Aayirathil Oruvan (Tamil 2010)-Truly one in a thousand

I feel goosebumps while writing a review about this movie.Such has been the impact of this magnum opus in Tamil Cinema Standards directed by one of my favourite directors Selvaraghavan.



Amazing,Superb,Fantabulous,Brilliant,Out of the world i guess if i had the choice i will just keep googling for adjectives.



I believe for first time in the history of Tamil Cinema a movie has touched upon a theme which has left so many historians and people who have read about history flabbergasted.I personally have read history much earlier and still had the same puzzle for this question.Many learned scholars of history are still to come up witha theory about "How the great Chola Dynasty which at its peak had territories that included 70 % of India,Ceylon,Far East suddenly vanished into thin air?".There seems to be no descendent of the dynasty.It is this question Mr.Selvaraghavan attempts to answer.I may not be a learned film critic,but in my view he has done great justice to his attempt backed up good amount of research.

We simply have to appreciate this man if not for anything just for his bold attempt for taking up such a theme.

The movie starts with a scene of past where the Chola King on the brink of defeat hands his prince and family deity of pandyas which they had got when they had defeated them to a Priest.He says he has to take them away and should not return untill he sends a word.

Year 2009,A great Archeologist (Prathap Bothan) on his bid to find the land where the last Chola Prince lived supposedly an island Ming Hua in Vietnam suddenly vanishes.Anita(Reema Sen) also an archaeologist had been appointed to help the archeological bid which is greatly supported by a minister Veerapandi who seems to have keen interest.Anita informs the archeologist's daughter Lavanya (Andrea) about the incident and wants all information his Dad would have so that they could searchhim.She also asks Andrea to join if interested .Andrea accepts it.Reema is accompanied by an Ex-Army Major Ravi(Alagamperumal) and Muthu (Karthi) is a leader of Loadmen.

They reach vietnam,hire a local guide and when they want to hire some boat to reach the Island they get it after much perusasion and some big money.Still the boatmen stop at a few nautical miles before the Island no matter how much money they can get ,claiming that the island is full ofGhosts.They reach on their own after boatmen jump into the water out of fear.

After passing through 7 different obstacle,all which have been deliberately created by Cholas to prevent anybody following their trail..Finally after great difficulty they reach a place which is indeed ruins of an erstwhile Chola city in that Island.When they are rejoicing a wave of myterious gas hits them and they become lunatics and they try to kill each other.In the melee Reema Shoots at Karthi and he sustains the bullet in the right side of Chest.They seem to be caught in world of hallucination and finally reach a hill top where a priest grants them entrance.

What they have finally reached is infact a Kingdom of the Chola Prince's Descendant which is existing within the Hills without any contact with the modern world.It is ruled by the King(Partheeban).On seeing the Tattoo of Tiger on Karthi's Back the Priest treats him for wound thinking that he is "The One" saviour who brings the word of Chola Empire as described in their legends(Painting in their Caves).It shows that they are still waiting for the word from Chola Empire and eager to return to their great motherland.

It later gets unfolded that Reema Sen is in fact a surviving member of Pandya Dynasty.She,the minister,Ex-Major and other 5 members of the Pandya Clan infact have been wanting to get back their family deity and when they come to know that infact that Cholas are still alive they want to defeat them and take it.Reema who has been taught various acts by her family as she is a Pandya Clan decieves Partheeban to believe that she is the Messenger who will lead them back to a glorius welcome back to Chola Empire.Partheeban though is doubtfull that as the legend says its a male messenger and a certain sequence of activities are supposed to happen when the messenger arrives .But still falls for it.All this while Reema Sen sends the information to Ex-Major and he arrives there with a band of Ex-Army guys with ammunition.

Reema is not the messenger protrayed in their prophecy.Is Karthi the true messenger who will lead them to their motherland?

Whether the Chola King Partheeban with his army are able to overcome the Pandya Clan with their band of Ex-Army loaded with modern weapons?Is he finally able to return back to Tamizhnadu his motherland?Did the Pandya Clan get their Family Deity back after all these years?All this poignanltly unfolds in the climax.

The Climax may be a little puzzling for many,but in my view i dont think it could have ended any better.

Well i hear a lot of people saying he has taken scenes from 300,gladiator,Indiana Jones.Well honestly they have seen only those movies and blurt out like critics.I will add that it also scenes inspired from "Mc Kenna's Gold","The good,bad and ugly".I don't deny that there has been a resemblance in some scenes of this movie but he has only taken a shot from each of this movie as almost they have happened in all historical films and in fact in History itself.But it is very foolish to think that he has just copied scenes and made it into a movie as it is not so. It is easy to criticise but one should look at the hard work of all the people associated.Especially Selvarghavan does not deserve this kind of unprofessional criticism.These so called critics can appreciate "Nayagan" which has scenes lifted from "Godfather" but not Aayirathil Oruvan which has only drawn inspiration.Even the greatly celeberated "Sholay" is a out and out copy of Akhiro Kurusawa's"Seven Samurai" and whole lot of western movies that copied "Seven Samurai"

Even Quentin Tarantino a cult director quipped that he has taken and placed many scenes from his favourite movies in his movie but only that the viewers dont recognise.Most of his movies have the 3 way showdown similar to the climax of classic movie"The good,bad and Ugly".

I guess in all Selvarghavan's movie he has this signature scene where three characters dance around a bonfire.

The movie has amazing cinematography by Ramjhi and a good background score by GV Prakash,good costume design by Rehane.But i could not stop myself from imagining about the impact if Ilayaraja had done the music and background score.But that should not take away the effort of G.V.Prakash.

All i have to say is "err.I have already said it in the first two paragraphs.Did not I?"

P.S:This post has been modified as per my friends suggesstion which you may find in comments section.This is not the original post as it had revealed the entire story.