Mahanadhi - a common man's fight against flawed system

I felt like coat-Gopinath (boot – Buddhan!), because of my sardonic approach towards Indian/Tamil film makers, perhaps gone a bit overboard.

Like every one of us, they are too entitled to have excuses and justifications. Many directors became emotional when they met me to explain their hitches (in my dreams!). Past history is not supporting them to make altruistic movies; many disappeared with just one film (Aval appadithan?); many dreams, careers and lives have been shattered; many families have been pulled to the streets. The stakes are high in the film industries. Crores of money is involved. Producers are businessmen; want to make profit; can’t expect them to change the system or the society. Hence, lack of talent is not the hindrance for creating good films (sathiyama lanjam vangala- kanavila kooda!).

With so many loops around their neck- risk of imminent strangulation, only few film makers are able to make responsible, sensible movies over a period of time.

Kamal Hassan’s name is on the top of the list, even at national level.

I was a die-hard Kamal- fan. Used to have memorable tussles with Rajini followers. Time has changed me. When you are a small kid, your father is the hero; then school teacher, film star, cricketer and gradually you realize no one is faultless – a big vacuum, empty occupies that space.

Perfection is an illusion. Everyone has flaws, like you and me. No one is superior (or inferior) to others - icons, role models wane with this insight. This is not arrogance – understanding the reality.

Mahanadhi is a special film; hope most of you watched it - at least once. Even after twenty years, it still remains fresh in our minds. We remember the dialogues and other minor details too. This film is more apt for the present-day world; Kamal made many movies ahead of its time.

It is a distinctive film for Kamal. I am sure when he sits back on the retirement chair (any such thing in politics and cinema?) and rewinds his journey, Mahanadi would give him lot of satisfaction and pride more than any other film. Surely, a feather in his cap.

This is completely a Kamal movie - Story, screen play, dialogues and powerful acting (in direction – only name is missing); he is in total control of the film. It was released on a Pongal day of 1994. Unfortunately Kamal’s difficult times extended beyond the story-film in to the box office (failed at Box office). As a consolation it won a national award for the best Tamil feature film.

Many describe it as one of the saddest and most depressing films ever made in Tamil cinema. Then this must be also true -we are living in a saddest and most depressed part of the world.

Story

Krishnaswamy (Kamal), a widower, with his two kids (Kavery and Bharani) and mother in law, lives happy content life, in a small village -Thirunageswaram near Thanjavur.

His childhood friend’s visit from UK creates a storm in his mind. He realizes his children may not get the best possible education in a small place; understands the deficiencies of being in a village - like substandard Higher education  and Health care. Probably, the demise of his wife following delivery of second child, due to lack of adequate treatment facilities reminds him the truth.  He feels down in comparison to his friend; perhaps asks himself – Am I doing my job correctly in providing the basic amenities to my children?

Accidently he meets one business couple (Dinesh- Cochin Haneefa and Manju) who are eyeing for Others People’s Money(OPM) to make it big in life. They sense the opportunity and lure him to start a chit company in Chennai and give first class education to kids. Krishnaswamy sells his properties and moves to Chennai with big dreams without knowing what is in the making for him there. Dinesh works as a part time pimp for big businessmen and politicians and ready to do anything for money. He’s a close associate of a big business man – Venkatachalam, a pervert, child sex abuser. Krishnaswamy trusts Dinesh and gives him the power of attorney in a tricky situation. Before he realizes his fault and the clandestine activities, things go out of his hands. Dinesh and Manju swindle the money and run away. Krishna lands up in jail for that fraud.

In jail, he meets Panjabikesan; his daughter works as a nurse- who happens to be the responder for Krishna’s matrimonial advertisement for second marriage. During jail term also he faces difficulties. To fight against injustice he loses his remittance.

In the meantime the family struggles without Krishna. Mother in law meets Dinesh and requests him financial help. Gets hash reply with physical assault which lands her up in hospital and eventually dies. While trying to arrange money for the treatment -young girl Kaveri, falls prey to the vulture – Venkatachalam. Bharani gets lost while chasing his companion – tiger, a dog. Whole family gets fragmented by the time he comes out of jail. He starts search of his loved ones.

