Pudhu Pettai [Tamil]

Harish, Shekar, Karthick are talking about the recent article in “The Hindu” where Salman Rushdie wonders “What would an inoffensive political cartoon look like?’ What would a respectful cartoon look like?” and they end up discussing on a Tamil Gangster film “Pudhupettai” directed by SelvaRaghavan.

Imdb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0459516/

Pudhu Pettai – Survival of the fittest

Karthick: Whatever be the situation, Freedom, In my humble opinion comes with a lot of responsibility and I personally think even the most controversial of the controversial opinion can be put forward in an acceptable way. I guess, it is a matter of one’s ability to express without offending others.

Shekar: True. But when it comes to Art, there is a general preference to document and express ideas and thoughts as such. The thinker/writer doesn’t really gives much thought about if this is the appropriate way of taking it to public or if this will offend some one but rather, he goes on to say what he thinks.

Harish: Agree. But in any way, that doesn’t mean that it is the most appropriate way to express things. That the writer expressed what he thought but that doesn’t mean, that is the best way to document or express. I would personally say, it is best not to express if in case it offends a larger public for the mistake of few.

Karthick: One such Tamil Film director, who has the guts to document what he thinks is Selva Raghavan. Leaving aside the question of ethics and morality, I would say, he is a very honest film director who puts his heart and soul to make his work. He has given exceptional films, out of the way from the formula driven shallow films…

Shekar: Yes. I have watched almost all his films. But, there is a subtle string of perversion, pathos and melancholia in all his films. A stress on the darker side of man.

Harish: True. Darker to the Darkest.

Karthick: Yep. The lower seven worlds of the total 14, If I may say so…

Shekar: I see a strong parallel between his films and his thought process maturity. Right from Thulluvatho ilamai, Kadhal Konden, 7/G Rainbow colony to Pudhupettai to Mayakkam Enna… While it is true, all his characters have strong dose of negativity and perversion, I am sure that in the context of the movie, it is all justified.

Harish: Especially, a quick look at the summaries given in Imdb will outline the nature of his movies. Especially, the one for 7/G Rainbow Colony is funny, “A neighborhood good-for-nothing attempts to romance the new girl in town”. While it may not give the complete idea about his movies but gives us a quick grasp of his thought process.

Karthick: True. While as a director, he has grown, I personally think Pudhupettai stands by far as his best work.

Shekar: Yep. The story pursues the life of a school going kid turned gangster to a wannabe politician. Driven by the insecurities of life and certainities of death, Pudhupettai is a film about the life, love, anger, greed, blunders, ambitions, honesty, integrity, vengeance, politics and humanity of a casual school going kid who’s life leads him astray.

Harish: The protagonist role was played excellently by Dhanush and well supported by others. Sneha comes as a prostitute and Sonia Agarwal as victimized wife of protagonist.

Shekar: Kumar, a.k.a Kokki Kumar grows up in the backdrop of tumultuous insecure pudhu pettai area of Chennai. He finds his life in the streets when his mother gets murdered by his father. He begins to beg. The scene where he meets Sneha is a stunner which brings out the ‘whore’nesss with just a single glance.

Karthick: While the film starts that way, the plot moves on the bring out the gangster in Kumar. Accidently arrested by the police, Kumar joins the gang of One Anbu Sir! Going forward, all the blood shed is justified for it is fear and insecurity that seems to drive them all. It is brought out clearly in the dialogues of protagonist.

Shekar: Amidst this backdrop, Kokki Kumar’s heart strikes sympathy chords with that of Krishnaveni, outstandingly performed by Sneha as a prostitute in the film. The love is so subtle and beautiful and shown to transcend physical relationships. The usage of old tamil songs and color schemes such as red and green during the scenes adds artistic flavor to these scenes.

Harish: As the fight for survival continues, Kumar tastes his first victory by killing the brother of the rival gang’s leader. It sends shock waves across both the gangs and indicates a promising new gangster!

Karthick: While that first success sends waves, it helps Kumar bring out the gangster in him. His personality and attitude evolves. The moulded mindset is clearly brought out. He continues to learn the tricks of the game and takes up petty crimes to prove his mettle.. The song “Nerupu Vaayinil Oramaai Eriyum” sung by Kamal Hassan stands out.

Harish: The plot revolving around mutual suspicion, distrust, fear and uncertainity takes Kumar to new heights and gives him the audacity to push himself for politics. The scenes are gripping and the cuts are really quick and keeps the audience glued till the very end. Music of Yuvan shankar Raja superbly provides the backbone of this film. I would have personally loved to see the “Oru Naalil Vaazhkai” song on the screen though..

Shekar: True.. A Bangkok based Chapraya Symphony Orchestra worked with Yuvan for sound track and film score and they have used several Traditional Thai instruments like Khim in the film. While all aspects of a gangster movie is well captured, it is first of its kind in Tamil and the climax requires a special mention as it stands as a most precise summary of how futile and vulnerable are the law and people of the land.

Harish: Which Land?

Karthick: Sssshhh….

Harish: Net Net, a very good Quality Tamil film which certainly has lifted the standards of Tamil and Indian Cinema. Must watch. But for the gore and violence.. well, after all it is a gangster movie…

Karthick: May we should discuss a light hearted romance movie next time….

Shekar: Well yes, that is one way we can attract a wider audience.. may be!!

Harish: What is with the tag line “Survival of the Fittest” ?

Karthick: Yep, I have wondered that Darwin should be wrong as I witness the so called unfit survive way better than the fit.

Shekar: Subjectively thinking ‘Fit’ here means one who is fit for a healthy society, this movie should have the tag line as follows, “Survival of the UnFit” …

Karthick: True.

Trivia:

Super 35 mm technology used for the first time in an Indian film