This is one of the best Tamil movies in recent times, and is worth every praise that's coming its way.
I watched this movie with no idea of what it was about or what to expect. Right from the first frame, the movie looked different, and by the time the first song played out, I was rubbing my hands in anticipation of something out of the ordinary. This movie grabs you by the scruff of your neck, shakes you out of your slumber, and keeps you rooting for the protagonist throughout the run-time. Your soul cries when he is hurt. Your mind gets angry when he is angry. And then, your heart aches when he bears all the torment single handedly, before his spirit gives him enough courage to stand up and fight for what is rightfully his.
The fact that there is a very strong message of how casteism maims and kills humanity - literally and in spirit - is brought out inherently, and yet very strongly.
Pariyerum Perumal also straddles the line dividing art-house and mainstream cinema without resorting to any formulaic solutions. Direction is top notch, as is the screenplay and editing. The songs are out of the ordinary, and downright wacky at times! It adds to what is already a good movie, making it even better. Art direction and cinematography is again beautiful and brings out the drama on screen very effectively. The production team has used colors and symbolism to match the story intrinsically. The role of Karuppi, the dog, as the flesh-and-spirit companion and metaphor for the hero is commendable.
Kathir, as the protagonist, has done a stellar job and is well supported by all the other actors. Marimuthu, Lijeesh, Karate Venkatesan, Anthony Dasan, and others have all played their roles very well, and Yogi Babu adds a comic touch to the proceedings without the comedy track being any way detrimental to the story-telling.
The one possible sore point to bring out is the portrayal of the female lead as someone who is very sweet and innocent and is kept completely isolated from all the raging violence and caste oppression. However, that portrayal forms the very basis of the story-line and gels well in the story. In her own way, the heroine is true to her heart and stands up for her beliefs without fear of ostracization or retribution, albeit in innocence. Also, without giving away too much in terms of a spoiler, the Director does not paint every character from the upper caste as being inhumane.
This movie is as much about oppression as it is about optimism. Add this movie in your watch-list as a must-see.
