Azhagarsaamiyin Kuthirai (2011) ***
I feel very satisfied when the plot is adopted from Tamil literature. I loved Sasi’s Poo and now Suseendran’s Azhagarsaamiyin Kuthirai adopted from Writer Baskar Sakthi’s work, is a simple and fantastic movie of goodness and humanity. Its been some time I had a good time on a Sunday afternoon which pushes me to write the review after watching the movie. Suseendran is here to stay,simply he is growing movie by Movie.The best thing about him is that he has got the thinking to look simple, rather than going big and failing miserably, like Susee Ganesan .
Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai is about a Village ,which is preparing for its annual Azhagar Festival where the deity parade happens around the Village. The wooden horse goes missing and the blame game starts. The villagers manage to snatch a real horse which actually belongs to a person Azharsamy whose bread is dependent on his horse. Azhagar samy comes in search of the horse to the village.Villagers refuse to give the horse which they had started worshipping as divine Azhagar.Azhagarsamy has to get back to his village with his horse ,his marriage is dependent on it. Rainless Village believes this horse would bring back the good times .
Movie is simply fantastic for its simplicity, what this movie tells is that good movie doesn’t need fat budgets. Simple and honest presentations can sweep the minds of audience and it can stay longer than the bigger budgets. The movie is very honest to the original story ,it has created a classical adoption of the characters as in the literary work. After I was done with the movie ,I felt I was reading a short story. Some day our directors have to learn we have lots and lots of short stories in Tamil to make as a movie. Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai strength lies in its characters. Everybody has something to tell about their life and their village.
Appukutty as the Azhagarsaamy is outstanding, you cant ignore him through out the movie.You can understand his pain and situation that he wanted to get his horse back and fly. Director has taken his time to explain the changes which happens in Appukutty’s stand. He conveys so beautifully why the villagers believe this festival so important for their life. Every characters are interwoven with this festival. Suseendran portrays the formality of collecting donations in a funny and in a realistic way,which just reminds of our own behavior for Festival donations. Like all the rural flicks ,we have the typical characters but these ones have a definite role and their realization towards the goodness and humanity is simply fantastic. Suseendran has taken a dig on the superstitious belief and rituals.
When there is Ilayaraja playing BGM for these kind of plot ,you have one more character competing with the director. Ilayaraja music is a character of its own in this whole story and you don’t have words for describing the song “Kuthikira Kuthikira”.
Don’t expect a gripping tale or a fun ride when you are watching this movie, But rest your expectations aside and enjoy this realistic tale which tells about the goodness and culture of Village. And above all this movie doesn’t have a tragic end formula like all the rural movies. Movie is definitely going to make you feel good and its one noteworthy movie to be applauded this year. Well done Suseendran and team.
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