‘Viruman’ movie review: Karthi and Prakash Raj are endearing in this blaring rural drama that firmly sticks to its traditions

The ghost of Thevar Magan and Virumaandi, arguably two of the best movies in Tamil cinema, continues to hang-out even after many years. And to a big extent, these two movies — written by Kamal Haasan — appear to supply the essential framework for these rural dramas which can be set in and across the Madurai belt. It’s not precisely stunning that Viruman too has these shades. It’s, in a manner, a spin on Thevar Magan that had a patriarch in Sivaji’s Periya Thevar and the dutiful son in Kamal Haasan’s Sakthivelu. Now what if these two characters had been in head-on collision? That’s not the one similarity; the way in which Karthi will get launched does remind you of Virumaandi, if you happen to want to jog your reminiscence a bit. In reality, proper after Karthi’s introduction, Prakash Raj’s Muniyandi is strolling house together with a gaggle of his associates. Out of frustration, he stops halfway and yells at them for being mere bystanders. One thing about this tiny little bit of efficiency from Raj reminds you of Sivaji Ganesan proper after the long-lasting Panchayat scene. In fact, we get a Panchayat scene in Viruman too. Like in Virumaandi, any person is cunningly after a chunk of land owned by Viruman. 

One thing about this movie calls for your consideration and that’s Karthi. There’s something “likeable” about Karthi that it’s arduous to dismiss any of his performances as “no matter”. Regardless that he will get a “been there, accomplished that” character right here, Karthi has this capability to personal it. He’s endearing all through the long-drawn first half and his “likeability” is what makes you invested in Viruman, despite the fact that the scenes, songs, conditions and stunts are a tad generic. If the movie is even pleasurable in elements, it’s due to Karthi and the forged together with Rajkiran, Soori, Singam Puli and others.

What’s with Tamil filmmakers and their fondness for romanticising the notion that heroines are a mere reflection of the hero’s mom? And what does it say in regards to the heroes falling for these girls? Viruman sees shades of his outspoken mom Muthulakshmi (Saranya Ponvannan) in Thaen (Aditi Shankar who sells the character fairly nicely). It’s Viruman’s uncle (Rajkiran who will get a kickass scene in the long run. He’s terrific) who makes issues worse. Viruman who appears frozen in entrance of Thaen as she provides him an earful, Rajkiran crops a seed into his head. That after him, it’s only Thaen he ‘listens’ to and the truth that their meet-cute occurs in his mom’s tomb must be an indication. Viruman and Thaen have late night time chats on WhatsApp however their romance hasn’t been up to date and desires to be painfully cute. Save for some scattered laughs from Soori who is definitely able to jokes and will get just a few bang-on, the movie provides us a deja vu feeling of getting been in related places, that includes related characters and acquainted beats within the multiverse of the Muthaiya, Pandiraj and Siva triumvirate.

In a quest to seize the form of laid-back life and care-free angle in villages, movies like Viruman run the chance of romanticising traditions and popularising sure thorny notions of the previous — “A lady must be like Boomadevi, not like Phoolan Devi,” a personality says. A manipulative and abusive father is introduced as a jolly and dimwitted individual so that there’s sufficient juice for ‘leisure’. The truth that it’s performed by a gifted actor like Prakash Raj makes it almost not possible to make him unlikeable. A personality’s suicide is proven with in the least of empathy. The folks you come throughout in Viruman shed their ideas and beliefs that they held onto for many years and attain enlightenment in a matter of scenes. How cool is that? 

One of many issues that will get stepping into Viruman is the chemistry between Karthi and Prakash Raj. It’s extra pure than the one Karthi shares with Aditi who, at greatest, may go off as his sibling. These two actors — Karthi and Raj — maintain you hooked on to the proceedings, even when it hits a sequence of lows within the second half. The stunning allure that was there in Muthaiya’s pen within the first half will get watered all the way down to a tear jerker. If in any respect there’s a takeaway from Viruman, it’s that we have now lastly discovered a formidable pair in Karthi and Raj for the Tamil remake of Ayyappanum Koshiyum.

Viruman is at present operating in theatres.