Movie: Thangalaan
Rating: 2.75/5
Banner: Studio Green
Cast: Vikram, Malavika Mohanan, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Pasupathy, Daniel Caltagirone, Hari Krishnan Anbudurai, Sampath Ram and others
Story: Pa. Ranjith, Tamil Prabha
Music: G. V. Prakash Kumar
DOP: A. Kishor Kumar
Editor: Selva R. K
Art Director: S S Murthi
Action: Stunner Sam
Producers: K. E. Gnanavel Raja, Pa. Ranjith, Jyoti Deshpande
Written and Direction: Pa Ranjith
Release Date: Aug 15, 2024
The trailers for Thangalaan have generated significant curiosity, and the film has been promoted aggressively. After a long time, Vikram's movie has created a substantial buzz.
Let's find out if the film lives up to the hype.
Story:
The story takes place during the British era. Making their living from agriculture are Thangalaan (Vikram), his wife Gangamma (Parvathy Thiruvothu), and their children. A British general named Lord Clement asks the villagers for help in locating the gold mines.
Thangalaan understands that this gold has the power to transform his and his villager's lives, enabling them to break free from slavery for good. But, according to local legend, the sorceress Aarathi (Malavika Mohanan) protects the area.
Is the myth about Aarathi accurate? What methods do Thangalaan and his tribe employ to fight for their rights?
Artistes’ Performances:
The performances of all the actors are exceptional. Vikram, as Thangalaan, is extraordinary, delivering one of the best performances of his career with an impressive body transformation.
Parvathy is terrific and natural in her role as Thangalaan’s wife, Gangamma.
Pasupathy excels in his significant role, while Daniel Caltagirone as the British general delivers a solid performance.
Malavika Mohanan, as Aarthi, is commendable. Even the actors in smaller roles have given their best efforts.
Technical Excellence:
GV Prakash’s music is adequate, with one song standing out as good. His background score complements the film well. The cinematography is commendable.
The scenes involving gold digging feature simple production design, and the visuals and visual effects in key scenes appear to be of subpar quality.
The editing lacks precision, causing the film to drag on. It needed more coherence.
Highlights:
Vikram and his superb realistic performance
Excellent acting from other actors
Different storyline from Pa Ranjith
Gripping moments in some places
Drawback:
Too hard to comprehend
A lengthy narrative
Analysis
"Thangalaan" is not a conventional film; its plot is unique to some extent. While we have seen films like KGF (Kolar Gold Fields), where miners revolt against oppressive management under the leadership of Rocky Bhai, the film delves deeper into the history of KGF, exploring the origins of gold mining in the area and how the miners arrived there.
Director Pa Ranjith, known for his politically charged storytelling, continues this approach with Thangalaan. Before addressing the gold mining in Kolar (which is mostly covered in the second half), Ranjith portrays how lower-class people were deprived of authority over their own lands and how local landlords enslaved them under the guise of taxes.
The film predominantly focuses on Vikram and his family, depicting their suffering at the hands of the local zamindar. The director strategically has the protagonist agree to reveal the path to the gold mines. This leads to a flashback about the myth of Aarathi and the protective snakes of the gold mines, which is a gripping episode.
However, as the film progresses, it tackles numerous issues, losing sight of the main point and becoming incoherent. The hero initially sees the British as saviors for their tribe, as they promise a stake in the gold and dignity. Yet, the British end up deceiving the people and exploiting them, much like the local landlords. This realization drags on for a considerable portion of the film.
Despite its extended narration and some tedious moments, the film features many outstanding scenes, such as the memorable one where village women wear blouses for the first time.
Although Thangalaan presents a distinctive storyline about fighting oppression and boasts impressive performances from Vikram and the cast, it fails to fully deliver on the promise made at the outset. The narrative becomes difficult to follow after a point, and the film would have benefited from more clarity and a tighter runtime.
Bottom line: Not Entirely Gold
