It's difficult to recall many scenes in Dhanush-starrer Karnan that are not punctuated with shots of animals, birds or insects. Even in scenes that depict simple, everyday life in Tirunelveli's Podiyankulam, we find a shot of a fluttering moth, squealing pigs or crawling worms. At first, these 'reaction shots' take a little getting used to. Either in direct conflict or in complete harmony, these non-human 'actors' have a way of pulling us away or thrusting us deeper into Karnan. But as you go along, you realise that this story of the fallen rising is not just about the people.
Review of Karnan
Karnan
(2021)
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Warning: Spoilers