The director is simply the audience. . . . His job is to preside over accidents. - Orson Welles
In feature films the director is God; in documentary films God is the director. - Alfred Hitchcock
INTRODUCTION
Many directors depend upon a lot of flamboyance and materialistic needs of a masalaic commercial cinema to make it a grandeur gala. Many films in bollywood and many known names in Kollywood follow this trait. The success rate of these films is very low. I remember the song ’’Money for Nothing’’ by dire straits.
Not long ago, I saw a poetry on celluloid. It was like a fresh breeze of serene wind whilst walking on a beach. This movie was so vividly different from the normal cinema that you are mesmerized!. You pinch yourselves. Not many classics get created this way. Not often. This movie introduced something that was missing in the soul of many movies. Azhagi is a great piece of filmmaking that makes you laugh and cry (some people). The down-to-earth nature of this film makes it a poetry on celluloid. A poem from a self-proclaimed painter of light (Ozhi Oviyar) Thangar Batchan. Thangar has given a masterpiece of painting etched so gracefully with great components(actors, music, script). Azhagi is not a movie for those who love light-hearted entertainment and masala film values. This is strictly for those who love excellent cinema. Let me delve into the review in detail.
AZHAGI - PLOT
The movie surrounds two protagonists, Shanmugham (Parthiban) and Dhanalaxmi(Nandita Das) from their childhood to adulthood. The film starts with a nostalgic flashback of Shanmugham - a happily married Veterinarian with kids. Oh Boy! What a flashback? You are shown a school in Pathirakkottai, which Shanmugham goes to. Dhanam joins the school and is given royal treatment for she is an ?azhagi? (beautiful). Dhanam is from a well-to-do upper caste family and Shanmugham is a dalit. The carefree childhood days are shown in the most beautiful way with the enthusiasm of a kid in the candy store. As they reach their adolescence, a calf-love develops between Dhanam and Shanmugham and the school punishes Dhanam over an incident where almost everyone in the school proclaims their infatuation to Dhanam indirectly. Dhanam stops schooling and she is married off to a drunkard. Her life reaches a stage of doldrums. She has a kid now and her husband dies. On the other hand, Shanmugham climbs up the ladder and is successful in life. As the fate would have it, Shanmugham sees Dhanam and her son at a scene of accident. Seeing the disheartening state of Dhanam ? who works as help at a construction site, he takes her home and tells his wife to keep her as a house-help.
Things lighten up and Dhanam regains composure. Slowly she develops an attachment towards Shanmugham and before late, his wife comes to know about her soft corner towards him. She doubts her husband. As a result, Dhanam leaves the place and leaves her son at an Ashram. The movie ends when Valarmathi(Shanmugham?s wife) realizes her mistake and takes Dhanam?s son as her own, thus ending flash back.
AZHAGI - ANALYSIS
Azhagi is a beautiful poem, portrait, a symphony, a masterpiece or whatever superlative piece of artistic excellence you may want to put. I really mean it. I am not mesmerized from top to bottom many times, while watching movies. This film mesmerized me totally. The songs, music, the dialogues, acting and screenplay are quite extraordinarily done, albeit being ordinary in nature. This film has so many poetic touches that it is hard to list them all out
♣ Casting ? ♥♥♥♥ stars
Exceptional work done by Thangar in getting the perfect cast together.
♣ Nandita Das ? ♥♥♥♥♥ stars
Wow! What a performance by her. For most part of the film, she becomes Dhanam. No doubt about it. I would say, from what I have seen, this is her masterpiece. Her role in Kannathil Muthamittal is a close second.
♣ Parthiban ?♥♥♥♥ stars
Parthiban gives a very subtled, relaxed performance as Shanmugham. His facial expressions are fine but fits the bill perfectly
♣ Youngsters ? ♥♥♥♥♥ stars
All the youngsters in the flashback are so lovely in their acting. They are the crown-jewels of this poetic crown in Tamil filmdom. The child artistes, especially the young Shanmugham (age 5-10), is lovely and their nonchalant acts are very funny.
♣ Others ? ♥♥♥♥ stars
Every one else have done their job very well and the teachers in the village school have done a remarkable work. The comedy by Vivek to induce commercial value is OK but reduces the impact of the movie. Vivek is a total misfit sometimes and his acts are stupefying majority of the time.
♣ Music ? ♥♥♥♥♥ stars
Repeatedly, Ilayaraja proves why he is considered Raaga Devan (God of Ragas). The songs are so aesthetic and lively. Couples of songs are beautiful and he has used traditional Tamil musical instruments to make this beautifully woven symphonic orchestra. The pious background music gives the movie a classic touch. Only Raja can do such wonders to films based on village story. He started in Annakkili and continues still
♣ Thangar Batchan ? ♥♥♥♥♥ stars
Thangar has given his masterpiece to Tamil cinema already. Though there are some loopholes, this film is an exceptional masterpiece. The direction is quite simple yet effective. The cinematography is excellent (Especially Oliyile song). The screenplay is spotless.
Other Finer Points
♣ The scene where Shanmgham sends Dhanam?s son to school.
♣ Comedy involving the kid ?Kattayan?
♣ The entire flashback sequence The best flashback in contemporary Indian filmdom
♣ Songs ? Pattu Solli, Oliyile and Chittukuruvi
♣ The sequence involving Cactus Plant
♣ The scene where Shanmugham sees Dhanam and her son in a very bad state
♣ The scenes following the rift between Shanmugham and his wife
Conclusion
Movies like ?Azhagi? are not made on a daily basis. Cheran made another beautiful film ?Autograph? couple of years later. Thangar preceded him with his brilliant piece of filmmaking. Azhagi will not satiate all types of filmgoers. It has a strong, nostalgic message for all the viewers. I liked it a bunch. However, there are some loose ends such as unwanted record-dance as well as an unnecessary duet and unwanted dark comedy by vivek (Induced for commercial value), this film is a classic. I enjoyed watching it couple of times. Azhagi is a poetry on Celluloid. Watch it at any cost
I hope you liked my review. Do comment if time permits
KALIL
I’ve discovered I’ve got this preoccupation with ordinary people pursued by large forces. - Steven Spielberg
I like a lot of takes. I just go on until the actors get it right. - Stephen Frears