Madras (2014)

Madras (2014), directed by Pa Ranjith, is one of those movies that only get better with every rewatch. There are so many nuances packed into every scene— watching it multiple times means treating yourself multiple times.

To start off, Ranjith has a way of getting career-best performances out of his actors (Arya in Sarpatta Parambarai, Dinesh Ravi in Attakathi, etc.) which ensures that all the characters remain in your memory. This in turn reinforces the strong community feeling that the director is going for, which in turn makes you really understand (or begin to, anyway) the politics of the movie.

Another thing that struck me this time was the sports culture of North Madras that the film so subtly yet powerfully uses as both a narrative and subversive tool. Maybe it's because I had to research on the same topic for a documentary recently, but I just cannot get over how Ranjith employs sports in general, and football in particular, to really bring out the various shades of subaltern identity in North Madras.

Education and its importance was another recurring theme throughout the movie: however, instead of taking the tired route of "everything will be okay if everyone is educated", the film tries to explore what needs to change within the education system itself to trigger change in society.

The comedy is top-notch, especially the scenes with Kaali (Karthi) and his mother (Rama). The light-hearted friendship scenes add a lot of depth to the story as well, especially when seen in the context of what friendship means in the film. This is exactly why rewatches are so rewarding for this movie!

I also really liked the lowkey horror (is it horror or is it just playing on our internalised superstitions?) associated with The Wall. The fact that it creeps on you when you least expect it to is kind of genius. Santhosh Narayanan's background score makes it even better, but well, that's what he's there for.

Santhosh sir in general is a winner with this movie, and yet another reason why it is celebrated the way it is. Not that it's celebrated enough, in my opinion. Can't wait to annoy everyone into watching Madras (and Attakathi, because they're comparatively the least well-known of Ranjith's filmography) and appreciating it because how could they not?? It's the stuff cinematic dreams are made of!!

Finally, coming to my absolute favourite bit: the insane, vera level chemistry between Kaali and his bestest friend Anbu (Kalaiyarasan). They really are the closest one can get to a modern-day Achilles and Patroclus, except that Iliad was boring and Madras is the opposite of boring. 

However, just like that iconic ancient couple, Kaali and Anbu deserved so much better: they deserved to grow old together, teach their children football together, go on vacations together, etc. etc. Their trajectory broke my heart and left me in a sobbing mess, and I honestly can't wait to go through that one more time. Or many more times, to be more accurate. Such is the power of love! And Pa Ranjith.