Aravaan – an epic unveiled

Derived from a chapter on Su.Venkatesan’s Award winning novel Kaaval Kottam, the movie Aravaan reveals the epic of ever known inhabitants of 18th century lived in southern Tamil Nadu and the practice of men sacrifice. The Aravaan is a small character appears in Indian epic Mahabharata, who scarifies himself to goddess to make, won Pandava’s on war for which he received the boon of heredity worship of Koothandavar priced by lord Krishna, who also married him to fulfill his desire by taking a women form before he killed.
The Aravaan, who was presented by another boon to watch the 18 days war of Mahabharata through his cutoff head’s eyes, has been vitally followed as heredity worships of Draupadi and to watch the custom of war, his head had been hanged at a taller post. Thus commemorating this custom, in a part of Tamil Nadu called Kuvakam, holds an 18 day festival where the transgender are married to men as Aravaan whose sacrifice hold stage to leave transgendered window.

But from this epic and custom, the movie Aravaan is quite different in depicting the story where the director’s touch has been a lot on this commercial period. Taking just 10 page facts from the novel, director Vasanthabalan has modified the picture into perfect period setting and selecting best ones for the role to enhance, but somehow lack to create feeling at back in emotion which are similar to epic television serials.

Pasupathi for his expression of reality, the role has feed him as thieving Kombuthi and Aadi at another hand has well drawn into the niches whose attitude and body language thrive. The simple action and adventure doesn’t curious but the setting was… and having a beautiful heroin, the romance and love is missing.

The detail background setting and location selection and edition are all weld well to create the period of different generation. Singer Karthik as debuted music director scores average, except Nila song nothing shines like moon. The ending was indifferent and seems like forced to end to say no need scarifies… the flashback is a great drawback to the vigorous pre-interval.

Bottom line:
Aravaan amaze with incredible period setting and costumes, location and uniform of total ingredients... don’t expect much.