Papanasam (2015)After dabbling in many larger than life multiple roles to international appeal, Kamalhaasan has decided to quieten things a little and settle down to earth with this new film. It carries a strong story plot and points to ponder about familial bonds.
After over 20 years, we see Kamalhaasan (Suyambulingam) and Gauthami (Rani) acting together again. Of course, this time, with passage of age and agility, they are more sedate in acting as loving husband and wife with two daughters in a small village town in Tirunelveli. Suyambulingam is self made cable operator, a primary school dropout and a movie buff. He self educates himself from the things he see on his movies - legal, mystery, murder dramas and in many languages too. He is proud of his achievement and has no qualms of showing it to his more 'educated' wife and the crowd at the local eatery that he frequents. Suyambulingam, an orphan, had made a killing for himself, owning a thriving business, a house, a home, some shophouses and a piece of agricultural land. He is a lovable chap by all except a corrupt policeman, Perumal, whose incessant bullying of the uneducated is often chided upon by the protagonist.
When Suyambu returns, he is told of the turn of events. After a brief expression of emotion, he puts on his thinking cap. With all the knowledge gained from watching movies especially of murders and police procedural, he tried to clear the evidence and create a solid alibi for himself and the family. The rest of the film is a cat and mouse story of a 4th grade drop-out who outwits the parents of the perpetrator who just happen to be, of all people, the IGP!
Papanasam, is the name of the town the story is set. It is actually a remake of a Malayalam movie, Drishyam, acted by Mohanlal and Meena in the main cast. One cannot help but to compare the two movies. I actually managed to view both. Both are equally good, the main stars and the rest of the cast, i.e. The director, the same in both, managed to hold the suspense and interest of the audience by carefully mapping the story without any obvious discernible loop hole. Very rarely one would find such a story in Indian cinema.
The theme of the film is show just far a father would go to protect his family. For everyone, their flesh and blood is important. Just as much as how the IGP, also a mother, value her son in spite of him being wayward in his behaviour and perspective of life. That is life. For everyone, their views and belongings are precious. And they are selfish to protect that at all cost. That is an inborn human trait.
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