Meiyazhagan

 "Meiyazhagan" is a family story with no sex or violence.  Unfortunately families sometimes fall out and hard feelings sometimes last a long time.  

At the beginning we see a younger version of Aural  leaving his home after some sort of dispute which he felt he had lost.  We know it had something to do with house ownership and he felt he had unfairly lost.  Soon we are sent forward 22 years and we see an older Aural in another city with his wife and explaining why he feels he should attend a wedding, but doesn't intend to stick around.  

Then he is greeted by an unknown man.  This unknown man claims to know Aural from childhood, but Aural cannot not name or place him.  A lot of conversations, but Aural keeps trying to break away.  The unknown man is persistent and tricks Aural into staying overnight.  Aural does change, but you will have to wait until the end to learn the identity of the unknown man

Attitudes gained from harsh experiences are not easily changed.  The process is not particularly noticed.

The title, Meiyazhagan means man with truth as beauty in Tamil.

C. Prem  Kumar was the director and writer.  He started his film career as a cinematographer where he earned 6 credits and he now has 3 credits for directing and 3 credits for writing (the 3 same films).  His credits included " 96" (2018) and "Jaanu" (2020).   A film critic Baradwaj Rangan noted an encouraging similarity between the two Tamil films.  He felt both stories had a traumatized lead character who met the other lead character and after long conversations the trauma was resolved.  Baradwaj felt the plots were therapeutic.

 Jyotika and her husband Suriya were the producers.  Jyotika has performed in Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam and Hindi films.  She has 50 acting credits including "Raatchasi" (2019), "Thambi" (2019) "Ponmagal Vandhal" (2020) and "Srikanth" (2024).  She has been a producer for 6 films.  For her acting check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/04/raatchasi.html  For her producing check where she was heavily involved with my top overall film for 2021, "Jai Bhim"   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/11/jai-bhim.html

Govind Vasantha composed the music.  He also sings and plays the violin.  He was a founder of the band Thaikkum Bridge.  He has 41 credits for composing and 14 for the music department including "Solo" (2017), "Thambi" (2019), "Ponmagal Vandhal" (2020),  "Jaanu" (2020) and "Soorari Pottru" (2020)

Mahedran Jayaraju was the cinematographer.  He has 6 cinematography credits including "Jaanu" (2020).

 R. Govindaraj was the editor with 9 editing credits.

Karthi played the unknown man.  He earned a Master of Engineering degree and then went to the University  Binghampton in the U.S. to earn a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering where he also attended some lectures on film.  Soon he used family connections to get into film back in India.  He has 30 acting credits, 2 for the Music Department and 1 for Assistant Directing including "Thambi" (2019), "Ponnlyn Selvan, Part 1" (2022) and "Ponnlyn Selvan, Part 2" (2024) and "Annapoormi" (2023).

Arvind Swamy played Arul.  After an education in India he went to Wake Forest University in North Carolina for a Master degree in international business while he was active in overlapping with his film career.  He had a serious injury and took years off from acting, coming back in 2013.  He has been a playback singer and a dubber (in Tamil).   Arvind has 34 acting credits including "Roja" (1992), "Bombay" (1995) "Kadal" (2013) and "IC 814:  Kandahar Hijack" (2024).  "Kadal" has a song by A.R. Rahman that is number one in my collection.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/09/ic-814-kandahar-hijack.html

Sri  Divya  plays Nandhini, the wife of the unknown man.  Her first experience in films was as a 3 year old on a children's movie.  She has 24 acting credits including "Jana Gana Mana" ((2022).  see                http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/06/jana-gana-muna.html

Devadarshini plays Hema, the wife of Arul.  While in college she anchored some television shows.  She has 82 acting credits including "Enthiran" (2010), "Eega" (2012) and "Mersal" (2017).

Available on Netflix with subtitles.  If you appreciate family dynamics this is a must.

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  They are not necessarily a recommendation, but generally I found them worthy of my time.  If you follow the links you should be able to determine if a particular film is worth following up.

Padavettu: Another Excellent Malayalam movie

 "Padavettu" (2022) was an unexpected opportunity for me.  Only recently became aware of it on Netflix and wasn't sure what to expect.  It carries on a high level tradition of Malayalam language films.  

The story is set in a village that seems to follow the lead of a politician who has the idea of developing business.  We follow a man who is strong and a very capable fighter, but has low self esteem.  He tries to develop a relationship with a woman who likes him, but is put off by his unwillingness to rock the boat.  Of course eventually he finds the strength and courage to tackle the politician on behalf of the farmers and this prompts a confrontation not only with the politician but with his followers.  How he resolves the situation is the climax of the film.  The whole process is well done.  

Like many film projects this one was interrupted by the Covid pandemic and there was some concern it might not get finished.  A good cast and crew made this film stand out.

Liju Krishna with his first film feature credit was both writer and director.  A line that catches some of the theme of this film comes from Ravi, the lead, ""If we don't have a scheme of our own, others will make us part of their schemes."  Liju made a short film that won awards and then wrote a play for the theatre. 

Siddharth Anand Kumar was a producer.  Born in India, started acting in plays in theatre.  He went to Hampshire College in Massachusetts.  He got a break when with a film "Kamasutra" (1995) he had been hired for a very small role, but after a conflict he got a better role he won.  Some of his of other film credits include "Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz" (2018), "Music Teacher" (2019), "Chaman Bahaar" (2020), and "Habaddi" (2022).  As Vice President of Yoodlee Films he is looking to develop films that shake people, start conversations and lead to positive change.

Govind Vasantha wrote the music.  He won a playback singer award for "Soorarai Pottru" (2020).  Composing credits include : "Solo" (2017),  "Thambi" (2019), "Jannu" (2020) and "Ponmagal Vandhal" (2020).

Deepak D. Menon was the cinematographer and Shafique Mohamed Ali the editor.

Nivin Pauly plays the lead.  He goes from a moody, depressed person to a person of confidence to take on a bully politician.  His film credits include "Bangalore Days" (2014) and "Ohm Shanthi Oshaana" (2014).  "Bangalore Days" remains one of my favorites, http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/03/bangalore-days.html

Ritika Badiani played Ravi's girlfriend, Shyma who had more faith in him than he did himself.  Her film credits include "Airlift" (2018) and "Chaman Bahaar" (2020).  In college she played soccer.

Shammi Thilakan played the stern, calm politician.  Shammi has been in films since 1985 including "Janna Mana Gana"  (1922).  Check:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/06/jana-gana-muna.html

Shine Tom Chacko plays a supporting politician.  His film credits include "Otaal" (2014), "Annayum Rasoolam" (2018) and "Kurup" (2021).

Indrans played the father of Shyma and did not approve of Ravi.  Indrans was a tailor and got into films as a costume designer.  As mostly a supporting actor he has had over 400 roles.  Including "Aaloroukkam" (2018) and "Virus" (2019.  He also is the star of my favorite movie this year, "#Home" (2021),   Check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/05/home-comedic-clash-of-generations.html

Since I posted a blog about how I learned to love Malayalam films, they have continued to come up with really international class films  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/03/how-i-discovered-malayalam-cinema-and.html