Breaking many records and tagged as the costliest Malayalam film ever made, Pazhassi Raja has earned both critical acclaim and unprecedented box office returns in its Kerala release.
And now the period film comes in its Tamil version. M T Vasudevan Nair’s meticulous etching of the script and characters, Hariharan’s exquisite visualisation of it on celluloid, some splendid performances, and a great support from the technical crew makes for some engrossing viewing.
Set in the 18th century, the film takes a little known slice of history recorded as the earliest struggle for India’s independence from the British rule. Blending fact with fiction, it depicts the tale of Pazhassi Raja, the valiant warrior king of Malabar, and his revolt against the tyrannical British rule. Betrayed by his own uncle (thilagan), his palace ransacked and plundered by the British. Pazhassi takes to the jungles with his faithful followers. He collects an army of peasants and tribes and launches a guerrilla war against the British. If there is an oft-repeated episode, it is where a British couple engaged to be married, lose their way in the jungle and Pazhassi gives them a safe passage. The overwhelmed lady turns into an admirer and becomes sympathetic to his cause.
It’s a memorable performance from Mammootty as Pazhassi Raja. With his regal demeanour and carriage, and the subtle nuances he lends to his role, it is fascinating to watch the actor bring live Pazhassi on screen. A challenging role perfectly essayed.
The actor has dubbed his own voice for the Tamil version. The star cast is a huge one, and we can spot popular actors in cameos and walk-on roles. Manoj K Jayan splendidly plays the role of Thalakkal Chandu, the tribal leader and a Pazhassi loyalist, who with his well-trained army of men and women, ambush the British troops in the jungles.
Padmapriya portrays Neeli, Chandu’s intended bride, who fights shoulder to shoulder with her man. An actress of great emotional prowess, the sheer physical exuberance and body language she exudes here is amazing.
Last but not the least is Sarath Kumar (his first foray into Malayalam screen). In his long chequered career, Sarath has performed many ‘heroic’ acts on celluloid. But none perhaps has created such a forceful impact as that of Kungan, Pazhassi’s protégé. His performance reminds one of a valiant warrior in Chinese films.
And he’s got two scenes where the audience’s applause is sure to come. One, where he kills his childhood-friend-turned-traitor (Suman). The other, where the British corners him and he chooses to end his life. Sarath has dubbed his own voice for the Tamil version (in the Malayalam version, a dubbing artiste was used).
The running time of the film has been shortened by about fifteen minutes for the Tamil version.
But this is one poignantly engaging royal journey, where language or duration would be no bar to enjoy it. Produced by Gokulam Gopalan, Pazhassi Raja is a must see.