KaaviyaThalaivan, Tamil Film: The earnestness of being Vasantha Balan

Many years ago when I watched one of Vasantha Balalan’s  early films, “Veyil”, I was seething with anger. The excessive violence put me off and for some strange reason it evoked memories of the melodramatic Sivaji film” Rajapart Rangadurai”.  I also found it be loud.

And when VasanthaBalan came up with “Angadi Theru”, his audacity and ambition started surfacing. Here was a film maker using Cinema to both introspect and celebrate the indefatigable human spirit.

When he had the vision to adapt a slice of , Su. Venkatesan’s Sahitya Academy award winning novel,  “Kaaval Kottam”, set in 18^th century Madurai  into “Aravaan”, he carved a place a unique place for himself.  “Aravaan” is an unsung classic of Indian Cinema. If you are lover of cinema, you will feel the movie draped  with the sweat, blood and resolve of Vasantha Balan.  Only wished that Vasantha Balan had done away with a couple of misplaced song sequences on what would have been an otherwise perfect experience.

Digressing a bit, Back in 1989/1990(not sure but some time around that time), watching Bharat Ek Khoj(Discovery of India) at 11 Am on Sunday morning for 52 weeks was unalloyed pleasure. I always remember, Shyam Benegal, who brought Nehru’s vision of the rich Indian cultural heritage to your doorstep. If my memory serves me right,  Nitish Roy had done a great job as an Art Director and there was the beautiful Pallavi Joshi donning multiple roles along with other very capable actors.

I remember getting asphyxiated with the richness of our cultural heritage. It made me proud.

Time and again it is important to remember the real treasures of our civilization.

Vasantha Balan, captures the glorious years of the Tamil Theatre of the early twentieth century in “Kaaviya Thalaivan” and recreates the period with its rich music, culture and heritage. I could not but get overwhelmed by the riches.

There are several magic moments that will send you into raptures. There are several lessons of excellence that could be learned and used at your work place.

One can see the heart and soul of all the technicians who have recreated this culture fest.

And A.R Rahman, and Nirav Shah(Cinematogapher), need special mention for competing with the actors Siddarth, Nasser, Prithiviraj and Vedika  for the top honours.

I only wish the courageous, Vasantha Balan would have been more courageous. He still seems to be prisoner of the constraints of making a movie commercially successful. While the movie borrows the premise of the rivalry between Mozart and Salieri, Salieri’s character has possible been configured to suit Indian (casting?) needs, thereby reducing the juice in the conflict between the two principal characters.  Also the imposition of the Indian Freedom movement into narrative is very ineffective and an unnecessary digression.

Despite the disappointment and dissatisfaction quotient, Mr. Vasantha Balan, I only fervently hope that your quest for attempting new topics continue.

Hats off to the entire team of Kaaviya Thalaivan and a special thanks to the producers for making an important film happen.