Aairathil Oruvan – My View

It seems Selvaragavan was edgy about the screenplay of the movie, however he seems to be confident about the story, with no second thought, it is definetely a dare move in Indian cinema, atleat in tamil movies, a fantasy movie, with an absurd historical base.

First thing which gnaws me is the need of Karthick in lead role, I feel that any supportive actor can do that role without any injustice to that character, I dont mean that Karthick has done some injustice to that, I mean it is clerk job and a manager is not required. Director seems to be in hurry right from the beginning, movie unveils with “theru Koothu” , a traditional street play, which tells about the last king of Chola dynasty who evaded his son to a distant unexplored land to safe gaurd him from Pandia’s who attacked Tanjavur, the capital of chola dynasty. Its not a real history as per the disclaimer of the movie, it seems Directorthought that this historical background might give more weightage to his fantasy, and it did, and yeilded criticism from purists. I personally believe that these criticism are artifical, may be for the popularity of the movie, and inculcate the urge of watching this movie, and this worked.

If director would have spent little more time in screenplay, the movie would have been a block bluster, every role in this movie is well defined and every one has done there part exceptionally, except the director’s part and screenplay, right from the beginning from theru koothu, to the chola period, it looked like a abrupt transition, it required lots to analysis to correlate, this transition, something like this, I’m watching at 20th century part all of sudden I was moved 1000 yrs back, yes the theru koothu is about this 1000 yrs story, that need to be filed and smoothened in the story, not sudden u-turn.

All traps that chola’s created quickly whisked me to Mackenna's gold, Indiana Jones, National Treasure, and a Japnese movie for the last trap of sound, I’m not saying its wrong that it is copied, but Director would have taken steps to present this in an acceptable manner. Like most of the Hollywood and Bollywood movies, this movie has got some logical errors too, but obvious one should be avoided, like the Quick sand Trap, when Anita Pandian (Reema Sen), first stepped on the quick sand, it opened and stayed opened for few mins, where as other quick sand traps closed immediately, so that they can step on and check if that is a quick sand and step out immediately.

Tamil Purists concern about showing Chola as a tribal/cannibal, I’m on Director side on this, he might be Chola and cultured/civilized king in Tanjavur not in Minggu Vah island, he is a tribal here, he dont have chefs to cook food for him with species and all as in Tanjavur, he is a tribal here, and his continues starvation and expellsion from the outer world would have forced him to cannibalism, this is obvious, if you would have watch Man Vs Wild, or Survivorman in Discouvey channel, you will get what I mean, again as other things overlooked by the Director, this too was stepped over. If Director would have taken little more time to look into these details, this movie would have become a history in Tamil cinema, I accept that will increase the movie time, let it be, people who are used to watch 3 hrs movie, will watch 4/5 Hr movie as well, just like Lord of Rings, which was 4.3 Hrs movie, and a box office hit.

Now probably you would know, what I mean by abrupt transistion 

I hope with all these inputs and corrections Director is going to come back with Part 2, Just like James Camaroon, who corrected all his mistakes in Terminator – I, and gave Terminator – II which was a block bluster, I believe Aairathil Orvan – II will emerge successfully, undoubtfully Aairathil Orvan – I is a dawn and Aairathil Orvan – II probably be the bright day.