Just when I was leaning towards Malayalam movies these days in search of some meaningful story telling and entertainment ,Asuran from Vetrimaran came with a bang and satiated my senses and gave what every movie lover will truly yearn for. Some classic books have turned out to be average and banal movies even in Hollywood. Many considered Francis Ford Koppala’s movie adaptation was much better than the book written by Mario Puzo. Here comes a movie adaptation of a book by Poomani in the inimitable style of Vetrimaran that leaves the audience awe struck for its authenticity and the local dialects and the thirunelveli slang portrayed with such precision and finesse. From a subdued opening shot of the father and son duo carefully wading through slushy waters and escaping through the wilderness lest they be slaughtered by the henchmen for the gruesome murder committed by the son and when the protagonist says to his son to be watchful… you are immediately sucked into their world and you unconsciously travel in their lives which is filled with hope, fear, desperation, despair, revenge et al. This movie is a notch above Vada Chennai in terms of acting performances as Dhanush gets more screen space and he literally carries the film on his shoulders and ably supported by the performances of all the co actors. Needless to mention the entire team of actors are at their superlative best. The eternal tale of antagonism, betrayal and war between the haves and the have nothing is not new to celluloid but the depiction here is so candid and natural that you don’t seem to mind it at all. Though dime a dozen movies you see good triumphing over the evil after an agonizing wait.. here notwithstanding the fact that the hero’s frame is so fragile you root for him and subconsciously clap and applaud when he wrecks havoc of the forces who are after the blood of his clan. Your mind says he has every right to do so. There lies the success of this film where every single scene is etched to perfection in its minutest details. Well Dhanush has become a powerhouse in acting and does the role with such aplomb and he has come out with yet another stellar performance teaming up with the master craftsman. The background score too has ably supported and has elevated this caste based revenge saga told completely in a unique style and flavour…Well watch this one if you are a lover of good cinema. This film has come from the stables of a film maker who considers movies as a science first and then commerce and lastly as art. Sure we get this ,as he himself is a product of a veterinary scientist and a writer. Thank God we have directors who think logically too. Despite the mayhem there is a message that is so layered . It is effectively and artistically depicted and told in a manner very few directors can pull off. So much solace in this movie for lovers of art and method acting.. Salute the director for this near extraordinary riveting and gripping drama.
