SARPATTA
PARAMBARAI
Director: Pa Ranjith
Cast; Arya, Dushara Vijayan, Pasupathy
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Arya as Kabilan is all
set to deliver that knock out punch, to the enemy within and the enemies in
general. Brace for engaging bouts”
The weather was freezing
outside on a Wednesday night, the day was very exhaustive and tiresome and body
was badly yearning for a good sleep and was on a discussion on favorite movies
on Clubhouse as I was slowly slipping into sleep. Just got a alert from friend
that Sarpatta
Parambarai is out and streaming on Amazon. I was in two minds, to sleep
or watch the movie for few minutes. (Thanks to OTT release) and then continue
next day. The moment I saw the length was 2 hrs. 53 minutes, my resolve to go to
bed became stronger as the movie started with no special ‘Hero Entry’ for Arya
as we are used to with other hero oriented films. Just few minutes into the
movie, and my sleepiness vanished and even after 2AM when I finished watching
the movie, it took a very long time for me to sleep. That was the impact.
After two back to back
ordinary films with super star, Pa Ranjith finally returns to what he is best
at. The story revolves around boxing competitions in Madras ruled by upper
class clans and to suppress the efforts of working class competitors, Sarpattai
boxers at an arm’s length, literally. All this drama inside the ring and
outside is set during mid-70 political crisis, emergency in addition. How
Kabilan (Arya) emerges as a boxer to reckon with, and how he manages to almost,
yeah almost defeats Vembuli (John Koken) before things take a wild turn…form the most
part until the Interval.
The 2nd half is
equally interesting as the drama in and around Kabilan’s world is very
interesting and engaging on his journey downhill. How Kabilan will fight the
enemy within, enemies in his clan and the enemies in general before he regains what
was abruptly snatched away from him, take you on an interesting trip towards climax
amidst Pa Ranjith’s typical Madras premise.
The biggest strength of
the movie is characters played almost by everyone will leva a mark in your
thoughts for days to come. Kabilan’s wife Mariamma (Dushara Vijayan) is too
good, like wise Pasupathy as coach, John Vijay as daddy, Brilliant Shabeer Kallarakkal
as Rose, ever reliable Kalaiyarasan as Vetri with Arya as Kabilan has carried
the role with aplomb. Even a roadside drunkard has left his mark as he
celebrates the victory of Kabilan in the end. Why, as an audience, even you
will be touched with the kind of narrative and screenplay by Ranjith and Team.
Background Score and
Cinematography is good but art direction is bit patchy compared to Ranjith’s
earlier cinemas.
Anantha Subramanyam K.
