Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
The message falls flat
On AIDS: Mirugam
Mirugam
Genre: Social
Director: Sami
Cast: Adhi, Padmapriya, Banuchander, ‘Ganja’ Karuppu, Sona, Karthikeyan, and Kurandi Lakshmi.
Storyline: A young village bully meets with a sad end after contracting AIDS.
Bottomline: Could have used some star appeal
The director of ‘Mirugam’ deserves to be commended for making a film with a message — eradication of AIDS. Padmapriya has chipped in with good work but with no other stars to boast, the film fails to make an impact.
Ayyanar (new find Adhi) is born to a prostitute mother who deserts him when he is a boy. He is brought up by Periyatha and her husband, who dies. The boy grows up to become a robust, unruly young man who does not do any work but lives on the money earned by lending the bull for mating. The villagers keep a distance from this bully, who covets a girl in the neighbouring village. His friend Idithangi (Ganja Karuppu) wants him to change and so asks him to marry her.
He marries Azhagammal (Padmapriya). Jailed for beating up a VIP of the neighbouring village, the prison and its inmates play havoc with Ayyanar. To cut a long story short, he contracts AIDS and is ostracised.
The new find Adhi does justice to the role of Ayyanar. Banuchander as Pownraj and Ganja Karuppu as Idithangi are adequate. Seductive Sona fits the bill in the right way. Lakshmi Ammal as Periyatha lives the role as the mother of Ayyanar.
Sabesh Murali’s background score is above average while Ramnath Shetty’s camera work is worth mentioning. Story, screenplay, dialogue and direction are by Sami. Tight editing would have prevented the film from getting a documentary flavour.
S.R.ASHOK KUMAR
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
|
