JEEVA MOVIE REVIEW

"Ellaa naatulaiyum vilaiyaadi thaan thothu povaan. Inga mattum thaan vaaippe kedaikaama thothu poraan." (In every country people lose only if they play. Only here people lose by not getting an opportunity)

 

Suseenthiran, with a very successful 2013, in which he made two varied subjects Aadhalaal Kaadhal Seiveer and Pandiya Nadu, has taken up a story based on the life of people who live and breathe cricket. And, the director has made sure that he has one example of every such cricketer around - one who persists through all hardships, one who no longer wants to try, ones who are lucky enough to break into the team with influence, ones who are unlucky and never get a chance to wear the blue Indian jersey, another who loses years thinking that he is a cricketer when he is actually not, one gentleman who gives the much needed break to the deserving...

 

Kudos to the director for taking up yet another script that is in sharp contrast to his previous releases and for setting it up as real as possible, as always. If Aadhalaal Kaadhal Seiveer showed the naivety of two college teens in love, in Jeeva, he presents the maturity shown by two school students in love. Also, he doesn't mince words when he shows that the authorities who make decisions take into account caste and community over talent. His eye to detail is evident in the book which the girl has when she meets her boyfriend indicating that she might have lied to her parents that she was going for a study with friends.

 

Vishnu Vishal plays the titular Jeeva. He has to prove his mettle as a cricketer for the actor in him to succeed. And, he does it with elan. Especially in the high diving grab! Sridivya has a lot of expressions to offer. She comes across as a talent to watch for. Soori has very limited screen time. Though he creates chuckles in the scene in which he faces menacing bowlers, his is one character that could have been not included in this otherwise neat movie.

 

D Imman's background score gels well with the movie. Of his songs, Ovvondrai Thirudugirai and Oruthi Mela are humworthy. DoP Madhie gives compelling visuals especially in the scenes involving the actual game. He tries to mimic the grandeur of IPL matches in the final showdown, and he is successful.

 

Suseenthiran, through the words of Jeeva, says, "I know I will be in trouble for revealing the identity of the decision makers, but this is a story that needs to be told." Indeed!