Meyyazhagan a beautiful movie(Glorius Past)
She mentioned in our group in chat "Vijay!we have to definitely watch this movie.This is set in Thanjavur.They are showing Needamangalam."
My mother rarely feels excited about movies.This time she felt because it was about Tanjavur.
So immediatley I booked tickets for 2nd day itself as my brother was also in India for a meeting.
I watched the 3 hour movie and felt very moved.It was very very relatable to me.My mother side is from a village near Kovilvenni.This place is prominently mentioned and becomes a key part of the movie.Its where the fiercesome war between Cholas and Cheras were fought and referred to as Venniparanthalai.I was born in a town Ammapet one stop before Kovilvenni and spent many of my summer holidays in my mothers village.
While watching the movie we were pleasantly surprised not just Needamangalam but even Kovilvenni(Frome where our village is just 4 kms) is mentioned multiple times.So excited that everytime there was a dialogue where the Bus Conductor says ' Kovilvenni erangunga(Kovilvenni get down )my mother was funnily saying to me and my brother ' Lets Get down'.
Even though i visit Tanjore once in a year or 2, i still dont attend many functions from my mother side.She always used to tell me that my cousins(with whom i had played suring my childjood) used to fondly ask of me and I dont even recall many of them.It was very common when i go to any of the functions and relatives come up to me and speak with so much affection , and there would be a few that i am not able to recognise and just act like i know them.Just like the character of Aravindsamy.
Let me stop here why it was personally more relatable.
The movie is not for the fast food style instant gratification lovers who watch fast movies.
This is more like you slowly make a trek into a mountain becoming more and more joyful as you climb and finally you see the serene beauty of the nature from the top that fills you with a calm happiness.
Both Aravindsamy and Karthi have played their role brilliantly.While it may look for some people that Karthi is a bit over the top with his actions.But key thing in the story is that Karthi knows the character of Arvindsamy and so he is more open and affectionate.And also he is genuinely a person like that.
The story is of a person who after leaving his native place (due to a bad experienc(property related) with relatives) reluctantly goes to attend his cousin sisters wedding whom he loves the most.But going back his old memories are rekindled and he meets with a person who knows hims so well.He lets his guard down and becomes more and more relaxed due to affable karthi playing Titular role.But Aravindsamy is guilt stricken as he is not able to recollect who this person is.But during his interaction he is reminded of how much of a nice guy he himself was in his younger days.Entire movie is about what happens mostly in one night.
Its not easy to make a movie like this unless someone who is very string in screenplay and confident of getting the emotions.
We usually see movies about coming of age.This one was more about rediscovering the person one was in his younger days and how that personality got completely lost in rhe hustle and bustle of city life.
Other characters though they have little screen time like younger version of aravindsamy. Aravindsamys father(Jayaprakash),daughter, Rajkiran(Uncle),Karunakaran(Bus conductor/old student of Aravindsamys Father),Devadarshini(wife of Aravindsamy), Srividya(Karthis wife) ,Ilavarasu(Catering contractor), cousin sister and his fiance have all done their role brilliantly.The casting is brilliant and everyine fits to the T.
We see a mini 96 when Aravindsamy meets his old crush who is married to a wastrel.It is a mini episode of just 5 minutes which reminds 96.How she rushes the moment she sees his old crush on TV screen in marriage hall that she comes running forgetting about everything.
Cinemtography is excellent bringing out some stunning visuals of Tanjore and also equally good visuals of the people and their emotions.
Givind Vansantha definitely takes the movie a notch above with his background score.
But if there is 1 person who needs to be appreciated heartily, It is the director of the movie C.Premkumar.The only other director in the recent past in my opinion who has been able to make feel good movies and bring out some great emotions is RadhaMohan.
There is a scene where Karthi mentions 'Glorius Past' which refers to the past of Tamilnadu when it was ruled by Cholas.But for me that reference of Glorius Past is of our own when we were younger and still pristine in terms of our character.
Overall an excellent movie that would help you rediscover your younger self.And that too the Best and Purest version of yourself.
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