Saturday, March 23, 2013

Paradesi - The Best!

There are very few films come up with a concept of period piece and recreate history exactly or feel close to real. In this front, director Bala’s ‘Paradesi’ (a pejorative Tamil term for wastrel) has took a special place in Indian film industry and within days of release (march 15) the film received National Award for Best costume design – by Poornima Ramaswamy. Inspired by a 1969 English novel ‘Red Tea’ by Paul Harris Daniel, the film upholds real life incidents of enslaved tea plantation workers of pre-independence India.

Director Bala, critically acclaimed for very unusual cinema has transported us to an era where the people of rural villages in the Madras Presidency are drove to work on British tea plantations with a promise of high wage and accommodation on contract base. But once reached, they are treated as enslave and pointing at their accommodation, food and medicine the supervisor cheats the enslaved to work on frustration and uncertain freedom. The film’s lead was unrolled by Adharvaa as Rasa, a carefree young tom-tom beater with half bald head – which is the state of most of men in the film hailed from village as enslave.

Alike Adharvaa, Vedhivka role is equally appraise for characteristic performance. The pretty actress has greased down gracefully, showcasing her acting skill which perhaps would wonder anyone who had watched any of her early pictures. ‘I guess everyone is equally talented and bringing it out is an art of either actor or director similar to student or teacher’. In this way director Bala had done incredible job by bringing or identifying the best out of actors and giving them change while exploring untouched plots.

The film also enclosed the struggle of tea leaf plucking; confesses the truth which is not easy as we see in tea estates, a pretty sight where women wore a basket on back and head covered in colorful shawl. One thing that impressed or impounds me in the film was the tone.  The dark yet low-light gave a realistic touch and brought down the more emotional and enslave scenes into less impulse. The music scores vital support to the film and songs come alongside the sequence is fair impressive and profound lyrics produces energy whiles lives at enslave.

Nowhere could I see an actor on screen and every character were so alive. The film run for more or less than two hour has very less dialogues, but the expressions and cinematography explains a lot. I recommend this film as must watch everyone and there is no language barrier here. Sorry I have no complains about the film, but indeed appreciate the entire team of Paradesi and its impossible without hardship and hats off to Bala to think different from any other.

11 comments:

George said...

This sounds like a very interesting film.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an interesting film.

Destination Infinity said...

Bala's movies may be technically excellent, but are not a good option for entertainment. After watching 'Naan Kadavul' in theater, I decided not to watch any other movie made by him in future. I can't take so much grief and sorrow.

Destination Infinity

Jeevan said...

Paradesi well played on technical front but not all Bala movies were similar. Yes, he holds much sorrow and cruel in his movies... but paradesi stands as testimony on past perspective and well done on depicting the enslaved mindset and circumstance. I don’t want to compare paradesi with his other movies
(which i don't favor much) and I find it best.

Krishna/കൃഷ്ണ said...

Good review.. Nice theme... I also agreed with rajesh. In malayalam, a movie named 'paradesi' was released few years ago. While reading the title of movie i confused with that. Which movie tells the real story of some indian citizen from malabar region of kerala. They leave to pakistan before independence and return to home land with pakistan passport. Both nations not accepting them.

Thanks

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Good review, Jeevan. Sounds like you really enjoyed the film. I love going to see a movie --and can say how fabulous it was once I've seen it.... That's a good thing!
Betsy

Indrani said...

Not sure if i will get a chance to see this, but glad to read the review.

geeth said...

Sounds like a good movie.. will have to catch it :)

Ponniyinselvan/karthikeyan(1981-2005 ) said...

happy to see that u had been to a movie and enjoyed it.karthik+amma

deeps said...

hope the movie makes an impact and be as beautiful as your write up

Jeevan said...

geeth - pls do watch it :)

P/K – more than enjoying, I truly admired this movie for many aspects.

Deeps – It’s indeed impressive! Hope u will like.