The sentiment stirs
A CREDITABLE SHOW: `Thavamaai Thavamirundhu.'
This time too it is a multi-pronged effort from Cheran, and the writer-director-actor scores in all areas. You see the capable technician mature into a performer of merit in Srishti's `Thavamaai Thavamirundhu' (U). A maker's flick that follows his mega hit generally meets with a lukewarm response. Exceptions are few — `Thavamaai ... ' is one such. A father's sentiment is the focus here. Muthiah (Rajkiran) dotes on his two sons Ramanathan (Senthil) and Ramalingam (Cheran) and spends more than he can to keep them happy and educate them well. Wife Sarada (Charanya) tries to advise him now and then, in vain. Ramanathan is not the studious kind, but he manages to enter a polytechnic and find a secure job with dad's backing. Meanwhile Ramalingam becomes an engineer. The story takes natural, nevertheless interesting twists from there ...
Commendable show
The story, told mostly in flashback mode, oscillates a little — between the past and present. Interestingly, depending on the mood of the sequences, they are in colour or in black and white. It is portrayal of a very high calibre from Rajkiran. Without making matters melodramatic, the actor puts up a brilliant show. Equally spontaneous is Charanya. And winning accolades with ease is Meenal, who plays the wife of Ramanathan. Typically rustic in appearance and expression, it is hard to believe that she's just acting out a role. Senthil (the DJ of FM fame) is another right choice.
Besides other matters, Cheran deserves ovation for the perfect casting. Padmapriya is cute and essays emotions with ease — but for the few moments when she laughs aloud. Those bouts are truly unnatural! A miniscule role, but Ilavarasu shines. Cheran comes across as a refined performer — without any of the self-consciousness you noticed in `Solla Marandha Kadhai' and `Autograph.' B. Lenin's editing skills come to the fore after a long while and M.S. Prabhu captures J. K.'s excellent artwork in all its naturalness. Housing tenements or the village milieu, all have been re-created with finesse. Sabesh-Murali's subdued refrains are a pleasant surprise.
With so many plusses to its credit, you can ignore the fact that the film is rather slow at some points. The best thing about Cheran is that he chooses backdrops and subjects he is familiar with and thus lends authenticity to his presentations. Films like `Thavamaai Thavamirundhu' and makers of Cheran's ilk ought to be received with open arms. And watching the positive response in the cinema halls you are glad the process has already begun.
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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Entertainment
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
