Movie: Aaranya Kaandam
Cast: Jackie Shroff, Sampath Raj
I usually don't write reviews, but this time, I've decided to step it up and write a review because I feel this movie deserves one and the reviews out there are good but very few indeed.
Tamil cinema's first Noir
So, “Aaranya Kaandam” written and directed by first-timer Thiagarajan Kumararaja and produced by S.P.Charan's Capital Film Works is an experimental gangster flick, to say the least. But that's just the style of the film but to state how good the film is, I think it should be among the top films of the year because it keeps you entertained till the very end. For those who have been following this film from the time it won the grand Jury award at the South Asian Film Festival, you would know the difficulties this film had undergone pre-release. Frankly speaking, I was not surprised to see the vacant seats in the theatre because this film is clearly for mature audience and lover of pure-cinema and not for the masses.To start with the plot, it is a simple story about a gangster head, Singaperrumal, played with class by yesteryear heartthrob, Jackie Shroff, in a conflict with his senior henchman, Pasupathy, again played superbly by Sampath Raj, on a cocine deal and several other parallel tracks and motives. As the trailer correctly stated, it is about the decisions each of the six protagonists make and how they affect the plot.There is no single-hero in this film but if I were to select a hero, I would definitely give it to the superb script. The director has avoided clichés and given us an unpredictable film. The dialogue especially is very simplistic, at the same time realistic and humorous at times. The climax is hard hitting and definitely not expected. I am not sure if you can call this film as noir, but the lighting and camera suggests so. Commendable camera work by P.S.Vinod and editing by Praveen and Srikanth keeps the film's raciness and edginess intact.
Influences
One of the biggest advantages of the film is the music by dependable Yuvan Shankar Raja which has a “Kill Bill” feel to it. Avoiding ear-impairing background and giving us a more mature score, Yuvan has not disappointed us. This film has Tarantino written all over it. With the quirkiness, dark tone and the parallel story lines, the film takes its time to unfold, an advantage and disadvantage at the same time. I had a lot of expectations for this film and I wasn't disappointed. Though it gets predictable at times, for the most part it's ahead of you. In the acting department, everyone has an important role to play and everyone has done a neat job with special mention to the son played by Master Vasanth who has done his role without any hesitation.Bottomline: It is only for the mature audiences and it puts Tamil cinema back on track at the global stage.
BHARGAV PRASAD, finished Std XII from D.A.V.
