Iruvar (1997)
Oh, to be so gloriously in love with your best friend that you change the scene of Tamil, nay, Indian politics, forevermore...
(Yes, I very much did just imply homoerotic chemistry between the characters of Tamizhselvan and Anandan. Watch the movie, and see for yourself.)
Iruvar is a brilliant take on both Indian cinema and Indian politics (particularly regional politics) and how those two overlap and dominate almost everything else in Indian popular discourse (a major exception being cricket, of course). The actors have all done a wonderful job, but special mention must be made of Aishwarya Rai Bacchan (in her debut roles as Pushpa and Kalpana) and Prakash Raj (as Tamizhselvan, who might possibly be one of my favourite movie characters ever). Aishwarya is stunning- the depth she manages to impart to two separate characters who are strangely intertwined is amazing to watch. And as for Prakash Raj, I don't think I have the words to describe the impact his dialogue delivery and reactions to the people around him had on me. He manages to play a larger-than-life legendary human being with all the complexities such a role calls for, yet he makes it seem so effortless. And of course, I cannot stop thinking about the sizzling tension between Tamizhselvan and Anandan. When you take that into account, the tale of "the duo" (literal translation of the film's title), and the ending, become so much more, for lack of a better term, tragic.
The soundtrack is A1, and none of the songs feel unnecessary in the trajectory of the movie. It's hard to pick a favourite, but I guess it would be Narumugaye, just because I've started humming it now.
Also, the direction and the cinematography is pretty damned flawless. Even if you know nothing absolutely about Tamil cinema, the Dravidian movement, or Tamil politics, it's worth it just to see the movie for the frames and the colours. And the music. And, in case I haven't mentioned it already, the homoerotic subtext between the lead characters.
(Yes, I very much did just imply homoerotic chemistry between the characters of Tamizhselvan and Anandan. Watch the movie, and see for yourself.)
Iruvar is a brilliant take on both Indian cinema and Indian politics (particularly regional politics) and how those two overlap and dominate almost everything else in Indian popular discourse (a major exception being cricket, of course). The actors have all done a wonderful job, but special mention must be made of Aishwarya Rai Bacchan (in her debut roles as Pushpa and Kalpana) and Prakash Raj (as Tamizhselvan, who might possibly be one of my favourite movie characters ever). Aishwarya is stunning- the depth she manages to impart to two separate characters who are strangely intertwined is amazing to watch. And as for Prakash Raj, I don't think I have the words to describe the impact his dialogue delivery and reactions to the people around him had on me. He manages to play a larger-than-life legendary human being with all the complexities such a role calls for, yet he makes it seem so effortless. And of course, I cannot stop thinking about the sizzling tension between Tamizhselvan and Anandan. When you take that into account, the tale of "the duo" (literal translation of the film's title), and the ending, become so much more, for lack of a better term, tragic.
The soundtrack is A1, and none of the songs feel unnecessary in the trajectory of the movie. It's hard to pick a favourite, but I guess it would be Narumugaye, just because I've started humming it now.
Also, the direction and the cinematography is pretty damned flawless. Even if you know nothing absolutely about Tamil cinema, the Dravidian movement, or Tamil politics, it's worth it just to see the movie for the frames and the colours. And the music. And, in case I haven't mentioned it already, the homoerotic subtext between the lead characters.
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