Aramm (அறம், Deed, Tamil; 2017)
This must be one of few attempts of Kollywood at a disaster movie; one which delves into the procedural intricacies of a rescue mission. It probably goes in the vein of great Hollywood flicks like 'Earthquake!', 'Jaws' and even 'Apollo 13'.
On top of dealing with the nitty-gritty issues of rescuing a child trapped in a disused well, the film managed to bring to light many of the issues plaguing the common man in Tamil Nadu, may be in anywhere in the world.
It is the eve of the launch of a rocket in India. The euphoric mood is palpable everywhere, but nobody seems to know what the hype is all about, but they join the revelry, nevertheless. On the one hand, the country appears to be at the zenith of technological know-how. At the same time, the state fails to satisfy its citizens' fundamental necessity, water supply. The film then focuses the plight of villager plagued with extreme water shortage. In this urgent situation, a toddler falls into a 93-feet narrow disused well.
It would have been just another sob story of a child from the disadvantaged class of the community succumbing to the negligence of the people entrusted to serve the people if not for the dedication of an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer. Her non-swaying stand against the powers that be exposes the lackadaisical attitude of the administrative arm of the Government, the partisan stance and the kowtowing of the police to the political leaders, the corrupt practices of the elected leaders and the ugly nature of class politics. The media can sometimes be a double-edged sword when their practitioners become overzealous in trying to expose a scoop.
The film ends on a positive note. It sends home the message that we determine our future. Nobody can be trusted to do our dirty work. We have to fend our ourselves. There is only so much that can be depended on the assistance of the state. Above all, we must have our own safety nets. Everyone is on the lookout for their own skin.
This must be one of few attempts of Kollywood at a disaster movie; one which delves into the procedural intricacies of a rescue mission. It probably goes in the vein of great Hollywood flicks like 'Earthquake!', 'Jaws' and even 'Apollo 13'.
On top of dealing with the nitty-gritty issues of rescuing a child trapped in a disused well, the film managed to bring to light many of the issues plaguing the common man in Tamil Nadu, may be in anywhere in the world.
It is the eve of the launch of a rocket in India. The euphoric mood is palpable everywhere, but nobody seems to know what the hype is all about, but they join the revelry, nevertheless. On the one hand, the country appears to be at the zenith of technological know-how. At the same time, the state fails to satisfy its citizens' fundamental necessity, water supply. The film then focuses the plight of villager plagued with extreme water shortage. In this urgent situation, a toddler falls into a 93-feet narrow disused well.
It would have been just another sob story of a child from the disadvantaged class of the community succumbing to the negligence of the people entrusted to serve the people if not for the dedication of an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer. Her non-swaying stand against the powers that be exposes the lackadaisical attitude of the administrative arm of the Government, the partisan stance and the kowtowing of the police to the political leaders, the corrupt practices of the elected leaders and the ugly nature of class politics. The media can sometimes be a double-edged sword when their practitioners become overzealous in trying to expose a scoop.
The film ends on a positive note. It sends home the message that we determine our future. Nobody can be trusted to do our dirty work. We have to fend our ourselves. There is only so much that can be depended on the assistance of the state. Above all, we must have our own safety nets. Everyone is on the lookout for their own skin.
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