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Paarai

Director: K.S.Ravikumar
Cast: Sarath Kumar, Jayaram, Ramya Krishnan, Meena, Vijayan, Vinu Chakravarthy.

The Sarath Kumar-K.S.Ravikumar combination has resulted in some engaging entertainers like 'Cheran Pandian' and 'Nattamai', to name a few. In 'Paarai', their ninth film together, they have given a film that is once again absorbing and sensitively crafted. Based on an old Mammooty-Seema starrer, the director has made quite a few changes from the original Malayalam version, the seriousness and the comedy blending well. 

Sarath plays Dorairaj, a lorry driver, who behind his stern, forbidding exterior, hides a lot of angst, carried over as a result of deprived childhood, and a life spent in the juvenile home. Alienating himself from the society, he however displays a soft corner for Jayaram, his lorry cleaner and only buddy in the world. Jayaram's death in an accident, Dorai's decision to stay back in the village after his friend's funeral ( to help out Jayaram's family), his efforts to fulfil his friend's dream of building a house for his wife and daughter, and his taking up the family's fight for survival on his shouders, forms the rest of the story.

While Jayaram's mercenary mother tries to fix up an alliance between her widowed daughter-in-law Mallika and Dorairaj, there's the tea stall owner, the spit-fire Vasantha, who once publicly humiliated by Dorairaj, softens when she realises his goodness of heart; suffers heartburns, unsure of the relationship between him and Mallika; and tries to woo him herself.

When Dorai finally puts a bloody end to the tormenters of his friend's family, the unscrupulous landlord Vijayan and his wayward son, the police come in promptly to take him away. But of course, they are nowhere around, when Vijayan and his gang create havoc all around, severing the limbs of those refusing to toe their line.

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From Sarath Kumar, it is a finely tuned performance, projecting credibly the angst of a man with a lost childhood, a lot of suppressed fury within him. Jayaram makes much of his role, his over-enthusiasm in the scenes giving an inkling that he won't last for long in the story! Meena as Mallika and Ramya Krishnan as Vasantha fit well in their roles. The humour is well brought out, and is generated mainly when the comedians encounter the villain Vijayan. Ramesh Kanna as Vijayan's barber, Crane Manohar as Vijayan's cheeky provision-store employee, and Chitty Babu as the petty thief, all contribute to the film's lighter moments.

Published on 21^st June 2003

Malini Mannath