3/21, #Lockdownenrichmentforthesoul, Tamil Movie Recommendation

Andha Naal, 1954, Suspense, Whodunnit

S. Balachandar, is popularly known as Veena Vidhwan. His grasp of cinema is so good that it is a pity, that he is not known as a Cinema Vidwan as well.

Inspired by Rashmon, Balachandar is supposed to have scripted this for All India Radio, who rejected the play.

This movie should perhaps be among the early non-linear narrative in Indian and Tamil Cinema.

At about 130 minutes, in 1954, this movie is as contemporary as it can be. No Songs. Not a minute extra. 

The casting is brilliant.

But after viewing this time, I thought Sivaji ganesan stole the show. Sivaji's powerhouse performance illustrates why he is "Nadigar Thilagam". The performance by itself lifts the movie several notches. The body language, the swagger, the brilliant use of the eyes, the dialogue delivery, the sheer effortlessness of it all. Phew. Watch the restraint, even when he takes the bullet. What did we do to this actor?

I had in another post of mine after seeing Once upon a time in America, wondered after seeing Robert De Niro's performance especially towards the second half, as to why we never thought or wrote of such roles for Sivaji.

Andha Naal reminds you again, that the greatest tragedy of Tamil Cinema is that it abused and underutilized its greatest acting talent.