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Billa
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'Billa' -A Peppy Entertainer

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

Comparisons are odious. But comparisons are inevitable especially when the film in focus is the remake of a Rajnikant starrer.

This critic has seen the original ‘Billa’ in which Rajnikant plays the don. It was a super duper hit of the times with Rajni dominating the movie with a super show.

The

remake, the Vishnuvardhan-directed Billa with Ajith in the lead role, is, no doubt, a quality product in terms of technological excellence, top order cinematography, slick editing and lilting songs.

And Ajith has done an excellent job both as Billa and Velu. But then, you can’t beat Rajnikant, the “Sultan of Style” when it comes to screen presence! To try to do that is to attempt the impossible!

Be that as it may, full credit to Ajith and Vishnuvardhan for making the remake a slick thriller replete with action scenes, stunts, song sequences and fabulous frames. The remake adds a new dimension to the commercial format in Tamil cinema. The accent is on imbuing the film with the spirit of the times. The racy and fast-paced narration adds to the visual beauty of the flick shot with a super 35mm camera. Nirav Shah’s camera work is of the highest quality.

The exotic locales of Malaysia where the entire film has been shot are a feast for the eyes, especially the song sequences and stunt scenes.

The story revolves round Billa (Ajith), an international criminal who operates from Malaysia. Billa works for the king of an underworld empire Jagdeesh whose identity is a closely-guarded secret. Billa operates in the company of two beautiful belles, his lover CJ ( Namitha ) and a bold and busty woman, Sasha ( Nayantara ).

An upright police officer Jaiprakash (Prabhu) relentlessly pursues Billa and finally manages to catch up with him. In the resultant encounter Billa gets killed in the car.

Jaiprakash, however, covers up the story and tells the press that Billa had escaped. Now enters the Billa look-alike Velu (Ajith again) who works as a police mole. Jaiprakash uses him to get the underworld king. Jaiprakash almost succeeds in nabbing the mafia don, but gets killed. Velu is arrested and the police refuse to believe that he is not the real Billa. Velu gives police the slip and gets Jagdeesh with the help of Sasha in a rivetting climax.

Ajith steals the show with a polished performance. As Billa he looks dashing in Armani suits and Raybans glasses – every inch a James Bond. Then as Velu, the small-time thief who becomes a police mole, Ajith excels with witty one-liners and mannerisms. Billa will certainly be dubbed as one of Ajith’s best performances.

Both Nayantara and Namitha are at their glamorous best. Nayantara, sporting a stunning variety of costumes, radiates a sexuality that is seldom seen in Tamil films. Equally stunning is glamour queen of Tamil films Namitha. Prabhu is impressive as the police officer.

The costumes have been designed by director Vishnuvardhan’s wife, Anu, with the accent on black colour.

A major plus-point of ‘Billa’ is Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music. The numbers “Seval Kodi” and “Vethalai Pottendi stand out. However, the title song is no patch on the original.

In the final analysis Billa is a racy entertainer that peps you up!

Rating: ***

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