Billa 2007: the sleek outlaw

The best of the breed Derringers, Walthers, and Colts that slip to everyone's hips, chic women and dapper men clad in elegant black suits and Ray Ban sun-glasses, sports class mercs and bmw's, a picturesque Malaysia - is what takes Billa 2007 to a class of its own.



Billa 2007 is a re-make of the original Billa starring Superstar. To give you a background. It was first Don by Amitabh B, then Billa by Superstar, then Don again by Shah Rukh Khan and now Billa with Ultimate Star Ajith.

Storyline is pretty much the same. No changes that alarm you. I liked the handling of the screenplay to some extent. Since it was a re-make, importance wasnt given to explaining why some events were happening. It was rather expected to be understood. Hats off to the director and the production team - few characters who appeared in the original movie were thrown off. Teh script was much more crisp. Efforts were spent in ensuring the actors and locations match the current trends.

The movie was completely shot in Malaysia, which is something worth mentioning. Not too many movies are done like that. The choice of locations had an amazing blend with the screenplay. Drug and weapon dealings in airport hangars and old workshops give you a feeling of seeing a Hollywood movie. Then relaxing in spa resorts with a glass of wine and babes by your side gives that James Bond touch.

Ajith fits well into the role of Billa. He has done a good job. We know he can't dance that well. He tried to do something in two dance numbers, but it wasnt any good. So lets leave that part out. Dialogues were too cool - atleast for the first Billa. Velu's dialogues weren't fitting too well. It looked like there was enough reel space to waste. But when Velu comes back as Billa, things came back to normal. Ajith also performed well int he fight sequences. One part worth mentioning is the car chase. Ajith being a race driver had probably done this by himself. This was really cool.



The babes - Namitha and Nayanthara. Justice somewhat done. Namitha - my friends call her "Yaana-mitha". She definitely looks like a baby elephant in the movie. But still doesnt go away from short dresses. Babes associated with mafia have never been so plump - okay for such a judgement, my first reference is hollywood. Nayanthara - wow, wasnt she amazing!!! Stiletto heels and sports wear displaying more than what was required; with the pistol hanging by the hips; when she was walking or maybe parading; she looked like she was imitating Angy in Lara Croft and Halle Berry in the Bond movie. Her electric and athletic looks helped in pulling attention and she was a much much better fit inside the bad gang.

What like best about Nayanthara's role - there is one part where she comes to the swimming pool wearing a bikini. The camera pans directly to her back and you can see the Billa tattoo, just like the picture above. Crazy Sexy Cool it was.

Music is awesome. Yuvan Shankar Raja has given a feel of arrogance and attitude for most songs. The background music is also amazing. Two songs remixed from the old movie - pulled off quite well.

The most funny thing was Billa, police and the villain fighting for a pen-drive. Maybe, the director or the screenplay writer just ran out of ideas. In the current scenario, where technology is just everywhere around you, you'll roll on the floor and laugh when someone shoots a climax scene just for getting hold of ONE pen-drive. One could have just made a copy and given it.

The Billa fever has caught up already. Two people I know are wearing the same type of glasses that the babes used in the movie. I am sure that the tattoos are on the way.