Review: Vaazhai
Vaazhai fails to move you to the extent it ideally should because of the manner in which the events are narrated. You get the impression that Mari Selvaraj has taken a very cautious approach while making Vazhai as opposed to his earlier films.
Film: Vaazhai
Director:Mari Selvaraj
Cast: Ponvel, Raghul, Janaki, Nikhila Vimal, Dhivya Duraisamy, Kalaiarasan, J Sathish Kumar and Padhman among others
Music: Santhosh Narayanan
Cinematography: Theni Eshwar
Editor: Suriya Pradhaman
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis:
The story revolves around the life of young Sivanaindhan (Ponvel), who lives with his widowed mother(Janaki) and his elder sister Vembu (Dhivya Duraisamy).
Both Sivanaindhan’s mother and sister work hard as labourers on the plantain fields, carrying clusters of the fruit harvested from the fields to lorries, which then transport them to the markets.
They slog all day for a pittance. Sivanaindhan’s mother usally has no other option but to borrow money from the middleman who hires them to work to make ends meet.
To convince the middleman to lend her more money, she promises to bring even her young school-going son to work on all his holidays much to the dismay of young Sivanaindhan, who is a brilliant student.
It is under these circumstances that one day, Sivanaindhan’s mother falls sick and chooses to send her young son to work in her stead. What happens then is what Vaazhai is all about.
Director Mari Selvaraj, who delivered powerful stories in his earlier films Pariyaerum Perumal and Maamannan, comes up with a story that has been inspired by true events from his very own life in Vaazhai.
Although Vaazhai is a decent film with a good story, its impact is not as strong as Mari Selvaraj’s earlier films. Vaazhai fails to move you to the extent it ideally should because of the manner in which the events are narrated. You get the impression that Mari Selvaraj has taken a very cautious approach while making Vazhai as opposed to his earlier films.
In Vaazhai, he adopts a very diplomatic tone. Initially, the film has some sequences which show how the helpless are exploited by the wealthy and the middlemen they employ. However, these sequences are sparse and not very impactful. Instead, the film focuses on the admiration and attraction the child Sivanaindhan has for his teacher Poongodi (Nikhila Vimal). By the time the climax ends, you feel that what happened was an unfortunate accident more than systemic oppression.
Vaazhai has some outstanding performances to offer. Ponvel delivers a stellar performance as the innocent but mischievous Sivanaindhan. Equally outstanding is Dhivya Duraisamy’s performance as Sivanaindhan’s sister Vembu. Her realistic performance in this film shows what an amazing and gifted artiste Dhivya is and is bound to get her noticed. Nikhila Vimal as the boy’s favourite teacher Poongodi too plays her part well. Kalaiyarasan has only a brief role to play but he does what is expected of him in a very convincing manner.
Santhosh Narayanan’s music — especially for the songs — is wonderful as are Theni Eshwar’s enchanting visuals that take your breath away.
In all, Vaazhai is a good film without doubt. But it is definitely not in the league of Mari Selvaraj’s earlier masterpieces Pariyaerum Perumal and Maamannan.
