ALAIPAYUTHEY – A RATHNA In Mani Ratnam’. Review on Alaipayuthey - Tamil Movie

ALAIPAYUTHEY ? A RATHNA In Mani Ratnam?s Crown

The story

The Mani ratnam?s Alaipayuthey (means ?wavering?), which was later remade in Hindi as ?Sathiye?, is a fast moving film with a new technique of scene flow in the Tamil cinema industry. The story begins with Karthick (Madhavan) riding his bike happily after getting a big software contract. He sees an accident but fails to notice that it was his wife ?Shakthi? (Shalilni), who was the victim. Then the camera rolls back ? basically a love story of a careless but enthusiastic youth and a responsible, middle-class Medical College girl. Shalini has an elder sister ?Purani? (Swarnamalya), who knows about their love affair. The story focuses on the life of the couple after their love marriage and the problems they encounter ? No job in hand, No house to live in, No one to guide and problems of arguing over petty matters. The movie then ends with the finding of Shalini and the couple joining hands. Kushboo and Aravindswamy play nice little cameo roles to give the finishing touches.

Positive Aspects

The movie is fast paced with Mani Ratnam?s characteristic short and crisp dialogues. The direction is exceptionally good. The mode of screenplay is completely new in the Tamil film Industry. Very good innovation from Mani Ratnam. The incident is first shown, then a bit of flashing back, then coming to the present to show the status and then going back, is entirely new. The intertwining of present and present has been perfected and all kudos to Mani Ratnam.

The story swirls around the railway station. Whether in the beginning, when Madhavan meets Shalini and conveys his love for her in the most unconventional way or in the scene when they decide to part away or the long wait Madhavan does during the day of the accident or when Shalini meets her mother and Swarnamalya, talking about her father?s health, the trains and the railways portray a middle class girl?s routine life. It was nice to see her getting into a moving suburb train (Not so an easy job for a girl).

Also the Swarnamalya and Shalini engagement scene was superb. A sudden turnover in her expressions and the way she blurted out the entire issue made the audience to hold the nerves. The accident scene was also well picturised. When I saw it for the first time, my heart thumped up. A big turning point brought out in a situation, when the audience was thinking that every thing was going fine. It was done excellently with graphics and a sudden background score. The final scene in the hospital when Shalini wakes up - the eye ball movement, the eyelid opening and the pain were all nicely captured. A very good effort from the team.

Coming to the dialogue and the screenplay, the entire movie is marked by concise and crisp but very effective dialogues. The dialogues which flash in my mind ? Madhavan?s father uttering, ?kan kolla kaatchi? Namma veettu la ippadi oru echchi paiyan? (the initial scene in his house when his father shouts at him for smoking cigarettes), Madhavan to Shalini, ?Shakthi! Naan unna virumba la?Nee romba azhaga irukkennu nenaikala ? aanaa ithellam nadanthurumonnu bayamma irukku? Yosichu sollu? ?, Shalini asking Madhavan, ?Karthick! Nee unga veeti la ore payanna? class la last a??, then in the bus after their marriage, ?hai pondatti!? and a lady asking her, ?Kai ya pudichittaan illa?. Then in the morning after the first night, Madhavan asking Shalini for the newspaper and she bringing a burning paper, ?Suda Suda news? and of course in the last scene when she utters the last words of the movie ??pondaati sethutta jolly ya irukka lamnu nenachiya?. These are only a few. Hats off to him.

Regarding the music and the background scores, A. R. Rehman has done a wonderful job. I feel that these would remain evergreen and be heard even after years.

The legendary ?Alaipayuthey? song has been featured well in the film, maintaining the sanctity of the song. ?Snegithane? sung by sadhana Sargam and written by Vairamuthu is melodious and filmed well. The picturisation of the song is too good to resist. A beautiful place near a lake (I suppose) is the best for a romantic song. Then ?Pachchai Nirame? is a gem of a lyric, the writer and the cameraman have fought hard to establish their superiority. But it is the song that has finally won. Swarnalatha?s sweet voice in ?Yavano oruvan vaasikiran? with her beautiful high pitches has equaled the lyric in establishing the emotional aspects of the situation. Finally, ?Endrendrumm punnagai? filmed when Shalini actually met with the accident. What a big contradiction brought out exactly in the beginning of the movie, when no one would expect one. Really a big smile in Mani Ratnam?s face.

Apart from these positives, Shalini and the debutante Madhavan have done exceptionally well. Swarnamalya has done her job. Many others like Jayasudha (Shalini?s Mother), Kushboo, Aravindswamy, Vivek, Madhavan?s father and friends have all complemented the film.

Negative Aspects

?September Maadham? song was more for commercial purposes, though the lyric was good and apt for the situation. Also the logic behind the engagement behind the engagement is flawed. In a conservative and orthodox family like Shalini?s, we cannot expect it. Swarnamalya, who knows all the love episodes, kept quiet behind Shalini. A bit illogical.

Future Prospects

A young, enthusiastic, smiling and promising hero in Madhavan has been identified. All cheers to Mani Ratnam. Shalini?s acting capability is already well established in Malayalam. She had proved it in Tamil as well. Sadhana Sargam is an A.R. Rahman?s find of the movie. The most important of all ? a new approach to unveil the plot, which was very well received.

Alaipayuthey (Wavering thoughts) will keep undulating in the minds of the people for a long time. Yet another Mani Ratnam hit, NO, a masterpiece.