Thangalaan(2024)
Thangalaan has been watched.
An ambitious attempt from Pa Ranjith to mix magic realism and folk tales with oppression before freedom.
As I think about the movie on the way back, it has an interesting idea and one liner that would excite any actor to be a part of it. But, unfortunately the ideas don't translate on the screen and what we get is a 156 min mess where the audience doesn't know what's happening on the screen nor where it is directed towards.
AB Devillers is a great batsman, one of a kind but he will be belittled for not winning an ICC trophy in his illustrious career. Likewise, Vikram is a damn good actor but he hasn't had a proper theatrical hit for over a decade now. Thangalaan unfortunately is another movie where he gives it all but the movie doesn't give him back anything other than disappointment.
He excels in the role of Thangalaan, with his mannerism of a tribal person, the dialogues and body language in every scene. Parvathy and Pasupathi are the next biggest positives in the movie. Pasupathi in particular continues to prove how great an actor he is. There's a scene in the second half where he argues with the British person, terrific performer and laudable performance.
Pa Ranjith, a director who has been vocal about his politics and a damn good one in delivering impactful stories on screen. Alas, the director misses the mark by a mile here as the movie fails to create any effect on the audience, credits to incomprehensible dialogues and the screenplay that fails to hold the audience's attention. However, Pa. Ranjith makes his presence felt with razor sharp dialogues(those that I was able to understand).
Technically, the movie is a mixed bag again. While the camera work is impressive and the cinematography in portrayal of 1850 setup is great, the sound and music department have faltered big time. The overpowering BGM with sound design and the screaming dialogues are sure to induce headache among the audience. I'm suffering from one right now. There's absolutely no gap in the score for any kind of silence and GV continues to play which literally feels like he's playing on our ears. Such terrible BGM that could make the audience hate the entire movie.
The movie became exhausting after a point that the proceedings which should bring me to the edge of my seat and the major victory moment that should feel like the rain scene in Shawshank Redemption passes on like "Do you feel anything? No" meme.
Overall, an ambitious attempt from Pa Ranjith and crew with Vikram pouring it all to produce a strictly average output.
P.S.: Take earbuds to the theatre to suppress the loud background score.
