Aaranya Kaandam

If you think RGV has lost his charm (which he undoubtedly is), Anurag Kashyap hasn't come up with something extraordinarily amazing attempts like Wasseypurs & Ugly, as well as wants to see Shriram Raghavan's Johny Gaddar type, unexpected, dark neo noir film, please go for this Tamil film.

'Aaranya Kaandam', a tamil movie, directed by a debutant Tyagarajan Kumararaja' is worth a watch.

Film starts with the Chanakya's statement, 'duty is doing what need to be done', and that's the whole film is about. The statement unfolds on the screen gradually with the plot, as the film goes forward.

The film doesn't take your time to initiate the basic idea of plot.Though, it revolves around many characters simultaneously, it's hard to decide who the main protagonist is. Every role has it's part to play in the script. Decisions of each characters & situations keeps the script moving depending upon many 'as ifs' & 'what ifs'. Though, in some parts it can be predictable, but still it doesn't disappoint.

Background music by Yuvan Shankar Raja is complementing the script & makes it more convincing. Playing old tamil songs, in background as per the situations is great idea & it works beautifully.

Dialogues, (though subtitles versions) are crispy, simple & makes it to the point. Especially, initial discussions about Kamal & Rajani films and their connections with flirting with girl, doesn't feel unnecessarily added, as it holds a specific role to play in the script. Few dialogues like, "You kill him & i will buy you a lollipop" & the one which mentiones Grant Flower & Andy Flower, are worth appreciating.

Being his first tamil film, Jackie Shroff while portraying the aged gangster Singaperumal looks commendable. He has played the don with a conviction (hard to believe, whether he is the same person who was doing childish acts as a don in Sarkar 3). 

Sampath's silent Pasupathi is brilliant & speaks a lot with his eyes. Ravi Krishna & Yasmin Ponnappa's love story comes with an unexpected twist. The little boy in the movie has a lot to do, similar to other main characters & he has performed it with an ease. The scene, where he makes deal with pashupathi for his kidnapped father is stunningly beautiful.

Thus, this neo noir gangster flick is certainly a treat for offbeat movie lovers. Go for it.

© Raj Jadhav (03-09-2017)