Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai - Back from Theni

I am not an avid reader (not even an occasional reader). After reading short stories in Tamizh-2 book during school I very rarely read short stories which comes in Dinamani Kadhir on Sundays. But most of them have created some impact in me.

While taking a movie from a novel has difficulties in compressing the complete stuff in a 2:30 hrs movie with the same feel, it is equally (or even more) difficult to make a movie from a short story. There won't be much of story and the film maker should be so creative to improvise on the story and also give the same feel which we get out of reading a short story.

Suseendran has almost succeeded in that conversion. He was able to take us to the place where all those characters were living and make us feel their emotions, life style etc. Short humor in serious scenes was good idea.  But overall, I would say the humor content was not enough. This movie (especially 1st half) had good scope for humor which was not utilized completely. At the same time director compensates for that with so many goosebumps scenes in 2nd half.

Appukutty has given everything possible for this movie. What a dedication man! The scene were he will be beaten by villagers is height of dedication. I think he would have really got hit while taking those scenes. Hats off!

Saranya Mohan is an angel! Though she made her presence felt, her fans like me are little disappointed because she comes in very less number of scenes. Unna laam naal muzhukka paakalam ma ;)

Prabhakaran has done a good job of a rustic village youngster. Advaita as his pair has also done a pretty decent job. She may not be as beautiful as Saranya Mohan but still she looks good.


Other than director, if there 2 people who gave life to this movie, they are none other than cinematographer Theni Eashwar and Isaignani Ilayaraja. Both being natives of Theni definitely has reason for this great output from them in this movie.


Theni Eashwar has set standards for showing Theni. There couldn't be anything better. He made us walk in those narrow streets and muddy hill tracks. I was wondering why Balu Mahendra was praising him so much during audio release function. But the movie explains for that. What a way of showing place and people!

Ilayaraaja is no doubt the greatest composer. "Song *FOR* movie" is something which young music directors are yet to learn from him. Be it the Thiruvizha song or Kuthikkira Kuthikkira Kuthirakutti, see how they blend with the movie. No one feels that they are separate songs. It goes with the flow. And BGM.. Raaja is always Raaja of background score. His oboe usage, guitar warming in title and some part of movies, grand orchestration when Saranya Mohan runs after Appukutty, Silence followed by horror music when Appukutty is beaten by villagers were all awesome and godly!

I don't know if Suseendran has atheistic inclinations or the story itself has it. I understand the justification behind making fun of all the mooda nambikkaigal but I also felt they were over-emphasized and there was too much of preaching . But when it comes to showing characters, he has done it as natural as possible. We definitely get a feel of seeing a Mahendran movie!

In recent releases, after Nandalala, this movie can definitely go into classics category!