Categories
Film Review Lite Blogs

O2, a nicely made, engaging thriller

G.S. Viknesh Cast: Nayanthara, Rithvik (child artiste), Bharath Neelakandan, RNR Manohar, Jaffer Idukki and Aadukalam Murugadoss. (Rating: ***1/2), ON DISNEY+ HOTSTAR. DURATION: 125 MINUTES

The film has some fantastic performances to offer. Interestingly, the best performance does not come from Nayanthara but from child artiste Rithvik, who does a stellar job of playing Veera…reviewed by Manigandan K.R.
Director Viknesh’s ‘O2 (Oxygen)’ is a nicely made, engaging thriller that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The story starts off in an unassuming fashion but soon turns into an intense thriller, thanks to a well-thought-out plot.

Parvathy (Nayanthara) is a single mother whose life revolves around her eight-year-old son Veera (played by child artiste Rithvik), who suffers from a chronic lung disorder. As a result, the child cannot survive without an oxygen cylinder.

Parvathy gets to know that a surgery could help her child recover from the disorder and lead a normal life. So, she chooses to take Veera to a hospital in Kochi, where such a surgery has been arranged for him.

Mother and son board a private bus to Kochi. The other passengers in the bus include a politician who is out of power and his assistant, a father who is disillusioned with his daughter as she is in love with a young man from another community, the girl’s lover who is a student of medicine, a convict who has just been released from prison and a corrupt policeman who is off to Kochi for an illegal deal that is bound to make him super rich.

The bus sets off on a stormy night to Kerala. What happens during the journey is what ‘O2’ is all about.

The film has some fantastic performances to offer. Interestingly, the best performance does not come from Nayanthara but from child artiste Rithvik, who does a stellar job of playing Veera.

Joyful when he is with his mother, scared when she becomes unconscious, brave when he offers to step up for a task that could make the lives of the other passengers so much better, cute when he does an altruistic deed to save people, Rithvik is just adorable and steals your heart.

‘Aadukalam’ Murugadoss, who plays the God-fearing, conscientious driver, is a delight to watch as well. His performance in the scene in which he chooses to stick to doing what is right, disregarding life-saving benefits that some people have to offer, is just brilliant.

Nayanthara, who plays Parvathy, comes up with a neat performance. Equally good is RNR Manohar, who plays the politician no longer in power.

Bharath Neelakandan as the police officer Karunai Rajan looks truly menacing. He looks the part and is able to induce an element of fear in the hearts of audiences with absolute ease. Bharath’s impressive acting skills combined with Vishal Chandrashekar’s apt background score enable director Viknesh to strike terror in the hearts of audiences.

Tamizh Azhagan’s aerial shots are a treat to watch.

On the flip side, the film has a climax that is not very convincing and that comes across as a big letdown. Otherwise, ‘O2’ is a neat family entertainer that is definitely worth a watch.

ALSO READ-Remembering the ‘QUEEN’ of beauty, melody and acting

Categories
Bollywood Films Lite Blogs

Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan tie the knot

Superstars Rajinikanth, Shah Rukh Khan, Vijay Sethupathi, director Mani Ratnam, actors Suriya, Karthi and Jyothika were some of the high profile guests who were present on the occasion…reports Asian Lite News

At last Nayanthara officially got married with Director Vignesh Shivan. He wed the love of his life, actress Nayanthara, at a grand and glittering ceremony on Thursday in the presence of close family members and a host of friends from the film industry.

Vignesh Shivan tied the sacred ‘Thali’ around actress Nayanthara’s neck at around 10.24 a.m. even as guests who had gathered for the wedding showered their blessings upon the newly wed couple.

Sources said that the couple came down the stage after the wedding and took the blessings of actor Rajinikanth who was seated next to Shah Rukh Khan and director Mani Ratnam in the audience.

The couple has made arrangements to provide lunch to over a lakh people all across the state as part of their wedding arrangements. Food is to be provided to destitute people and inmates of old age homes all across the state. This apart, arrangements for ‘annadanam’ at select temples have also been made by the celebrity couple, whose wedding has been the cynosure of all eyes.

Superstars Rajinikanth, Shah Rukh Khan, Vijay Sethupathi, director Mani Ratnam, actors Suriya, Karthi and Jyothika were some of the high profile guests who were present on the occasion.

Actor Vijay Sethupathi, who gave Vignesh Shivan his big break with ‘Naanum Rowdy Thaan’, arrived with his entire family to wish and greet the couple on their special day.

Other popular celebrities who were present on the occasion included directors Mohan Raja, Siva, K S Ravi Kumar, Atlee and actors Sarath Kumar and Radhika, S J Suryah and music director Anirudh.

Security to the venue was tight with as many as 80 bouncers having been deployed apart from a heavy posse of police personnel. Vignesh Shivan and Nayanthara are expected to share their official wedding pictures soon.

ALSO READ-Ekta makes her birthday more ‘fashionable