A rare, rooted sports drama
For some unknown reason I was never intrigued to watch the movie ever since its release. I was of the opinion, “what differently can be done in a sports drama?” Even though the boxing track was like how any boxing film would be, where you’ll rise from rags, go down a bit and again rise. Pa. Ranjith, the master that he is, the way he blends an almost never heard of boxing circle from yesteryear Madras, with a bit of politics infused as period flick, makes it an intriguing watch.
Unfortunately, due to ‘Raging Bull’, any other film feels meek. Such is its legacy. Plus ‘Raging Bull’ is like a complete package, a man’s journey through his boxing life. None can replicate what Scorsese does with a character and the beauty is almost, if not all, characters end up in a sorry miserable state. After all the highs we experience, it feels like you’re in death bed and the eventual is going to happen. I thought when Arya loses the match, the director would take the film in such a way, but unfortunately, he gets his six pack back in a song and wins the title.
I’m not against a character or the lead finally succeeding in a boxing film. But its much more than a sports/boxing film. The way the characters were build around the lead and the lead not standing out from the rest, rarely happens in such a movie. If Vikram had acted in one such movie, none of the characters would be visible. In a way, Arya’s not so dynamic screen space paves the way to make this a film which we can relate to. There were lot of emotional scenes which could have been better performed. In fact, Arya’s ‘Magamuni’ was better acted than this, one which he’s not known for. But the remaining characters, each one of them were gem. Everyone was highlighting Dancing Rose to have acted incredibly well, may be people were wooed by how his character was written. My favorite would be John Vijay. He was just brilliant as Daddy. In fact, it was superb selection to cast him in that role. Santhosh Prathap too fitted the role to the tee as an opposition sidekick. Wonder how Kalaiyarasan acts so well just in Pa. Ranjith’s film.
Wish Ranjith had taken another step closer to reality and had lean boxers, juts like the end credit shows. For some reason, may be because of the period setting and unfamiliar terrain, I was reminded of ‘Boogie Nights’. Of course, ‘Boogie Nights’ is just perfect, but this film gives that feel. Ranjith doesn’t explore much and get us into the world like ‘Subramaniapuram’ does, by far the best period film in Tamil, still it gives us a feel of an unfamiliar terrain, which was mostly brushed aside. If it had lean boxers and Kabilan (Arya) going down the dumps in the second half, it could have been a far greater movie than this. What a surprise it would have been if it was a first half sports film and second half personal film. I certainly wouldn’t have wanted him to become don and inspire the area but if he had gone down as an unidentified man and had got to live with it, it’d have been a far greater and impactful movie.
Love the way how Mariyamma (Dushara Vijayan) puts things into perspective in Kabilan’s head. About why losing is not such a big deal, how violence is of no use etc. Love the way how Ranjith’s female characters are always strong but not rebellious just for the sake of it. He does it so organically, as if its not a thing. Women don’t coy in Ranjith’s movie but that’s the point that he wants to highlight, it’s just the way he writes. Also, the anti-violence track was superbly handled. Arya looks the weakest when he’s bashing thugs, how beautiful isn’t it.
The film ends in a positive way with everyone uniting. That was done wonderfully as well as organically too. Even though his wife hates him when he’s a goon, it’s not that she always shouts, she smiles when she gets gold. Same with his friend Vetri (Kalaiyarasan), in fact that’s the best character written. He oscillates here and there. He wants to use Kabilan to become big and go against his dad Rangan (Pasupathy) and at the same time doesn’t want to lose Kabilan too. It was a beautifully written love hate relationship. We all have one such friend like him. Even though the film ends up in predictable lines, it does guarantee for a compelling watch.
constantscribbles 