Paava Kadhaigal-Film Review

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Film: Paava Kadhaigal

Language: Tamil

Year: 2020

Genre: Anthology

Streaming Platform: Netflix

Cast: Prakash Rai, Sai Pallavi, Karthik Jayaram, Kalki Koechlin, Anjali, Simran, Gautham Menon

This anthology consists of four short films directed by four different directors.

'Thangam' set in the early 1980s follows the story of Sathar, a muslim trans man who is in love with his childhood friend Saravanan. He works hard to save money to undergo gender reassignment surgery, so that he can marry the love of his life. As fate would have it Saravanan reveals being in love with Sathar's sister. Though devastated Sathar helps the couple to forge a relationship and eventually to elope due to religious differences. The runaway duo returns to the village in a year after reconciling with the estranged families only to be on the loose again. Where does Sathar picture in this? The hardship faced by third gender is captured beautifully in this tiny frame work.

'Love Panna Uttranum' is a story of twin sisters, Aadhilakshmi and Jothilakshmi. Their father Veerasimman is an archiac village lord who endorses inter-caste marriages publically for political gain, but nurtures a different thought personally. Unaware of her father's dual nature Aadhilakshmi confides in him about being in love with a lower caste man. She even invites her twin to meet them from city where she was studying. Jyothilakshmi arrives with her friend Penelope and Bad Boy Bharani, but soon realizes nothing has changed in her household. Now With her twin dead she must escape unscathed with friends. Will that be possible? A lesbian angle is brought into this dark comedy.

'Vaanmagal' follows the story of a close-knit family of parents, a son and two daughters. Their small world turns ups and down when the unimaginable incident hits the family. Imagine the plight of a puritan mother who observes not-touching during period customs to washing things with water to purify to not taking off car covers to keep it pure when she is faced with the harsh reality. 

Taking forward the family honour to next level is Vetrimaran's 'Oor Iravu'. Father invites estranged pregnant daughter for her baby shower as an olive branch, which she happily agrees to. And what happens is evident, but how that transpires is bone-chilling.

To what extend people go to keep their misguided notion of family honour is the crux of the matter. And honour by default lies on the shoulders of the women to uphold. If they dare to make a choice they were taught a lesson in a brutal way.

It is shocking to known in this age and time many of our fellow countrymen/women had to go through these rigmaroles every single day.

Deeply disturbing and haunting. All the performances are good. However, we are partial towards Prakash Rai and Sai Pallavi. Probably that's why 'Oor Iravu' was placed in the end.