Given today's fast cars, speedy bikes and mobile phone culture, Paruthi Veeran comes as a breath of fresh air, distinctly distilled, to give only the very best of 'mann vasanai'to our smog filled senses.
Karthi (coming with the excess baggage of being Sivakumar's son and Suriya's brother ) has given a mind blowing performance. He has not acted but has become the character 'Veeran'', a village wastrel and rowdy element who is in and out of prison, accompanied by his paternal uncle(chithappa) Chevazhai.
The antics and atrocities of this duo is well brought out, with a comic element. Priya Mani is called Muthazhagu in this film and has given the performance of a lifetime. Priya Mani has acted without makeup and fits the role beautifully. Her mad love for the hero 'Veeran', forged when the two were little more than children, is well depicted in the scenes involving the two.
Veeran's rejection to her overtures, in adulthood, does little to subdue her love for him. The animosity between the families of Veeran and Muthazhagu starts with Veeran's father having a love marriage. Muthazhagu's father Kazhudith Thevan, played with ease by Ponvannan, being a caste driven maniac carries the vendetta to its fullest extent.
During one of Veeran's jaunts in jail, Muthazhagu consumes poison because her father tries to force her into marriage with some other groom. She reinforces her staunch stand in her love for Veeran, by saying that she would rather die than give up her love for him. Muthazhagu, fed up with the whole situation, berates Veeran's chithappa for egging Veeran on in his atrocities and irresponsible behaviour.
This enrages Veeran into hitting her. She falls to the ground and walks away in tears. Within a few seconds she comes running back to Veeran and says that it is impossible for her to give him up under any circumstances.
This is the turning point in the film as well as in Veeran's character. He starts to return her love in full measure and turns into a new leaf. The wastrel changes into a sensitive lover. Does the caste driven father agree to marry his daughter to Veeran? Do the lovers unite? Or is it all in vain!!!!
Watch Paruthi Veeran to answer these questions. We could wax poetic about the way the film has been made by director Ameer, who gives a distinct flavour to all his creations, be it a character in his film or the film per se. You do not feel that you have seen a film.
Combined with the crystal clear camera work of Ramji, you feel that you have personally witnessed the unfolding set of events. The stunts by Rajasekar are believable and realistic. Yuvan Shankar Raja after his success with fast paced rap,jazz,hip hop and rock'n'roll, has proved he is a chip off the old block by giving wonderfully moody music.
The song sequences simply merge with the film and just seem an extension of the story line. Every artist in this film has dubbed for his or her roles in their own voices. We have to get back to Karthi, for bringing Veeran to life, especially in such scenes where out of sheer boredom, he asks the karakattam and oyilattam artists to dance for his sole entertainment.
Kudos to Ameer for making the right choices and bringing out the best in his artists. Surely a film looking for at least a couple of national awards this year.
Paruthi Veeran is a winner all the way.
