SPOILER ALERT!!
I wanted to watch the movie “n” number of times, to be able to gather my thoughts in the first place. Why do I say that? Read on!
The movie was under the scanner for obvious reasons – Selvaragavan, The plot of the story, Karthi, undisclosed Parthiban, 2 years in the making!! This might quite sum up the speculations about the movie.
The promos of the movie displayed the hard work, efforts and patience of the team. Sheer honesty was evident in tired looking Selva’s words which convinced many to watch the movie and appreciate this untouched genre in Tamil Cinema.
Selvaragavan can walk with his head held high with pride for having made a mark with this Magnum Opus attempt! There are flaws, yes!! It’s an experience beyond everything.
The story unfolds with the news about a missing archeologist –Prathap pothan, Andrea’s father, who went about exploring the chola dynasty in Vietnam! Why Vietnam? When the disclaimer is loud and clear that it’s a fiction/Fantasy film, we could have accepted it being anywhere.
So a team is organized to find him and to carry on with the mission. Reema sen, the daring, hot lady accompanied by Azagam perumal, Andrea and a gang of hired laborers headed by Karthi, whose very looks and foul language explains his characterization.
As the team march towards the destination, they are encountered with various dangers, rather traps set by the cholas as explained by Andrea. The very idea of 7 obstacles makes the 1st half exciting and keeps the fantasy part alive. Selva needs a special mention for the characterization of both the ladies and at times even putting down karthi like the scene where he falls off while walking in the desert, the ladies walking on with a dirty look teasing Karthi. This happens not just once in the movie. Be it when reema tries to shoot karthi, or The hot conversation between Andrea and Reema, The ladies stand out!
Predictably the trio advance despite all difficulties. The quick sand scenes, the Natraja’s shadow paving way for the trio, the three turning mad and hearing voices and finally reaching the lost chola dynasty just before the interval block leaves us all mesmerized particularly with the BGM at its best in the whole movie.
The second half is pictured more like a period film, revealing the fact that, Reema belongs to the pandiyan descendant, and the entire mission has been to retrieve an idol once in possession with the cholas. The reference to the first scene is justified as she sees a whole lot of cholas still alive ruled by the prince, who was sent away during a war in the past. From then on it’s a story of Deceit and Revenge!
Even before you start wondering what the title is signifying and why is karthi even there, we get to see him emerging with unhuman powers, as the new Guru of the chola dynasty.
Reema sen, with the rest of the present day pandiya descendants, wage a war and defeat the cholas. The movie could have very well ended here, but Selva insists on showing the after war effects like the, women being ill treated, beaten, and destroyed. For what reason?
Parthiban steals the 2nd half and Reema gives a tough fight, though her lip sync is pathetic as always. She has come as a surprise with her stunning performance in the movie, True. Why is learning the language still not felt mandatory?
Parthiban as The king completely justifies his role, with the authoritative walk and looks. Scenes where he overwhelmingly announces his men about returning to their homeland, Thaai thindra manne song, trying to kill himself when Reema cheats on him are acts of brilliance by Parthiban!
Karthi, This guy is here to stay for sure with his position rising with every movie. He flirts, fights, cries, leads and what not!! He charms all the way.
The movie is in fact a visual treat. The costumes are perfect. With the given budget, no one can complain.
The little details are brilliantly portrayed which demand us to watch the movie more than once.
It’s a shame when people say “Thamizh is hard to understand, even for a person who has taken up thamizh as the main language in school”! Come on, Does it even sound like a logical reason? We are expected to know the language and it is not that hard to decipher keeping in mind the situations.
I don know what Selva originally had in mind while drafting the initial script, but surely whatever changes (If at all,)made make the movie confusing and leave us baffled about what exactly is the news he is trying to convey!
Reality and fantasy never go together; my friend’s words still ring in my head,
“I wouldn’t mind if Lord shiva appeared out of nowhere and danced a ruthra thandavam, but the second half was jus not there”
Well, it seems like the consensus! The whole movie looks like two different movies, Selva excelling in both, the point is whether they blend with each other. May be the second part which Selva has promised to make will give out a lot more answers!
Bold attempts like these need to be appreciated and welcomed. Ayirathil Oruvan has opened doors for a lot of different genres to be explored in Tamil Cinema.
Hats off to Selva and Team!!
