Pithamagan - a new look. Review on Pithamagan - Tamil Movie

This is not as such a review of the film, but comments to the reviews already posted, esp. those by amireyer and sabman. Since I figured out that it would be quite long, I decided to write it as a review itself. Thus, please don't expect a structured organization to this review. It is very interesting to see very diverse comments on the film ''Pithamagan''. I for myself think the film is good but with some flaws. But not the kind of flaws pointed out by some reviewers and I would first discuss some apparent 'flaws'.

• What is the use of chitthan being an undertaker-

Undertaker is one of the most suited lifestyle for chitthan, as he is shown in the film. Also he is not any normal undertaker, but is born and broughtup in the graveyard, with little human contact (please don't say that he can have contact with the relatives of the dead - they don't come there for talking !!). An individual who is by nature reserved and brute, without much human contact would develop only like chitthan. Ofcourse, I accept that chitthan not speaking a single meaningful sentence even to his loved ones, is a bit of an exagaration - but it definitely shows his rawness.

• Laila falling in love with Surya

Laila's characterisation is consitently that of a childish girl (ofcourse how many girls at that age are so childish is another question and this is a real flaw). This is evident in her intial encounters with surya. Thus it is no wonder that she begins to love surya (after the jail scene), after hating him so long.

• Vikram and others should have left the village after burning the corpse

This is where I feel most of them have missed the underlying theme in the film. The film dwells on two inter-linked themes (or rather questions) - Why society has a prejudice towards people who are not ''normal'' but nevertheless harmless (here chitthan) ?- [Vikram comes in to the hotel to only eat, but is attacked without reason]. Why people who had been criminals once, can't reform and lead a normal life ? [ Surya and Sangeetha are both forced in to wrong activities due to circumstances. But after finding relations for themselves, they look to stop all these things (atleast surya says so in a scene). Thus they hope to come out clean by exposing the drug lord when the chance comes, to finally quit this dirty life ]. Thus, it has the underlying theme of lowly people trying to rise against the circumstances, which could never be portrayed if they run away like cowards.

• Sangeetha's reaction on surya's death

This is a most beautiful part of the film which is not understood by some people. Throughout the film, sangeetha and surya try to make vikram more 'human' by making him emote etc. But on seeing vikram's reaction to surya's death she feels that he is still an animal. Also she feels that he is unaware that all this was actually due to him, and thus she, in the moment of despair, also feels that he is a misfit to the society and would only give sorrrow to those around him. Thus even she who loves him, has lost her faith in him (of returning to 'normal' behaviour). And sangeetha's makeup is apt for one who leads a hard life without having any time to bother about her looks and appeal.

Also I feel that not many have appreciated the climax. Not the actual killing of the villain, but in the sequence after that vikram ignores calls from sangeetha to go back to the solitude of his graveyard. It is as if saying ''I have caused enough distruction by coming in to the society. I don't want to do any more''. Thus this film ends in a double tragedy - that of lowly people being unable to raise above their surroundings and that of the failed attempt to include a recluse in the soceity. This film doesn't have a message as such but asks a few disturbing questions.

There are a few flaws like the characterisation of laila and the simran's song - which though justified in it's presence (for the dialogs & sequences preceding it) is a bit too long. The vilolence is often required to show the nature of vikram and then to show how the friendship develops between them.

I don't know why many people say their freindship is not adequately refelected - vikram feeding surya with his own hands in their house is one poetical scene and one can't ask for more. There are also some questions like why should surya feel so attached to vikram - I feel when someone who is feared by everyone else, shows affection to you alone, you also tend to reciprocate in equal measure. Also IR's music, though not great is perfectly suited to this movie. The picturisation for 'elangathu' song is the best one I have seen so far.

Thus the film is a novel attempt in characterisations with some underlying themes and should not be criticised without careful thought about it.