Director Cheran enthralls

Rajitha

If you can imagine a film with a story having a strong base and a smooth screenplay, it would resemble that of Pandavar Bhoomi.

Director Cheran has done a magnificent job. He has presented a pretty love story interwoven with the intimate relationships that prevail in a well-knit family.

Rajkiran's family returns from the town to the village after a gap of twelve years, with the sole objective of spending its last span of life. Why? What were the events in the intervening twelve years?

The flashback is enthralling.

Returning to the village, the family starts constructing a new house. Arunkumar, an engineer who comes to take up the building work, wins the heart of young Shamitha. But the family plans to give Shamitha in marriage to her uncle, who is serving a term in prison.

Will Arunkumar win Shamita's hand in the end? Cheran clears the suspense in the climax.

There are many nice, life-like scenes in the film. Cheran keeps the film under his command all the time.

The star cast is not that famous. But Cheran proves his mettle through his first-rate directorial skills, making the best use of the actors and actresses.

Undoubtedly, the story-cum-screenplay is the hero of the film. Rajkiran's display of histrionic skills raises eyebrows. The modulation in his delivery of dialogues is impressive. There is a scene where he eats Korikalikka shouldering three persons at the same time on him. The scene appears poetical.

The film is a welcome break for Arunkumar. But will it be a breakthrough in his career? Let the second innings of his cinema life start.

Debutante Shamitha plays a double role. She carves a niche in the hearts of the viewers, not as a pompous heroine but as the-girl-next-door.

Ranjith is all frenzy and ferocity in the small-time job allotted to him. He has made the most of his opportunity. Manorama Achchi melts our hearts through her emoting capacities.

Thankar Bachchan's excellent cinematography is fascinating. Art Director Krishnamoorthy has done a marvelous job behind the scenes.

The weak point of the film is its music. Though one could identify sincere labour, the songs do not carry weight. The lyrics do not mix well with the tunes.

The frequent acts of villainy do not enrich the value of the story at all. The performance of Cheran, however, testifies his foresight.

"What will happen to agriculture if all people migrate to towns and cities? Maybe, the inflow of money would be great. But can anyone devour money and satisfy his hunger?" This is the dialogue aimed at the future of the country.

The challenges between Arunkumar and Shamitha are formidable. The way Cheran solves the riddle about Shamitha's dual role is commendable. The dialogues uphold the merits of the age-old traditions. The screenplay emphasises the merits of mercy. The storyline moves the film easily from one scene to the other.

With directors of the calibre of Cheran in its rank, Tamil cinema would not be discredited or degenerated. The dialogues penned by him are pithy and pregnant with meaning.

Cinegoes will leave with the satisfaction of seeing a good film.