‘Thiruchitrambalam’ movie review: Dhanush and Nithya Menon are charming in this cuddly slice of life drama

There’s something sombre and lifeless in regards to the rose-tinted frames of Mithran J Jawahar’s Thiruchitrambalam that screams sorrow and grief. That’s what the movie is about: suppressed feelings. But, the movie shouldn’t be as painfully unhappy as you would possibly suppose. It’s, in reality, the other and brims with life and laughter. This can be a movie that has an enthralling innocence at its core. Talking of which, Dhanush performs the titular function and he’s continually known as Pazham, which regularly means somebody who’s harmless in Tamil. And who in Indian cinema can promote innocence as sweetly as Dhanush? When the actor performs an harmless, good for nothing man, there’s something austere about the way in which he does it. We now have seen that in Polladhavan. Aadukalam. VIP. Raanjhanaa. Vada Chennai. In lots of movies. There’s Nithya Menon, after all, who can equally promote innocence. And they’re in a film collectively. How nice is that? The reply to that’s ‘Megham Karukkatha’, the place they dance like two butterflies.

Firstly, Mithran R Jawahar places a pleasant spin on the Velai Illa Pattadhari template. This movie nonetheless follows VIP’s construction and maybe borrows a couple of highpoints and Anirudh’s rating, however the similarities finish there. In reality, it’s exhausting to say if Thiruchitrambalam is a rom-com or a slice of life drama on home life. Maybe it’s each. It has the garb and language of a rom-com as a result of it’s Dhanush with three heroines. But, it’s also a slice of life drama about letting go, powered by a terrific Bharathiraja and Prakash Raj.

The “rom-com” is only a layer and by no means on the forefront. It’s, in reality, outstanding how Mithran writes these characters and the respective worlds they inhabit. Pazham tries to pursue his highschool sweetheart Anusha (Raashi Khanna) within the current. He works at a meals supply firm and she or he comes from what appears to be like just like the higher class. Then comes Ranjani (Priya Bhavani Shankar) who comes from Thiruchitrambalam’s personal village, the place she stays firmly dedicated to her roots. In each these instances, Thiruchitrambalam turns into the attractive center man who can’t climb atop nor down. He’s neither right here, not there. And there may be Shobana (A terrific Nithya Menon. Nicely, when has she ever not been terrific?) who’s simply there. Mithran makes use of Anusha and Ranjani’s background not as an excuse or to make an announcement. He simply makes use of it to focus on this: “What you like and what you need are completely different.”

Neglect about taking itself critically, this movie doesn’t even suppose large; its aspirations are the dimensions of the colony the place Pazham and Shobana reside. That in itself is a good blessing for a movie vigorous…the truth that it’s strongly anchored by means of emotion. Thiruchitrambalam can also be a type of uncommon rom-coms that maintains an excellent tone all through its period. And for each tense second, we get a subversion from the characters.

Take as an illustration the scene the place Pazham attire as much as meet Anusha for a date, not understanding she goes to interrupt his coronary heart in a later scene. And the movie swiftly subverts this with a cheeky second with Shobana saying, “Why are you dressed like a server?” We snicker. Not on the expense of the characters however the absurdity of their very nature. In essence, the joyous temper is maintained all by means of. Even the terrific scene the place Pazham is proven his place in a world alien to him, when he’s tipped by somebody, we get a pleasant subversion. This lack of judgement, this means to snicker at your worst occasions with somebody who has your again, is what makes Thiruchitrambalam nearer to life. Positive, there are bumps within the tone particularly for a portion within the second half. I, in reality, felt nervous for an outdated wound that comes again within the type of a battle sequence. However even the “battle” remains to be throughout the framework of the screenplay. We don’t see Thiruchitrambalam combating a nasty man in that scene. As a substitute, we see him beating himself and his inside demons of suppression. That is outstanding screenwriting.

Mithran has so many possibilities to go unsuitable. However for each landmine that comes within the type of cinematic cliches — childhood associates, unrequited love; a hero who’s a constant failure and has daddy points and a buddy grandfather — the director retains throwing in surprises by doing a couple of corrections (innovations?) right here and there. For instance, take the scene the place Pazham feels the load of guilt, watching his father paralysed. Mithran doesn’t instantly go into the sentimental zone. As a substitute we get a improbable dialogue from Bharathiraja: “Unnaku avan appa, enakku avan pulla da.” I wept. This can be a director who is aware of what not to do. There are such a lot of fulfilling moments in Thiruchitrambalam that made me sob, take a pause, and snicker in the identical breath, like a technique actor in an artsy movie.

Someplace within the final quarter you type of guess the place the movie is headed. You don’t thoughts that truly. You root for Dhanush and Nithya Menon, nonetheless. You need their characters to be collectively in a cheerful marriage, make a number of infants and simply be — be careful for Nithya Menon’s response, particularly what she communicates by means of her eyes, in that scene on the terrace when Dhanush stutters and swallows his emotion for the primary time. There’s a lot disappointment in her eyes but there may be a lot hope. It’s as if she is saying, “ Please, say it however please don’t.” I used to be shocked. That’s what this movie makes you are feeling. And there may be nothing unsuitable with rooting for childhood friends-turned-potential romantic companions. This can be a very primary human emotion and typically in films, the fundamentals are nearly nice. Thiruchitrabalam can also be that rom-com the place you nearly get an airport climax. What extra do you want, man?

Thiruchitrambalam is at the moment working in theatres.