A Potpourri of Vestiges Review
By Murtaza Ali Khan
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| Ritu Varma in a still from second segment titled ‘Avarum Naanum – Avalum Naanum’ |
Putham Pudhu
Kaalai is an interesting package of five short films and like all package deals
it has some pros and some cons. This is Amazon Prime Video’s first Tamil
anthology film. The opening segment titled ‘Ilamai Idho Idho’ directed by Sudha
Kongara is easily the best of the lot. It’s playfully bold and refreshing and
provides the perfect start to the anthology. But it is a downslide here onwards
with the fifth and final segment titled ‘Miracle’ directed by Karthik Subbaraj
looking completely out of place in the anthology.
Each of the five
short films revolves around the themes of love, fresh beginnings, hope, and
chance—set and filmed during the countrywide lockdown imposed by the Indian
government.
The
aforementioned opening segment by Sudha Kongara features an aging man and a
woman who lie to their respective children in order to date each other. But
once they are together they start to feel young again as things begin to get a
little naughty.
The second
segment titled ‘Avarum Naanum – Avalum Naanum’ directed by Gautham Vasudev
Menon tells the story of Kanna who reluctantly visits her grandpa during the
lockdown. Her grandpa didn’t support her parents’ marriage and she has never
been able to forgive him for that. She still tries to be nice to him but it’s
just the silence before the storm.
The third
segment titled ‘Coffee, Anyone?’ directed by Suhasini Maniratnam revolves around
two sisters who visit their ailing mother during the lockdown. They get furious
when they learn that their father has got her discharged from the hospital despite
her being in a comatose state. What further complicates the matter further is
the apathetic attitude of their estranged younger sister towards the family
The fourth
segment titled ‘Reunion’ directed by Rajiv Menon revolves around a musician
with a drug problem who fortuitously reunites with his school friend. On
learning that she is stranded because of the lockdown, the friend, a doctor,
and his mother ask her to stay with them during the lockdown in order to avoid
any possible risk. But things take a dramatic turn when they learn about her
drug addiction.
The aforementioned
fifth and final segment revolves around two smalltime thieves desperately looking
to turn their luck during the lockdown. It’s easily the darkest segment of the
lot, and while it’s not bad, it looks completely out of place in the anthology.
The two veteran
Malayalam actors, Jayaram and Urvashi, are a treat to watch as the aging paramours
in the opening segment. They are well supported by their younger counterparts
Kalidas Jayaram and Kalyani Priyadarshan.
Ritu Varma
delivers a memorable performance as the granddaughter in the second segment. MS
Bhaskar as the grandfather is superb. Both actors share tender chemistry that
makes the segment click.
The performances
of Suhasini Maniratnam and Anu Hasan
as the two caring sisters are the highlight of the third
segment. Shruti Haasan fails to match
their brilliance as the younger sister despite trying her best.
Andrea Jeremiah steals the thunder as the bubbly
musician suffering from a drug problem in an otherwise flat segment directed by
Rajiv Menon.
Bobby Simha’s performance is easily the best thing
about the fifth segment.
Jayaram and
Urvashi are absolutely mesmerizing to watch in ‘Ilamai Idho Idho’. The two veteran performers show their class. It’s
really a masterstroke to use two younger actors to show their naughty sides. Every
time they experience a high we get to see their younger selves (essayed by Kalidas
Jayaram and Kalyani Priyadarshan) instead of what
they look like in the present. The segment also features some beautiful song
sequences which further elevate the mood.
It’s difficult to take one’s eyes off Ritu Varma
once her character is introduced in Avarum Naanum – Avalum Naanum’.
She is simply mesmerizing to watch as the granddaughter in the second segment
and so is MS Bhaskar. The director cleverly uses photographs and
voiceovers to build the narrative even before we get to see Kanna for the very
first time. Almost all the scenes between Varma and Bhaskar are very
powerful. The segment
also features a delectable semi-classical composition ‘Kanna Thoodhu Po Da’
which serves as a perfect way to end the segment.
‘Coffee, Anyone?’ succeeds in exploring the
complexity of modern relationships really well. Sometimes we unknowingly hurt
those we love and by the time we realize our mistake, it is already too late. It
also exposes the absence of communication in relationships despite living in a
world that’s highly connected thanks to the technological wonders. Also, it’s
worth mentioning again that Suhasini Maniratnam and Anu Hasan
are brilliant in their respective roles.
Rajiv Menon is
always a very interesting filmmaker but ‘Reunion’ is mostly forgettable with
the exception of Andrea Jeremiah’s layered performance that tugs at our heartstrings. Here
is a girl who desperately wants to excel as a musician but at what price?
It’s really surprising that the anthology even have
a fifth segment. Karthik Subbaraj would have really done us a favor had he
released ‘Miracle’ as a separate short film.
What
we really miss are ore purposeful fourth and fifth segments.
Readers, please feel free to share your opinion by leaving your comments. As always your valuable thoughts are highly appreciated
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