’’Walk towards the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you’’
.I have always felt that the world we live in is inhabited with three different kinds of people.The first kind are the ones who have always seen the lighter side of life, life has always bestowed the best upon them and these are the ones who claim that life is beautiful but sulk when they see the more serious and painful side of life.The second group of people are the ones who have seen a life that is filled with tragedies.They sympathize with themselves and brood over their fate but do not show any kind of resilience.The third group of people are the ones who make a difference these people are the ones who make this world a better place.One thing that sets them apart from the other groups is the choice they make.This group consists of people who have seen the worst side of life.These are the ones who have been overcast by life’s darkest shadow but these men are the ones who are the most resilient.These are the ones who fight back, the ones who walk towards the sun thus leaving behind the dark shadows that life had once cast on them.
Anbe Sivam is tale of two men Nalla and Aras.Nalla belongs to the above mentioned resilient group while Aras belongs to the lucky group who have always seen the lighter side of life.
The story Unfolds in Orissa Airport where Aras, a sophisticated ad maker misundertsands Nalla - a man with a funny disfigured face to be a terrorist.Due to circumstances Aras is not only forced to share a room with Nalla but also travel back to Chennai with him.
It is during this journey that Aras discovers about Nalla’s past & realises that there is more to Nalla than his unsophisticated looks.Nalla a communist leader falls in love with his employer’s daughter things turn grim when his love is discovered.Nalla meets with an almost fatal accident which disfigures his face and cripples him for life.His girlfriend is led to believe that he is dead.Nalla recuperates after months of treatment and starts a new life.
Furthur realisation dawns upon Aras when he witnesses a train accident .This mishap and Nalla’s philosophical yet realistic approach towards life transforms Aras from a guy who is unaware of the pains that exist in this world to a guy who learns to acknowledge and understand the pain that exists in this world.Nalla makes Aras realise that its easy to embrace life when life is good to you but its important to embrace life when life seems to be unfair to you.
The best part of the movie is the message which says that there is God in everyone. One just has to identify the God that resides within himself to make this world a better place.
Anbe sivam is one of those few tamil movies which makes you ponder.Its a complex story put in a simple way.Kamal Hassan as Nalla is a treat to watch, he once again proves his versatility.Madavan’s talent saves him from being overshadowed by an actor of Kamal’s calibre.Kiran does a decent job with the small part she had to play.