Harking back to the Bard, again

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After watching Chekka Chivantha Vaanam and 96, I'm in awe of the actor that is Vijay Sethupathi. Until now, I'd failed to watch any of his films through to the end; not even Vikram Vedha, regrettably. While 96 impresses with its cinematography and performances (it also reminded me of Richard Linklator's Before Sunrise) , Chekka Chivantha Vaanam is a gangster flick that offers some insight into the psychology of criminal minds. Considering it is a Mani Ratnam directorial, it was not what I expected. But even though this is not my kind of film, it has, to its credit, a bunch of talented actors(including Prakash Raj, Aravind Swamy, Vijay Sethupathi, Arun Vijay, STR, Jyothika, and Aditi Rao Hydari), and sweeping long takes (I especially loved the sunset reflected on the glass-panelled family home when Thyagu barges in, and the final scene when the camera pans out to reveal that vast expanse of rock facing the sea - to me, it signified the insigificance of human life in the vast cosmos). Apart from reiterating the age-old cliche of family revenge that seems to always haunt humanity (and films), this movie harks back to Macbeth, most explicitly in the second half, when Varadan (Aravind Swamy) confesses his sins to his wife (Jyothika) , as Macbeth to Lady Macbeth; of how his hands now reek of blood, that cannot be washed away. Since I haven't exhaustively watched this genre, I cannot effectively review this film (Try this : https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/the-twilight-saga-continues/article25217528.ece/amp/ ) but the storyline impresses, aided by convincing performances. Sethupathi fans, do not miss it in theatres.







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