Tharai Thappatai Tamil Movie

Feature Film | 2016 | A | Drama
Critics:
Audience:
Thaarai Thappattai is a gut-wrenching drama that one rarely gets to see in Tamil cinema. This film will stand as a testament to Bala's yearning to make realistic films with honest portrayals of his lead characters.
Jan 14, 2016 By SMK


Thaarai Thappattai is a gut-wrenching drama that one rarely gets to see in Tamil cinema. This film will stand as a testament to Bala's yearning to make realistic films with honest portrayals of his lead characters. His ability to find humor in the grimmest situations, his sparkling imagination to spin vacuous situations around the screenplay and his audacious skill to leave you moved while heading back home from the movie hall; all find their way in Thaarai Thappattai, which revolves around the life of Karagattam dance troupe which is run by Sannasi (Sasikumar) and Sooravali (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar).


Both Sasikumar and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar come up with terrific lead performances. Sooravali is one of the strongest women characters ever written in Tamil and Varalaxmi laps it up with perfection. Her ability for foot-tapping folk performances is in full display thanks to Ilayaraja's whistle-worthy background score which reverberates with pitch-perfect, crescendo notes.


The first half of the film is completely dominated by Varalaxmi, who makes us both laugh with her and sympathize with her role effortlessly. Her unflinching love towards Sannasi reminds you of the classic hinterland romance between Muthazhagi and Paruthiveeran. In fact, the brutal climax of the film is a clean hat-tip to Paruthiveeran and one can say Bala has made his effort to outperform his assistant Ameer with Thaarai Thappattai.


RK Suresh, who makes his debut as an actor, delivers a brilliant performance as villain. It looks like he will be the go-to antagonist choice for all countryside films in the next few months for Tamil filmmakers. His menacing eyes and muscular body makes him a perfect choice to enact the role of Karuppaiyya, whom you will detest while leaving the cinema hall.


Technically, Thaarai Thappattai is on par with some of Bala's masterpieces like Paradesi and Pitha Magan. Chezhiyan's cinematography captures the life of Karagattam dancers in its most unrestrained form bringing to screen an authentic setting. Leaving aside the endless number of annoying close-up shots, Chezhiyan has done a commendable job behind the lens.


Thaarai Thappattai also has its fair share of profanity filled dialogues denigrating women. Family audiences will find it incredible to digest and the film's A certificate is absolutely justified. It is a good sign to get an adult certificate instead of managing with cuts for a U/A certificate to manipulate audiences. The film has myriad accounts of stomach-churning scenes, so deal with it before you make headway into cinemas.


SMK

   

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