Right ingredients, wrong proportions

WHAT if a film is socially relevant, has a fiercely unique directorial vision, competent performances, an interesting storyline, and still leaves you wanting for more?

- PRASHANTH VALLAVAN

Or perhaps, like in the case of Thandakaaranyam, it makes you want for less. Athiyan Athirai’s sophomore directorial speaks about how the complex symbiotic relationship of systemic oppression and corruption exploits the downtrodden and breeds violence. Through dialogues and inventive visuals, you see the kind of metaphors, often seen in poetry, that draw parallels between emotional human bonds and the unshakeable magnificence of nature. Athiyan draws deeply evocative performances from almost every single character.

Inspired by true events, Thandakaaranyam follows Murugan (Kalaiyarasan) as he joins a military training camp for a special anti-Naxal unit, and vows to cross every type of physical and emotional hardship so he can return home to his family and the love of his life as a uniformed officer and earn back lost respect. With a fairly engaging premise, along with all the positives listed above, the film has a lot going for it. However, by the end, all

that lingers in your memory is how these endearing elements were swallowed up in the quick sand of sappy, melodramatic, and indulgent filmmaking.