One of the first things that my Professor at Film School had asked was “What if #SanjayLeelaBhansali recreated Devdas with #DinoMorea?” He was underlining the significance of what a superior casting could do to “lift” a film. And that is what I felt about #SaiPallavi and #PrakashRaj in the short #OorItrava by #Vetrimaran. I think that one was really tough to watch and a lot of that credit goes to fabulous performances from the leads.
ASHOK’s FIVE picks up the #Netflix anthology in Tamil, #PaavaKadhaigal, the stories of sin. Now streaming on #NetflixIndia, this is an anthology of short films, almost in response to Prime’s #PuthanPudhaiKaalai (https://www.ashoksfive.com/post/puthan-pudhu-kaalai-love-and-beyond-in-times-of-covid). The series features an ensemble cast that incudes #KalidasJayaram, #SaiPallavi, #PrakashRaj, #GautamVasudevMenon, #Simran, #KalkiKoechlin and #Anjali. The anthology is produced by RSVP films of #RonnieScrewala and #FlyingUnicornEntertainment of #AshiDuaSara.
Let's start with #Vetrimaaran’s Oor Iravu. #PrakashRaj looks almost menacing and his intentions are almost obvious from the start. He refuses to sip even water offered by his son-in-law who is from a different caste. The ace director manages to spin a tale of misplaced intent, fearful suspense and eventual tragedy in a tale centered around caste conflict. #SaiPallavi as Sumathi the daughter is brilliant as she is in full control of her body and plays the pregnant woman to the hilt. Her talent is obvious from the manner in which she carries herself. The attitudes towards caste remain so fierce that the father prevents his other daughters from access to education because he believes that it is too much education that has spoilt his eldest daughter! Director #Vetrimaaran uses comic strip visuals and makes the story intense, gripping and a tad heavy to digest.
Magal by #GautamVasudevMenon is the story of the abuse of a minor and is quite disturbing. Gautam plays Sathya and #Simran is his wife Madhi. They are a regular couple with two lovely daughters Vaidehi and Ponnuthayi. The son, Bharath is older and college going. This is perhaps the most disturbing of the films. Fantastic acting by all the characters especially the little girl and the mother.
#VigneshShivan does a black comedy with #LovePannaUttranum. This is a tale of honour killing where the father does not hesitate to kill his own daughter for falling in love with a man from a different caste. Some of the scenes are hilarious. The one in the car when the daughter confesses her love for the driver is tense and humorous at the same time. The storyline makes it quirky with the introduction of the Tamil speaking woman Penelope (#KalkiKoechlin) who is in love with the other sister. The caricaturish characters and the predominance of film-based memes in Tamil cinema make it a high entertainment package. The lead villain addresses one of his side-kicks as KGF , perhaps because he resembles Kannada actor #Yash in the movie of that name.
And finally, there is #SudhaKongara’s Thangam. #KalidasJayaram surpassed himself in the role of Sattar, the transvestite who is saving up for the surgery so that he can get married to his best friend. Meanwhile, Saravanan, the friend ( played by #Shantanu) elopes with Sattar’s sister. The setting in rural Coimbatore of the eighties and the poignancy of the narrative stands out as a surprise package. “Why does he keep strutting around like a girl?” about Sattar, a transwoman. Without batting an eyelid, Saravanan responds, “Does he ask why we horse around like men?”
The #Netflix description for the anthology says that it is a saga of “how love, pride, honour influence complex relationships. #PaavaiKadhagal explores rape, sexuality, honour killing, caste and domestic violence and is centered on the theme that anything that does not fit in must be sinful. It is depressing to think that over the decades this must have been the bane of the victims in Indian society over the decades. I wonder if that has changed at all under the surface!
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