‘Meiyazhagan’ movie review: Karthi and Arvind Swami shoulder this spirited bromance drama

A nonetheless from ‘Meiyazhagan’ 
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association

Whereas most filmmakers deal with the larger elements of their story to substantiate the so-called big-screen expertise, C Prem Kumar belongs to a distinct segment group of administrators who like to focus on the finer, intimate moments of life. Most likely due to his time spent behind the viewfinder as a cinematographer, Prem’s scenes seem like animated nonetheless images, and similar to his directorial debut 96, his sophomore outing Meiyazhagan is a collection of moments in movement.

In Meiyazhagan, Prem poses a number of questions that you simply imagine to have answered ages in the past; for instance, aside from the apparent reply, have you ever ever questioned why your birthplace is named your hometown? Meiyazhagan begins in 1996 (clearly not co-incidental) when a younger Arunmozhi Varman a.okay.a Arul is subjected to a ache seldom captured on celluloid. Minimize to 2018, his cousin’s marriage forces him again to his homeland and hoping to search out closure, Arul (Arvind Swami) embarks on what he expects to be a swift and hasty journey. Destiny provides a tail to the complete cease he lengthy wished for and introduces him to a relative (Karthi), whose title Arul can simply not recall.

Macroscopically, Meiyazhagan feels prefer it’s minimize from the identical material as 96; the first story unfolds predominantly inside an evening, includes two people with a typical previous, the flashbacks unravel knots which the movie skilfully ties… and extra. However whereas 96 was a narrative of unrequited love, Meiyazhagan is an exploration of human feelings. Past the overarching intriguing story of a reticent city man retracing his roots with an exuberant small-town do-gooder for firm, a number of different elements work in favour of the drama.

For starters, the movie toys with the thought of stark extremities; proper from the traits of the leads, to the smaller particulars such because the photograph of Periyar subsequent to lord Murugan adorning a wall, the tales behind their respective present homes, and so forth. Prem’s sensible setups and pay-offs additionally supply flourishing returns… be it the subplot involving a cycle that underlines how one’s trash is one other’s treasure, to minor callbacks to a temple elephant, or an episode the place the duo mistakenly put on the opposite individual’s pair of slippers.

When Prem isn’t changing the product of pen, paper and prose to picture-perfect poetry together with his lead solid, he lets his secondary characters take over the body. Aside from Arvind Swami and Karthi, the remainder of the movie’s solid have minor roles to play, however they’re written strongly sufficient to warrant prolonged dialogue. When these characters work together, the conversations really feel natural as they’re accentuated by the maker’s choice to allow us to linger within the moments. Be it the scene the place a distant relative speaks to Arul about how her life would have been completely different had he married her, earlier than brushing her hand in opposition to his shoulder as she leaves, or the opposite one involving Arul’s father (Jayaprakash) talking to his relative Sokku (Rajkiran) that leaves them inconsolable, Prem proves his mettle over showcasing interpersonal relationships.

A nonetheless from ‘Meiyazhagan’ 
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

What makes Meiyazhagan work majorly is the way it by no means succumbs to melodrama even when coping with the rawest of feelings. After all, there are occasional missteps, just like the shot of a row of onlookers in a reception weeping to the proceedings onstage — which is definitely one of many movie’s finest scenes — that appears misplaced. However these niggles aren’t any road-blocks; they’re like sand castles in entrance of the mighty Cauvery that blesses the Delta area which doubles as this movie’s backdrop. Talking of ‘Ponni nadhi’, an over-enthusiastic Karthi hanging around with an Arulmozhi Varman ought to turn out to be a sub-genre in Tamil cinema!

It’s a deal with to look at the connection between Arvind Swami and Karthi’s characters blossom into one thing beautiful. Not solely do they play roles that type the unlikeliest of bonds, however it’s arguably Arvind Swami’s finest efficiency to this point whereas it additionally brings again the mirthful Karthi we loved in movies from his earlier days. Karthi’s anonymous character and his harmless, mischievous behaviour is a continuing, whereas Arul goes from contemplating his relative a menace to slowly warming as much as his affectionate nature; Prem has not solely provide you with one in every of 2024’s finest movies but additionally a possibility for 2 nice actors to present career-defining performances. Add to the equation some implausible pictures by Mahendiran Jayaraju and a lilting rating by Govind Vasantha, with Kamal Haasan crooning the poignant ‘Yaaro Ivan Yaaro’ because the cherry on the cake.

That mentioned, it could be comprehensible if Meiyazhagan doesn’t resonate as a lot as 96 did with the viewers. Aside from having a predictable ending, the movie lacks the fabric to warrant a 178-minute runtime. Nonetheless, it doesn’t take away the truth that it’s a considerate character examine delivered to life by some sensible performances; for that very motive, Meiyazhagan, in each means, deserves its title.

Meiyazhagan is presently operating in theatres