Accidently he finds his son-Bharani, with one street circus performer and brings him home. Bharani tells him about the meeting they had with Dinesh and Venkatachalam before go- missing. Krishna finds from Dinesh that his daughter has been trafficked to Sonagachi, a brothel area in Kolkata. He goes there and rescues her. Tries to return to normal life.

The trauma which his daughter has suffered is reflected during her sleep in dreams (has the habit of reciting her subconscious dreaming mind). That makes him to take the extreme step –taking law in his own hands. He becomes a typical Kollywood hero and takes revenge by killing both Dinesh and Venkachalam.

Goes back to jail and returns after 8 years.

Happy ending to a very sad grim story.

The high impact of the movie is mainly due to the subject it deals with and the way it has been conveyed without exaggeration; common man against the evil corrupt system. Everyone easily identifies, relates himself with Krishna and feels the pain he suffers; becomes restless and hopes for someone (from the sky??!!) would fight the skewed system. When it happens (fighting injustice) you feel happy believing you in Krishna.

There is a misconception in our society regarding the social classes; Upper segment- posh people are good and poor slum dwellers are bad.This film breaks that norm. Street performers, prostitutes are shown as good human beings.

It is a very intelligently made film. The director (of course Kamal) is very clear what he wants to convey and utilizes the screenplay as a tool to the perfection. At the same time he has to compromise -to accommodate so many issues in a single movie- on few areas -which are not glaring though (if you see 5 times like me things would be magnified).

The writers (Kamal and Ra.Ki.Rangarajan) turn adept surgeons, use sharp dialogues to cut open the wounds in the society and expose the foul smelling gangrenous parts mercilessly. If I start quoting the striking dialogues, might end up writing the whole film. Kamal’s intelligence is visible in every dialogue- sarcastic comments at its best.

At one point being a common man, you feel scared to know the facts; how, dangerous animals freely stray in the society without any fear and the system which is supposed to protect the ordinary, chooses the powerful evil as a partner and turns against innocent common man. The helplessness is scary, depressive and noting but the reality.

When you push someone against the wall, if he does not have anything to lose; he does not have any option other than fighting. There is a point of break in every individual. If someone has been stretched beyond this- he breaks and takes everything in his hands. Perhaps that’s what happens to Krishna in this film.

Some delicate scenes are handled with amazing responsibility. For example portraying a perverted child sex- abuser, is like walking on a tight rope. Risk of obscenity, vulgarity and filthy feeling-all possible if you lose your balance. Director successfully crosses the rope without falling down. The same with Sonagachi – brothel scenes too.

Prison life has been shown candidly first time in Tamil cinema. The Jail thulukkanam does a great job, with his Madras basha.

Ilayaraja might have had a grand feast for his creative hunger; this film brings best out of him; which reflects in BGM throughout the film. Particularly I remember the scenes involving Kamal and Suganya - Violin piece followed by piano …poetic. Songs are also good even though could have been avoided; film would have been crisper and more effective (compromise – to survive??).

Kamal as usual does wonderful job, makes you cry in many scenes. Haneefa (Dinesh) deserves an appreciation for his wily performance.

Some unrealistic, unbelievable moments are there – how on earth, Krishna trusts completely a new person and sells all his property- even though he is an innocent village man.

His future father in law happens to be his jail mate-cannot be taken as a coincidence.

He happens to find easily his son Bharani without much effort.

And Krishna starts as an innocent village man and becomes a powerful typical Tamil hero in the end during climax; fights several men at ease.

Screenplay blankets these loop holes effortlessly.

In few scenes Kamal overacts, particularly the crying scene with Suganya.

This film does give a solution (revenge) which is cinematic. I feel that is the biggest drawback of this wonderful movie.

In my opinion if Krishna had stayed as a common man till the end and with a pragmatic climax-that would have taken the movie to a new level. I believe Kamal is also aware of it and that is the compromise we all have to make to survive in this twisted society.

 Hope, you watch it again.

Cheers!

20-09-14,

7pm.