Film- Pagalariyaan
Director-Murugan Raj
Cast-Vetri, Akshaya Kandamudhan,Vinupriya, Sai Dheena, Murugan Raj, Chaplin Balu
The narrative travels on multiple tracks with different sets of characters, each on their respective individual pursuit. The underworld with its sex trafficking network, criminals on vendetta sprees, rich brats of powerful men on a desire fulfilling mode, and nubile vulnerable women lured into fake romances, are all integrated with the plot. Debutant Murugan Raj who writes, directs, produces and plays one of the leads, has attempted to give his narrative a neo noir feel.
The two main tracks involve Silent and Wolf, both carrying memories of a traumatic childhood and a dark past. While Silent (Murugan Raj, effective in his portrayal) is in search of his missing sister, a brooding Wolf (Vetri) is all set to elope with his lover Akashara (Akshaya, her portrayal earning her empathy). There is a criminal gang out to get Silent. At a point, Wolf’s strange behaviour leads Akshara to doubt his intention. The narrative style is jerky, moving in bits and pieces. Vetri’s character is an ambiguous one, his expressions too not giving away much about Wolf’s intentions.
The problem with the narrative is in its ambiguity. One can understand a director using it as a tool to maintain an element of intrigue and suspense. But here it’s carried to great lengths, confusing and misleading a viewer to the point of impatience. The several twists and turns don’t make it any better. Though the bits of the puzzle finally come to a point of convergence, the hangover remains!
Elements like retribution,regret, forgiveness, guilt and redemption are also touched on.There is a moment in the film where a young woman betrayed by her lover and lured into the sex racket, later covers his nude corpse with a cloth. When told by her family that he didn’t deserve such concern, she remarks that ‘forgiveness is the best form of punishment’.
There is the track of a wannabe-dancer-turned cop (Dheena) and his junior. Dancing to old songs on their night beat, and oblivious of the crime happening right next to them, their presence in no way adds value to the narrative. What is appreciative is that the director has wrapped up his story-telling in less than two hours of runtime.
‘Pagalariyaan’ is a promising piece of work from a debutant maker.
Malini Mannath
Malini Mannath 