Alaipayuthey after 20 yrs- Refreshing waves !

Alaipayuthey in 2000s was what DDLJ was in 1995 for the Tamil movie industry.

1. Mani Ratnam made a romantic movie after his tryst with the nationalist troika of Roja, Bombay and Dil Se. When he made Alaipayuthey, he was 15 yrs into movie direction with a body of work that was outstanding in India at that time. To make a movie with such effervescence , with an unparalleled gush factor, a breezy romance that weaves the titular waves metaphor into the screenplay like a symphony especially when the lead pair is on the screen. Thats the magic and if anyone who is worried what he will do in his career in the mid-40s , a screening of Alaipayuthey can provide a lot of motivation in re-establishing ones craftsmanship.   

2. Maddy Maddy Maddy - People underestimate Madhavan for the impact he created on Tamil cinema and I dont think Alaipayuthey is Alaipayuthey without Maddy. You can imagine a Roja without Arvind Swamy and even a Dil Se without SRK, but to be an indispensable hero  in a Mani Ratnam movie on debut takes some doing. Even if its a role tailor made for ones looks - the chocolate boy hero . 

Maddy ripped the romantic hero template of Vijay's Kadhaluku Mariyadhai and give it that urban sheen with a trademark naughty grin. But unlike the Aamir Khan smartass romantic persona , this one is just a fun loving good boy .. This was the guy whom the woman will date in a pub but will take home to offer filter kaapi by her mother . He was that indulgent dark chocolate that the family instantly approves from Mylapore to Pudukotai. 

And he had an entry scene - with a trademark IT blue shirt , with a walkman on the bike almost making a style statement that inspired Apple to make the iPod. And that goofy grin tuning to Endrendum Punnagi - Always Smiling . 

3. Related to 2, Arvind Swamy is also in the movie. Almost the older Mani Ratnam chocolate hero turned 'Velai Pooshnikai' ( of Indira fame) passing the baton to the new guy.

4. Karthik - nee class la last aa? This dialogue is so loaded but asked so casually in a park. A big meta - showing clearly where the divide lies in the romance. Shakthi( played by Shalini) is an aspiring working class doctor and Karthik( Maddy) is the rich mans son.  This one dialogue - shows Shakthi thinks love is for people who are not serious about studies and wasting their time behind girls. Its also a test of his character. And that character is also questioned when Karthiks friend says to him - this is not some serious angelic love , just a play of hormones. This is the textbook of Meta written in 5 words.  Iconic...

5.  The IT startup dream (now any startup)  makes its first appearance 15 years ahead of time with Karthik and his few friends celebrating their first order over pizza. Maddy was also an IT professional in his subsequent hit Minnale showing that the destination of every self respecting educated Tamilian. And that theme is still used in Yaradee Nee Mohini by Dhanush and the IT corridor reference in Taramani. if Maddy was the Infosys , then Dhanush was the nameless xyz technologies IT company.

6. The waves .. right from the sound when the titles appear , the waves are there. They are there when Karthik is happy and driving the bike , it shows the ravages of time and loneliness in 'Evanno Oruvan Vaasikaran' , the song that unites the lovers and in a strange way - when the lovers are also somewhat estranged in September Maasam. If 'Alaipayuthey' was a brand, Mani Ratnam is a Steve Jobs type brand manager in terms of attention to detail and design.

7. The songs - Songs that lay the foundation of a 'How to' playbook in each category. Each song is a work of art standalone timelessly  and at the sametime mellifluously fused into the narrative with consummate ease.
First lovers bedroom song - Kadhal Sadhugudu with the flowing bedsheets in air
Falling in love , bouncing in the air madly yet with lots of meaning - Pachai Nirame

8. Non- linear .. Was it really needed in the movie ? Yes it added an additional layer especially when Khushboo shows that she can have a screen presence. The movie had enough emotional might to be linear.

9. Hi 'Pondatti'. The playfulness in which they get married and meet again. Shalini's face and eyes show that mix of excitement and nervousness throughout the movie. As usual Mani creates the best women characters in business, and he gets a cannon in Shalini. The everyday ness of post marriage problems.

10. In 1995 when DDLJ released , there was a need for parental approval , the fact that Simran had to be told 'Jaa Simran'. In 2000s , the Simran had Shakthi of her own, ability to make decisions and take the plunge. The new wave that created more love marriages in India than ever.