Review: Sirai

Film:Sirai
Director: Suresh Rajakumari
Cast: Vikram Prabhu, L K Akshay Kumar, Anishma Anil Kumar, Ananda Thambi Rajah and others
Director of Photography: Madhesh Manickam
Music: Justin Prabhakaran
Editor: Philomin Raj
Story: Tamizh
Screenplay: Tamizh, Suresh Rajakumari
Rating: 4 stars

Director Suresh Rajakumari comes up with a gripping story that wins your heart for a number of reasons ranging from a realistic plot to some outstanding performances. But most of all, it stands out because of the point it chooses to make.

The film, a gripping police drama, seeks to drive home the point that all of us, especially those in positions of power and authority, have to be empathetic to the needs of the poor and the downtrodden around us.

It makes no pretense of the fact that the system, of which everybody who has some power is an integral part, is always designed to act against the interests of the poor and the helpless.

The film makes a heartfelt attempt to make one understand that everyone, irrespective of the limited authority they have, possess the power to change the lives of the poor for the better.

There is a dialogue that the film’s protagonist Kathiravan (Vikram Prabhu) utters which makes absolute sense. “To us, what we do might seem trivial but the small inconsequential favours that we extend to the helpless might change the whole life of the poor people receiving it.”

Synopsis:
Kathiravan (Vikram Prabhu) is a cop whose duties include escorting prisoners to courts and bringing them back to prisons. It is a thankless job, with a lot of risk involved.

At one point, he is assigned the task of escorting a prisoner called Abdul Rauf (played by newcomer L K Akshay) to the Sivagangai court.

Kathiravan, accompanied by two other policemen who are looking to have a jolly good time, begin their journey to the court. What happens then is what the film is all about.

Analysis:

The film scores on all counts possible. The story, which is based on a real life incident that occurred in the life of director Tamizh when he was serving as a policeman, is steeped in realism and draws you into the plot within the first five minutes itself. From casting, to narration, to acting, to music, to cinematography, everything is just incredibly perfect.

Casting: Be it Vikram Prabhu as the duty-bound but at same time, conscientious policeman or Akshay Kumar as the poor, innocent and helpless suspect Abdul Rauf or Anishma as the fiercely in love Kaliarasi or the actress who plays the brave mother of Abdul Rauf, every single actor picked for their role suits it to the T.

Performances:
Vikram Prabhu’s performance, in particular, sparkles as his protrayal of a head constable gives it dignity. There’s something majestic about the way he conducts himself and although he is only a low ranked policeman, his portrayal makes you hold the character he plays in high esteem.

Akshay Kumar as Abdul Rauf is innocence personified. His pale face, fear-filled eyes and his slim body frame make you feel for him and wish somebody somewhere would do something to help him.

Anishma Anilkumar as Kalaiarasi is the second best performer in this film after Vikram Prabhu. The young girl, who initially showcases a naughty side to her character, brings to the fore another facet after things get serious.

The film has some outstanding music from Justin Prabhakaran. The songs in particular are melodies that keep tugging at your heart, long after they have ended. His background score amplifies the emotion being showcased on screen — be it joy, sadness, pain, anger or disappointment.

Verdict:
The film not only shines the light on a heartless and inhuman policing system, it also shows the raw deal that policemen get on a daily basis, without any empathy or human consideration being extended to them.

Sirai also talks about the ostracisation that those from minority sections have to face at every level in society and how people look at them with suscipion, even when they are faultless.

It highlights the gaping holes in a heartless and broken judicial system as a result of which scores of people languish in prison as undertrials, even as they desperately hope that their cases would someday come up for trial.

Sirai makes several points, all of which are very valid. But the most important of all the points it makes is what I mentioned right at the beginning — the need for those in authority to extend a helping hand to those who are helpless, no matter how trivial their help appears.

Sirai is a film that is definitely worth watching. It gets four stars out of five in my book.