Kamal Haasan wrote a simplified version of Godfather set in a rural village of Tamil Nadu and director Bharathan brings life to it. The cast being Shivaji Ganesan and Kamal Haasan is really the biggest draw. It's a very entertaining movie that really showcases Bharthan's directorial prowess throughout. The legacy of this movie is unquestionable. Even if there were similar movies in Tamil before, this one was the one that successfully showed what this type of film can do. This kind of rural action film about pride and rivalry has almost become a genre in Tamil. Even in Malayalam films, the influence is very apparent. From Dhruvam, in which Gautami plays the opposite role she plays here, to Aaram Thamburan, there are many films that followed this.
But it was really appalling the way the film constantly glorifies this so-called ruling caste of Thevars throughout the movie, even a whole song that constantly plays. Ultimately the film tells us to stop the violence and wants at least the next generation to study and grow beyond it, but all those are more like suggestions and hints in the movie. When it comes to what is directly said and more than that never stops to celebrate is how great Thevars are which really goes overboard. It's something that shows the cultural milieu of that time, where even if the movies weren't explicitly glorifying caste all that much before, any criticism can only be made through such glorification. It really marks how society is at that point but doesn't really justify the filmmakers who could be more responsible about it.
Nonetheless, the film was really entertaining and whatever else is there, for me, the highpoint will be Inji-edupazhaki song in Janaki's voice.
But it was really appalling the way the film constantly glorifies this so-called ruling caste of Thevars throughout the movie, even a whole song that constantly plays. Ultimately the film tells us to stop the violence and wants at least the next generation to study and grow beyond it, but all those are more like suggestions and hints in the movie. When it comes to what is directly said and more than that never stops to celebrate is how great Thevars are which really goes overboard. It's something that shows the cultural milieu of that time, where even if the movies weren't explicitly glorifying caste all that much before, any criticism can only be made through such glorification. It really marks how society is at that point but doesn't really justify the filmmakers who could be more responsible about it.
Nonetheless, the film was really entertaining and whatever else is there, for me, the highpoint will be Inji-edupazhaki song in Janaki's voice.