Kalavani Review

If the success of Paruthiveeran and Subramaniapuram inspired a bunch of directors to make raw, violent rural dramas, I hope Kalavani initiates the next trend. Director Pandiraj has already given us a flavour of the beautiful simplistic life of Tamilnadu that we city dwellers rarely get to appreciate in Pasanga. Using the age old formula in an entirely new context, the film challenged the need of violence and gore to portray realism in interior Tamilnadu. Kalavani takes it a step further. Every time an ‘aruval’ is brought out, they give us a better, often another practical option. Kalavani is the celebration of simplicity and humour in Tamil cinema. For the sake of many more audience like me, I do hope it brings out more directors and stories that make Tamil cinema what it used to be, a fun outing.

Kalavani is the love story of Arikki & Maheshwari, amidst two villages engaged in a dispute over a temple (what else??). For a theme that is done to death in Tamil cinema, the director, Sarkunam makes it anything but mundane. The protagonist is far from the hero we are used to seeing. Arikki (Vimal) is neither the savior of the masses or the wastrel who turns anti hero; he is just a lazy, spoilt son of the house, with a penchant for small time con. The atmosphere he lives in, his friends, mother, sister and the girl he falls in love with takes him closer to the audience. He, in spite of being a compulsive flirt falls in love with Maheshwari, a cheerful girl from the neighbouring village. The life of a girl sheltered by her large family comes alive in all its brilliance as we meet her brother, parents and other relatives. A silly act in drunken stupor gets the brother chasing Arikki and how the couple gets together forms rest of the story. But the movie is hardly about the story; it is the dialogues and the presentation of the script. The genuine effort put in by the actors (both lead and supporting) is heart warming.

Vimal charmed us in Pasanga and continues to do it here as Arikki. What it also does is bring his acting talent to focus. Oviya, another import from Kerala, seems irreplaceable in the role. Only hoping she doesn’t disappear like all the rustic heroines we’ve encountered in recent times. Sharanya as the hero’s mother steals the show with her acting. Ilavarasu as the Dubai returned father is not far behind. The so called villain Ilango, played by Thirumurugan is another example of understated acting. One can easily go overboard in a role of an aruval wielding villager. But Thirumurugan keeps it within believable limits and even manages to convey the human within. Ganja Karuppu as Panchayat gives us his share of laughs. Thankfully the humour is clean and witty unlike the village humour we are used to.

Cinematography by Omprakash contributes immensely to the story telling. He gives us the best of the verdant landscapes. Sarkunam has been kind enough to spare us the proverbial item number and the ‘thiruvizha’ song. The songs by SS Kumaran are romantic, pleasant and picturised well. The dialogues are smart and funny. The local dialect a little difficult to follow, nevertheless interesting. To pick on a movie like this is purely unnecessary. But if there is a grouse, it is the pace of the first half. It is never boring, but not meant for the impatient either. Kalavani is good cinema that entertains. Can’t wait for more from Sarkunam.