Aaahhhh.... finally.... a mainstream Tamil film where the hero is not some Robin Hood'esque tamer of the shrew; where the leading lady has balls of steel; where there is no presumptuous self-bestowed responsibility on the film maker's part to impart any "social message"; where the gratuitous violence is not apologized for in classic middle class style hypocrisy.Set deep in rural south India, deep within the Tamil heartland, "Paruthi Veeran" is not your feel-good flick replete with lush river banks and swaying paddy stalks - step aside, Bharathiraja - Ameer is here, and is giving it like it is. Awesome direction combined with incredible cinematography delivers such stark realism that it leaves you as dehydrated as the parched lake beds and the dry grass that is a constant refrain of the movie's landscape.
Debutant actor Karthik Sivakumar delivers with such aplomb, one wonders if he is going to upstage his talented older sibling Surya. Playing the title role of a local rowdy who gets off on seemingly random acts of violence, Karthik comes across as a natural (born killer?). Not to be outdone so easily, Priyamani (a Bharathiraja discovery), playing the feisty village belle "Muthazhagu", does her bit with a fair amount of flair as well. Major kudos are due Ameer for retaining the edginess, both in their characters as well as in the general feel throughout the film.
The background score, while not exactly Raja material, is still in the "thoroughly enjoyable" category with pretty much all the songs blending almost effortlessly into the script, being as folksy as they are. Yuvan Shankar Raja could yet carry his dad's mantle.
By all means, get on it and rent this movie and watch, but if you're the queasy sort, might I recommend that you switch off before the climax and read up on how the story ends or ask your friendly neighborhood Tam moviegoer. Like I said, Ameer's kid gloves are most decidedly not on.
The details:
Direction: Ameer Sultan
Starring: Karthik Sivakumar, Priyamani
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Starring: Karthik Sivakumar, Priyamani
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
2 comments:
Aiyyo, Kanna, good show! You actually managed to put down things in writing. and at such an early age too:) as for the film, plan to watch it. have heard a lot about it, and your review certainly has strengthened my resolve to see it. a word on the writing though... avoid kudos, aplomb and such. too indian filmy reviewy.
Gee! An Indian writing a review for an Indian film in a style that is too Indian filmy reviewy! Well, we certainly can't have that, can we, now? But point taken - the undersigned pleads guilty to charges of appropriating salient features of Indian editorial writing style; but then again, what to do? We are like this only :^)
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