Review #501: Kaaviya Thalaivan (2014)

Kaaviya Thalaivan Movie Review

Plot: The two best disciples of Sivadas Swamigal, the earnest owner of a Drama school, are by design pitted against each other by the guru himself and this create multiple calamities ending in the duo’s separation. Years pass by as one finds a good holding and the other wobbles away as a drunk loser only for them to cross paths again when the ongoing Indian Independence Movement gives another chance for the tables to turn!

What Works?

• Vasantha Balan elevates himself to a new level with this painstakingly made film that relies so much on Jeyamohan’s story & the combine’s screenplay as it does on Balan’s direction.
• Siddharth may have played second fiddle in Jigarthanda but here he rules the roost & gives the performance of his lifetime with an interval ranting showing at his Guru as the stand-out portion. Prithviraj’s role as a foil is nobly sketched giving proper justification for his character’s oft-conniving acts and the actor brings that to screen quite convincingly.
• Nasser shows the veteran power in the film and earns instant respect as he goes about lecturing on the attributes of a quality drama artiste.  Vedhika fits very well as Vadivu and scores in her Thirupugazh performance scene.
• The film’s technical crew is of top quality – Rahman leads the way with excellent songs (well placed and picturised) & immaculate background score fittingly culminating with the Shehnai version of Porai Niruthu when the end credits roll. Nirav Shah’s camerawork does its bit in explaining the shades and moods characters show in the film & Praveen’s editing presents itself on the forefront in sequences that show years & days roll by in the narrative.
• This is Vasantha Balan’s second period film & putting that alongside his Veyil & Angaadi Theru , his level of detailing doesn’t come across as a surprise. Art Director Santhanam & the constume design team deserves applause for their efforts in providing  the director what he might have wanted!

What Doesn't?

• The romance between Siddharth and debutant Anaika happens out of the blue & if that portion still leaves a lasting impact, it is because of the two impactful ‘curse’ scenes that follow as its aftermath.
• The polarization of the two prime characters were explained poetically through the film that the clichéd conversation in the climax was not all that necessary

In a Nutshell
The specialty of the film is – The villain in the film is not without his nobility & the hero here is not without his faults! In bringing out memorable showings from his cast & technical crew & making Kaaviya Thalaivan a stand-out film in their resumes, Vasantha Balan elevates his own level.

Naadagam Paaka Ponga!