Thavamai Thavamirundhu

There have been movies based on relationships between the father and the son. Some movies contain only a small segment highlighting this bond. Some have a full fledged story woven around this. Though there have been movies on the subject in different languages, among the ones I have watched, this movie by Cheran, "Thavamai Thavamirundhu", ranks as the best ode to the father-son relationship.

Though Gautam Menon's "Vaaranam Aayiram" also touches upon this issue, in a visually appealing fashion, shot stylishly in picturesque locations, and is a treat to the eyes, the poignant portrayal of such relationships is certainly not his strength. Though Suriya had done a fantastic job, he pales in comparison to and comes a distant second to Raj Kiran, as the father.

Right from the first frame till the end, this movie strikes all the right chords in your heart. Though some say it was a long movie (almost 200 minutes), I am not sure which part of the movie could have been sacrificed to fit it as a 2 1/2 hour fare.

As Cheran once said, this movie is more about the father, than the relationship with his son. Raj Kiran was class and at his best. Having seen him as the tough rustic who bashes up lungi wearing, boxer showing goons of the village (a la Captain style), this movie was a welcome revelation of his true acting skills. (his performances in "Nanda" and "Sandakozhi" were also good, but none to match this).

The way he portrays anxiety the day before "Diwali" for some business, to earn some money to buy his sons some goodies, the desperation in his eyes, the trembling emotions would more than just move you. It was not just an emotional fare. One cannot help but appreciate the brilliance of that man, which our film makers seems to have forgotten in the box office magic of Mechanics and Porukkis and Pokkiris and Padikadhavans from narrow Chennai lanes.

The way he showers his love on his sons when they are kids, the way he cares for them, the frustration, disappointment and embarassment when he comes to know that his son was arrested while romping at a brothel, the pain he experiences when his son tells on his face that as a father, he had not done his duty, the naivity and innocence in Raj Kiran's face and demeanour, when Cheran, lies about some job while taking money from his father (for seeking a solution for his own desperation), Raj Kiran had come out with what I would consider among the finest performance by any actor. He was the movie's real hero, gracefully acknowledged by Cheran himself in a subsequent interview.

The level of realistic maturity of his character is also expressed throughout, more particularly in three scenes - One, at Chennai, when he sees his son struggling with a kid, Two, when the son comes back and his wife, Saranya, shrieks and yells, Three, when he visits Padma Priya's house, seeking her parent's approval and pleading for their acceptance.

In the brilliance of Raj Kiran was lost, Cheran's portrayal as the second son. Caught between father's trust, guilt of impregnated a girl before marriage, desperation of joblessness and the lack of courage to tell the truth, Cheran too had his moments under the sun. His diction is something that is a bit awkward. But still, he had delivered big time, especially as the film's Director. Somebody should tell Cheran not to dance. If his romantic interlude is all about dialogues and facial reactions with a song in the background, no issues. The moment he starts shaking his legs, your feet becomes restless, and your eyes searches for the nearest way out.

The three ladies in the movie were truly fantastic. Starting from the often under utilized Saranya, as the mother, Padma Priya as Cheran's love interest, and Meena, as Cheran's sister in Law had done their jobs pretty well.

I cannot help but compare this movie with Vaaranam Aayiram, and my own experiences while watching them, as both of them looks at the father from the son's view. Both of them had some story, but TT had soul in its narration. Though VA looks at the ideal dad - free, friendly, forthright and uber cool; TT portrays the reality. Most of the fathers are incapable of freely expressing their emotions to their sons. While watching VA, all I could experience was an absolute disconnect, but with TT, I can still remember having difficulty in watching the movie clearly, for the moist in my eyes simply refused to dry up.