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| ANGADI
THERU MOVIE REVIEW |
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| Review
by : Behindwoods review board |
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Starring:
: Magesh, Anjali.
Direction:
Vasantha Balan
Music:
G V Prakash Kumar, Vijay Antony
Production:
Ayngaran International |
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After
recording the journey of a loser with
Veyil and reaching sunny heights, Vasantha
Balan takes a bow with Angadi Theru produced
by Ayngaran International. This film is
long overdue and the expectation levels
had almost reached a crescendo thanks
to Balan’s previous repertoire.
And the Cannes fame director has not let
down his audience in Angadi Theru.
Angadi Theru as the name indicates is
all about a market or a bazaar street
which is a constant in almost all the
cities and towns. This time around Vasantha
Balan has chosen to travel in one of such
busy streets in Chennai, the Ranganathan
Street and document the lives of people
there focusing more on a famous shop called
Senthil Murugan Stores. It is not only
the noise and goods of a market place
but he takes us through the lives of a
thousand souls as well.
Jothilingam alias Lingu (newcomer Mahesh),
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though a bright boy is forced to fend for his mom
and sisters after the untimely demise of his dad.
He gets recruited to go to Chennai to work for the
famous Senthil Murugan Stores along with close buddy
Marimuthu. As expected life is not rosy in Chennai
and they are thrown into a dismal work ambience. From
the dorm they stay to the food that they are given,
everything is in a deplorable condition and a completely
inhuman boss makes their life all the more miserable.
In the middle of all this, Kani (Anjali), a senior
in the stores and Lingu get affable after initial
unfriendly vibes and love eventually blossoms amidst
a cruel atmosphere. Angadi Theru is about how these
two survive in a concentration camp like condition
and what happens when fate perpetually smiles very
cruelly at them.
Kudos to Vasantha Balan for portraying the happenings
in a big store with brutal candor! Violation of human
right seems to be the order of every day in the stores
where thousands shop daily. The work culture (is there
one?) is extremely pitiable and our heart goes out
to the workers. There is also sexual molestation as
a punishment exploiting the economic conditions of
the workers. Amidst all this, Balan attempts to show
survival instincts which are extremely vital in such
a setting. It breaks our hearts when the workers are
not even allowed to take rest room sojourns. Even
the basic expression of love becomes such a feared
one which leads to the suicide of a girl. Nevertheless
the director has also conveyed an optimistic message
that life will continue to flow amidst any circumstance.
Angadi Theru is an eye opener to all those who are
on the rosier side of life. Jayamohan’s razor-sharp
dialogues lend the right kind of support to the narration.
The dialogues spoken by the road side beggar who marries
a dwarf and delivers a dwarf baby is one such instance.
Vasantha Balan is successful when our heart jumps
with joy with the bashing the Hitler like supervisor
Karungali receives from the hero. Director Venkatesh
who has portrayed this role is sure to be at the receiving
end when he gets out.
Newcomer Mahesh needs to work on his emoting skills
a lot. He appears very stiff in many scenes. Commendable
performance from Anjali (Katradhu Thamizh fame)! The
girl looks every bit her role with an impressive gamut
of emotions running through her face. Sure to watch
out for! Newcomers form majority of the cast and are
satisfactory. Sneha lights up the happenings in a
small cameo
Music is scored by Vijay Antony and G V Prakashkumar.
Lyrics of Naa Muthukumar render the right feel especially
in Aval appadi onrum azhagillai number. Kadaigalai
Pesum is a smooth melody tuned in by G V Prakash which
showcases Chennai at night. Richard M Nathan who had
worked with K V Anand makes his debut as cinematographer
and has worked in tandem with the mood of the film.
Director seems to have slackened his grip on the narration
in the initial part of post-interval session. The
background score and music could have rendered some
more support to Angadi Theru. Although the film is
a realistic recording of life in a market place, the
proceeding becomes a tad too heavy and a craving for
some pleasant scene surfaces.
The next time when we visit a market place, we are
sure to stop for a while and muse perhaps a few moments
about the life of a seller who has sold us a few mundane
items. Thanks to Vasantha Balan!
Verdict:
A heavy baggage to bring home to!
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