2022, Tamil, 8.7/10 IMDB, Directed by R. Parthiban
A disturbing storyline that is written in a complex intertwining timeline, is challengingly captured in a single shot, after ‘n’ number of attempts, as the making compilation claims. The director managed to create history for being the first in the non-linear category and surprisingly managed to play to the gallery as well, through excerpts of three decades of distinct ‘Parthibanisms’. The national award winning director is an undeniable asset to the industry and so is the cinematographer Arthur A Wilson for his commendable patience.
A performing theater ‘Play’ has its viewers come prepared, suspending their disbelieves, to engage themselves in the story telling, turning a blind eye to the changing props and backdrops. The single shot movie experience seemed very similar to that, where we follow the performances through the cinematographer’s view finder, ignoring the shifting backdrops. The brain child of a creator gets translated onscreen only if it is backed by dedicated artists and what we witness onscreen here, is the mighty courage of the maker and the sheer perseverance of the crew.
The director chooses to go back and forth in the time line of the protagonist’s life. The changing scenes transcends the viewers in to ‘spectators’ rather, for it feels that we are witnessing a live ‘pop up kalidoscope’. And the screening of the ‘Making’ prior to the actual film, had familiarized us with the actual floor plan by then. Even though the film has the attributes of a theater, it is way more comprehensive than that, for the mis-timing of even the tiniest action after the camera starts rolling, has a domino effect. A miniscule lag, potentially might affect the following sequences, the lighting of the lamp for instance, which takes three attempts and might have failed the actress to sync in the continuing song’s choreography. Again we have to give it to the actors, for they never let the Maker, down, from managing uncertainties with confidence and continuing to emote genuinely through out.
What startles the viewers, is the meticulous preparation right from the conception of the idea in the Director’s head to the untiring rehearsals, through which the entire crew seemed to have conceived the director’s thoughts in the exact perception of his. To comprehend the entire plot and to correlate it with the changing costumes, changing props and changing time line is a mammoth task and the team seemed to have slogged to achieve this perfection.
AR Rahman’s music, shoulders the responsibilities of resonating the dark mood right, liberating the maker to twist the tale as he desired. The lighting that creates days and nights in various sets in permutation, is an added strength. So is each one of the artist who play not just to their strength but to the strength of the film as a whole, from Brigida Saga, Anandhakrishna to the little girl who plays Arpudha, calling her father ‘Thappa’, which ironically means ‘by mistake’.
Unlike other films, the entire crew comes under the scanner if they collectively don’t justify the script with their individual performances. But at the same time, only if the performance of an actor is in the right balance, it would have enabled the other artist to perform without being panic stricken at any given uncertainty. Movie making is solely team work and the zenith of Iravin Nizhal is in the ‘conviction’ of the team, that kept their sparks alive till they got the final take right.
The half hour ‘making’ screened prior to the actual 96 minutes movie, did dutifully ‘set up’ the expectations for the masses who were unaware of what they were about to witness. But the voice over in the ‘making’, did tone down the miracle to an extend, which otherwise would have happened organically. The engaging story-telling would have done it on its own, had the technical nuances involved, were kept aside, to be told after the story had engrossed you. The brain’s interruption, at least mine, causing involuntary correlation of the scenes in the ‘making’ with the ones in the movie, when it actually occurs, unconventinaly proved to be more than just a spoil sport. The essence of the film in that instance seems to be lost, which costs big time, in the already complex story.
If I were to revisit it on OTT, would remember to watch the making after the film.