethu”.
Anyway, I must say this was a very honest review. Kudos. Read my attempt at a honest review at http://sriganeshreviews.blogspot.com/2007/12/billa.html
@Sri
Singame…i said ajith looks good in this movie…but i didn’t say I want to become an Ajith fan…ilaya thalabadhi vaazhga , over !
give me picture of billa and rajith
shocking news it was to hear from the closer sources? Really, this is turning to be the worst amongst all of affairs. Prabhu Deva, father of three children (Recently one passed away) is in love with Nayanthara, the leading actress. That sounds quite absurd but you’ve got to believe. Although it was earlier considered to be rumors, certain channels of outside Tamil Nadu have confirmed it. And of course, tomorrow morning you’ll find this one on the headlines of all newspapers.
Sources have again revealed that concern has been shown from both of the sides and soon divorce will be done between bonded relationships.
Now Prabhu Deva has fled to unknown place stating that he has some works on Hindi project. Meanwhile Nayan too is missing in town and seems to have gone for abroad. This has evoked yet more on this issue.