Thangam may just have been sufficient to capture its all-encompassing theme. There’s the unlikely love triangle involving a sibling and a best friend, there’s unrequited love that forms the emotional core of the film, and the forbidden inter-faith relationship between its two principal characters. But despite having a heavy agenda, Kongara doesn’t appear to bite off more than she can chew. The movie effortlessly chugs along like a Malgudi Days’ tale, and tugs soulfully at our heartstrings. Along the way, the movie brings to the fore a heartbreaking reality that while families may eventually reconcile and accept their children, when it comes to letting a human being choose their gender, the world remains a massively one-sided place
In
Paava Kadhaigal, I introduce songs because I love to crunch time with a song and take the story forward. Likewise for
Soorarai Pottru, a movie on aviation, or
Irudhi Suttru, about women’s boxing. I remember people were discouraging us, saying this cannot be a Tamil film, but perhaps a Hindi film. During the release, they asked my producer if he has a share in the Hindi version because the Tamil one will tank. But they did not know I was super-sharp to work out the beats of the film to ensure the story reaches the masses. Because I am the masses. I love mainstream filmmaking.
Paava Kadhaigal: Confused vision elevated by stellar performances
Kalidas Jayaram gives a heartbreaking performance in Thangam, and Prakash Raj s ruthlessness feels lived in and too close to reality in Oor Iravu. Updated: December 26, 2020 7:49:39 pm
Paava Kadhaigal is streaming on Netflix.
SPOILER ALERT!
Loosely translated, Paava Kadhaigal means sin stories. And it is these ‘acts of sin’ that is explored in Netflix’s new anthology Paava Kadhaigal. Four acclaimed filmmakers try to decipher and interpret the loaded word. The point is not whether they have succeeded or failed, but it is about the attempt. We always ask of our directors and actors – ‘What else could they have given us within the format?’ And we come up with so many possibilities. At least in Paava Kadhaigal, the makers are willing to push the envelope in their own small ways, and that has to be commended.
Why we need more Paava Kadhaigal
Paava Kadhaigal offers a peek at the horrors that humans are capable of inflicting on others in the name of honour. And experiences like this would surely make us more empathetic to the sufferings of others. December 20, 2020 5:05:11 pm
Paava Kadhaigal is streaming on Netflix.
We have to thank Vetri Maaran for steering his producers and colleagues towards making an anthology movie chronicling the sins that people commit in the name of honour. If not for him, we may have ended up with four romantic tales, instead of four gut-wrenching stories that are timely and relevant.
Paava Kadhaigal Review: Hard-To-Watch But Compelling Quartet Of Classily-Crafted Tales
Paava Kadhaigal Review: Hard-To-Watch But Compelling Quartet Of Classily-Crafted Tales
Paava Kadhaigal Review: The actors are in prime form and the abridged narrative format gives them, and the directors, the scope to create sharply chiselled, dire, disconcerting portraits of putrid patriarchy. Paava Kadhaigal Review: A still from the anthology. (courtesy YouTube)
Cast: Prakash Raj, Kalki Koechlin, Kalidas Jayaram, Shanthnu Bhagyaraj, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Sai Pallavi, Anjali, Simran, Adithya Bhaskar
Director: Sudha Kongara, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Vignesh Shivan, Vetrimaaran
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
The idea of the family as a safe space is hurled out the window in