Feb 27, 2007 05:57 PM
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Every once in a while comes a movie that transcends into an enthralling experience, and Bala’s Pithamagan is no exception. Known for his offbeat themes and unique narration, which gained him huge accolades, Bala strides further with yet another novelty on screen.
Sithan(Vikram) is an undertaker, with only a thin line separating him from the beasts. His home is the cemetery; his friends are the deceased. Inevitability forces him to step into the civilised world for the first time following the demise of his father figure, but finds a hostile environment. Since his animal instincts prove to be a hindrance, Gomathi(Sangeetha) a drug peddler convinces the local drug lord Mahadevan to recruit him.
Enter; Sakti(Surya) a flamboyant smooth-tongued con artist, who skilfully woes people with his mesmerising talks into his trap. Manju(Laila) the girl, whom he had deceived many a time, finally outwits him when she succeeds in getting him trapped with the police. On the other hand, Sithan is arrested on account of drug trafficking, but is innocent. When the two meet up in jail, Sakti is taken aback by Sithan’s inhuman personality, but soon finds a soft and caring nature deep within, and realises his true self that yearns for love, a thing he had never experienced. An inseparable bond blossoms between them, and Sithan experiences a new joy in his otherwise gloomy life, guarding him like his life. Meanwhile, Sakti and Manju’s friction develops into love, and with Sithan by his side, he gives up conning and decides to go the straight way for a living. Just as everything seems to head the right direction, Sithan is taken into custody following a murder, which was masterminded by Mahadevan. Mahadevan tries to calm Sakti’s fury with money, but he is firm upon his friends’ life more than anything else, and threatens Mahadevan. With no other alternative, Mahadevan gets Sithan out of prison. But a gruesome incident changes everybody’s lives forever…
Vikram’s riveting performance earned him the National Award for best actor, becoming the only 3rd actor to receive the coveted award in Tamil film history.
Surya’s alluring portrayal of a con artist earned him critical applause, and showcased his skills in yet another dimension. Laila and Sangeetha equally deserve their share of applause, especially Laila emerging as the winner, in both her serious and comic sequences. Iliyaraja’s music adds grandeur and symphony on celluloid, complimented with a gripping cinematography and wonderful artwork. Bala initially penned the dialogues for Sithan’s character, but it was Vikram’s idea to portray the character with only expressions and body language. With the run-of-the-mill movies churned out in numbers, Pithamagan emerged as a surprise winner, amongst the commercial driven industry.
