Kanavu Variyam. (Photo courtesy: Facebook @KanavuVariyam)
Film: Kanavu Variyam
Director: Arun Chidambaram
Cast: Arun Chidambaram, Jiya Shankar, Yog Japee, Ilavarasu, Gnana Sambandam,Black Pandi
Set in a rural milieu, the theme centers on the power crisis in villages. It’s also about two men: Ezhil, a school dropout, and Gopi, who drops out of his lucrative job to chase his dreams. Their lives would intertwine, as each in their own way tries to create awareness in the rural belt.
Debutant Arun Chidambaram, writer, lyricist, director and protagonist of the film, in his very first effort has tackled some relevant issues, his narration laced with humour and some home truths. Refreshing and different in its concept and treatment, the film has garnered awards and recognition at various international film festivals.
After briefly touching on the power crisis in rural Tamilnadu existing for decades, the scene shifts to the childhood days of protagonist Ezhil (Chidambaram). Ezhil, with his inquisitive bend of mind, would pose a lot of questions, to the discomfiture of his father (Ilavarasu) and his teacher. The school episodes have a natural rural flavour, with the father-son bonding brought out well.
Ilavarasu is a perfect selection as the motivational factor in his son’s life, particularly when Ezhil, later on in life, would be mocked at by the villagers for his innovative methods. A few year later, Ezhil who had dropped out of school, is running an electronic repair shop. Trying out little inventions, he is not deterred by failure.
The treasure that a scrapyard can yield is brought out in the episodes where Ezhil finds in there most of the materials needed to produce his gadgets. Each of the little inventions seems workable, and a lot of thought seems to have gone into crafting them.
The village gets a pep, when Gopi (Japee suitably fitting in) arrives to take up organic farming. There are some meaningful lines as it touches on the migration of farmers to cities, selling of agricultural land to realtors and so on. The director seems to have done his homework and packs in a lot of related issues. But nowhere does it seem crammed or preachy.
A spontaneous actor, Chidambaram subtly brings out the various nuances as Ezhil’s character travels through its various phases. The romantic angle is touched on, where Ezhil falls for Veena (Jiya), the sister of Gopi. Veena’s character travels with Ezhil, supportive of his efforts. The song ‘Kalla Manna..’ which refers to the traditional, forgotten games of rural Tamilnadu, is well written and picturised.
The film has its share of minor glitches. The dream song thrust in and the comic backstory of a character, seem like unwanted distractions. When many of our makers look towards the West for inspiration, it is heartwarming that the U.S. based-Chidambaram has turned to the rural scenario and the issues faced by the villagers as his debut work. A feel-good entertainer about chasing one’s dreams, the film inspiring and motivating, is worth a watch by both adults and children.
Source: The New Indian Express