The following is my very first response right after watching the movie, which was 2-3 months before. It may seem immature or biased, because I just wrote down my real emotions after watching the movie. It is truly a movie which evokes emotions from our heart. I hope all the intelligent readers of mouthshut will forgive my over-the top rant which is to follow.
Review I wrote on Apr 18, 2004
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Wow! Saw this movie! Thankyou Bala for giving us such a wonderful movie! I loved this movie! What a great performances by all the actors! Truly touching movie!
Pithamagan is raw humanity. Its about Chettiyan (vikram) who is born in the Cemetery and lived there all his life...he has no humane feelings. His emotions have been numbed by all the cremations that he did. Chettiyan has animal instincts. He doesnt laugh, he doesnt cry. All he knows how to do is grunt like an animal. He still walks in a childish way. This movie showcases the essence of humanity IMO.
Shakti (Surya) is completely opposite from Chettiyan. He is a happy go lucky guy who is always tricking people and laughing and being happy. Shakti has a great influence on Chettiyan once they meet.
Wonderful movie! If you liked Tere naam this is a movie by the same director who made its original. However I warn you that this movie is very raw. But Real. Its not pretty looking people dancing around. Its real with real human beings.
I expected this movie to be all depressing and tragic. But the scenes with Surya and Laila was so much fun. Surya was just great in this movie. He overshadowed Vikram whenever he was on screen. The way he talks and his expressions and everything was nice. Laila did what was required of her wonderfully.
Vikram’s performance was once again haunting. He must have worked really hard on this movie. His hard work is evident in each scene...whether he is walking or grunting. He is not an actor to be bogged down in stereotypical roles. Even when he’s blazing as an action star he does something different.
Sangeetha as the drug peddler who feels compassion for Vikram was also too good.
Then there was Simran with an item dance...although she never displayed what she is so much praised for.
The simran scenes were a little too long I felt and also the stunts were a little long drawn. But very realistic stunts and realistic sounds.
Music---WOW! Listening at raaga was never good enough. Songs didnt make much impression on me at raaga. But with the movie the songs by ILLAYRAJA were marvellous. Especially Ilangatru veeshude. There is so much happening during the songs. All the songs are good. Picturizations are not the boring around the tree routine or swill alps.
Overall I thiink it was Surya’s movie. He was the most fun in it.
No it was vikrams movie... what a great acting performance.
No...it was the directors movie! Great work Bala. Plz make more movies like this.
After this I’m defenitely going to rent Kaaka Kaaka DVD to watch Surya in action.
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At the time I scribbled this immature rant, I was too much emotionally touched by this movie to dwell on its flaws or imperfections. I feel that the director truly manipulated people’s emotions. Hence I think its really a well made movie. A badly made movie would evoke only one emotion from the viewer...BORING!...But a well made movie will be hated or loved. In Pithamagan’s case, many people love it, others hate it. I really think no one can say this is a boring movie because everything in the movie was new. And that is where the director succeeds.
So I should really mention some of the flaws in the movie in order for my review to be complete.
1) Vikrams character is kind of unrealistic. - We defenitely don’t feel that way when we watch the movie, because of the great acting. But how come Vikram doesn’t know how to talk? The care-taker must have taught him something. And he seemed normal when we was a kid. But the director has to be appreciated for introducing a novel character to us the viewers.
2) Surya and Laila falling in love - The Surya-Laila episode was undoubtedly lots of fun. But the way they fell in love and how Laila roamed around with Surya was a little unbelievable. But we can forgive that easily because they bring lots of light hearted moments into this otherwise grim movie.
3) Surya’s medicine selling comedy round - I felt that it was a little too long and was too amatuerish to be funny. I wanted that sequence to be over as fast as possible.
4) Violence - Some of the violence was a little too much I thought.
5) The simran episode - was a little too long and completely unnecessary. It was kind of fun though. The old songs were nice to hear.
The movie may have other flaws and loopholes, but that is all my mind would recall now.
The Performances were first class and flawless. The direction also was one of the best. The music as I have stated above was very good, especially the back ground music. One of the most touching scene for me in the movie was how Vikrams character comes near Surya after he was beaten up. The music usage in that sequence was one of the best I have heard. The Dialogues between Surya and Laila was also Good.
Overall, I recommend this movie as a must watch for all, especially people who are not turned off by some grimness and dirty settings. This is not a candyfloss movie, or a chic flick. I hope one is openminded enough to watch movies like this.
Not reccommended to watch with children or family. Watch alone for best emotional results.