Film: VIRUMAANDI
Cast: Kamal Haasan, Abhirami, Napoleon, Pasupathy, Rohini and others
Music: Ilayaraja
Produced by: Rajkamal Internationals
Story, screenplay and directed by: Kamal Haasan
Released on: Jan 15, 2004

Kamal Haasan returns to the form. He has shown his brilliance as a director in his latest directorial venture, VIRUMAANDI. Though the film has arty shades, it also has interesting elements. Innovative narration, excellent performances by Abhirami and Pasupathy, Kamal's great directorial skills make the film a treat to watch. But the violence in the film is highly glorified.

It is a disturbing but brave attempt with a provocative message: an eloquent argument against capital punishment. The main focus is on two men - Virumandi (Kamal Haasan) waiting for death sentence for crimes he has not committed and Kotthalathevar (Pasupathy) serving life imprisonment after killing many innocents. Angela (Rohini), a documentary filmmaker and a fierce critic of capital punishment, comes to the central jail to make a TV documentary on this sensitive issue.

The two protagonists are initially reluctant to speak but later confess their side of the same story. In a flash back technique; one gets two different perspectives of the life in remote villages, rivalry, romance, etc. The best aspect the film is it has shown the rural scene of Tamilnadu most honestly.

Kotthalathevar tells Rohini that Virumaandi is the real villain despite he had tried to save him. Virumaandi after some reluctance narrates his version, which is true version. He returns after a long stay in Singapore. He plunges into a jallikattu (where wild bulls on the rampage are tamed by wilder men) and quells the bull reared by Annalachumi (Abhiraami), who eventually falls in love with him. Kotthalathevar, Annalachumi's uncle, always had an eye on Virumaandi's land. Nallamanaicker and Kotthalathevar are traditional foes.

Kotthalathevar creates a wedge between Virumaandi and the Naickers and tries to kill Virumaandi. He fails and misleads Virumaandi into thinking he would approve of his love for Annalachumi. He and his men unleash a bloodbath. Virumaandi is falsely implicated but lies in court to save Kotthalathevar, then elopes with Annalachumi. More murders follow. Kotthalathevar, Virumaandi are convicted. 

 

Though Kamal has tried to look real like a villager in rural Tamilnadu, it is Pasupathy and Abhirami has stolen the show with thier brilliant performances. Pasupathy as Kothala Thevar is menacing and has given villainy a new meaning. Abhirami brings compassion and conviction to the role of Annalakshmi. The jallikattu scenes, excellent artwork, a very good cinematography work by newcomer Keshav are the praiseworthy efforts. Ilayaraja songs are soothing and gelled with the storyline. It is definitely a Kamal film but it belongs to Kamal the director, not Kamal the actor.