Film: Visaranai

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Directed by: Vetrimaaran

Starring: Dinesh, Aadukalam Murugadoss, Samuthirakani, Kishore

Rating: **** (Four stars)

What's it's about: Four friends run away from their homes in Tamil Nadu to Guntur, Andhra Pradesh in search of jobs and a better life. They want to return home only when they can earn for themselves and be proud of what they have achieved. But initially, their life is a struggle - they sleep in a local park, use the park's facilities and do small jobs. One of the four is Pandi (Dinesh), who woks in a provisions store and heads to work at 4 am every day. But one morning, their life changes. All the four friends are picked up by the police and taken to the station. They are repeatedly savagely beaten and tortured. Why are they picked up by the cops? What are they accused of? Will they be released? What happens next?

What's good: Director Vetrimaaran is a National Award-winning director who picks subjects that are not run-of-the-mill and not commercial masalas. Visaranai (Investigation) comes after four years of his last film, Aadukalam. As widely reported, it's based on the real-life story of M Chandra Kumar who is now an auto rickshaw driver in Coimbatore. Chandra Kumar penned the novel 'Lock Up' in Tamil narrating his life experience and Vetrimaaran has brought it to life on celluloid. Vetrimaaran premiered this movie in the Orrizonti (Horizons) section of the 72nd Venice Film Festival in Italy. It went on to win the 'Amnesty International Italia Award'.

Vetrimaaran clearly says this movie depicts the harsh realities of life and he has made sure that every scene stays with you long after you leave the theatre. One situation changed the lives of these four innocent young men forever and the director must be applauded for keeping the story real and raw. The movie focuses on police brutality and shows you how the police - who are there to serve and protect the people - can actually become their enemy. It takes you through the nexus between the police, politicians and the affluent and you see how they can snuff the life out of a poor and/or innocent person in minutes - and walk away, unpunished carrying on with normal life. 

Every scene is a bitter reminder that there is a system out there that exists and if you are caught in it, how it might just be impossible for you to escape. Vetrimaaran has kept the story very crisp and it has been well edited by Kishore Te. Every second of the 107 minute film is gripping and the actors - Dinesh, Aadukalam Murugadoss, Samuthirakani, Kishore, Anandhi Misha Ghoshal, Pradeesh Raj, Ajay Ghosh, E Ramdoss - have kept it so real that you don't even realise they are acting! 

Music director GV Prakash has delivered a background score that takes the film a notch higher. Here, the music also conveys to you the pain, sadness, anger, fear and violence. And that leaves a bigger impact. 

What's not: There are hardly any negatives in this film to speak of.

What to do: Director Vetrimaraan has delivered a film that doesn't preach or sermonise - it delivers a jolt of reality. And it makes you think - because this could happen to you. Don't miss it.