Bench Talkies
{{short description|2015 Tamil language independent anthology film}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Bench Talkies.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Karthik Subbaraj
Anil Krishnan
Gopakumar
Charukesh Sekar
Monesh
Rathna Kumar
| producer = Kaarthekeyen Santhanam
Kalyan Subramanian
| writer =
| starring = Vijay Sethupathi
Rishinanth Rajendran
Guru Somasundaram
Sananth Reddy
Vijaymuthu
Aravinnd Singh
Harish
Sharathkumar
| studio = Stone Bench Creations
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|2015|03|6|df=y}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| runtime = 116 minutes
}}
Bench Talkies is a 2015 Indian Tamil language independent anthology film consisting of six short films directed by Karthik Subbaraj, Anil Krishnan, Gopakumar, Charukesh Sekar, Monesh and Rathna Kumar. The film was produced by Subbaraj's newly formed production house Stone Bench Creations and features an ensemble cast including Vijay Sethupathi, Guru Somasundaram, Sananth Reddy and Rishikanth. The film was released on 6 March 2015.{{Cite news |last=J.Nath |first=Parshathy |date=5 March 2015 |title=Shortcut to success |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/shortcut-to-success/article6963463.ece |access-date=11 June 2021 |work=The Hindu |archive-date=16 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216052700/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/shortcut-to-success/article6963463.ece |url-status=live }}
Plot
Bench Talkies is a collection of six short films directed by six different directors, which will make you travel through different genres, emotions and experiences.
{{colbegin}}
- Agavizhi by Gopakumar
- Madhu by Rathna Kumar
- Nallathor Veenai by Monesh
- Neer by Karthik Subbaraj
- Puzhu by Charukesh Sekar
- The Lost Paradise by Anil Krishnan
{{colend}}
Cast
| class=wikitable |
| style="background:#EEDD82; width:20%" | The Lost Paradise
! style="background:#EEDD82; width:20%" | Agavizhi ! style="background:#EEDD82; width:20%" | Puzhu |
|---|
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
| style="background:#EEDD82; width:20%" | Nalladhor Veenai
! style="background:#EEDD82; width:20%" | Madhu ! style="background:#EEDD82; width:20%" | Neer |
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
Release
The film was released on 6 March 2015 in Chennai,{{Cite tweet |number=571755388078456832 |user=karthiksubbaraj |title=#Benchtalkies – Dream come true moment for indie filmmaker,let's buy tickets & watch in theatre from March 6th!! |first=karthik |last=subbaraj |author-link=Karthik Subbaraj |access-date=25 December 2024 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/juRqi |archive-date=25 December 2024 |url-status=live}} and in Bangalore on 13 April 2015.{{Cite tweet |number=575266574275227649 |user=karthiksubbaraj |title=#Benchtalkies shows in SPI cinemas,Coimbatore,1:10pm &10:15pm...In Bangalore,PVR from 13th,Pls watch it & am sure u will like the films!! :) |first=subbaraj |last=karthik |author-link=Karthik Subbaraj |access-date=25 December 2024 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/IyIuh |archive-date=25 December 2024 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=Sudhir |date=7 March 2015 |title=Short in the arm |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/short-in-the-arm/article6969419.ece |access-date=11 June 2021 |work=The Hindu |archive-date=11 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611121109/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/short-in-the-arm/article6969419.ece |url-status=live }}
Reception
M. Suganth of The Times of India rated the film 3 out of 5, stating that "The compilation of six films from six filmmakers in different genres makes it an entertaining experience."{{cite web |last=Suganth |first=M |date=25 March 2015 |title=Bench Talkies Movie Review |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Bench-Talkies/movie-review/46487303.cms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313022120/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com:80/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Bench-Talkies/movie-review/46487303.cms |archive-date=13 March 2015 |access-date=11 June 2021 |work=The Times of India}} Baradwaj Rangan wrote for The Hindu, "The key word is amateur, so it won’t help to go in expecting professional-grade acting or craft. What we can (must) do is see how these films fare in purely directorial terms."{{Cite news |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=26 March 2015 |title=Bench Talkies: An okayish showcase for amateur talent |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/bench-talkies-an-okayish-showcase-for-amateur-talent/article6969422.ece |access-date=11 June 2021 |work=The Hindu |archive-date=11 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611162519/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/bench-talkies-an-okayish-showcase-for-amateur-talent/article6969422.ece |url-status=live }} S. Saraswathi of Rediff.com gave 2 out of 5 stars stating "Bench Talkies is a very ordinary collection of short films. They fail to impress, leaving you with a sense of dissatisfaction."{{Cite web |last=Saraswathi |first=S. |date=27 March 2015 |title=Review: Bench Talkies fails to impress |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-bench-talkies-fails-to-impress/20150309.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310010934/http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-bench-talkies-fails-to-impress/20150309.htm |archive-date=10 March 2015 |access-date=11 June 2021 |website=Rediff.com}}
References
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