‘Karungali’ (Tamil)
Director: Mu Kalanjiyam
Cast: Mu Kalanjiyam, Srinivas, Anjali, Asmitha, Sunitha Varma, Ponmudi and Alex
Taking a fairly long sabbatical after making family entertainers like ‘Poomani’ and ‘Poonthottam’, Kalanjiyam has returned with a movie of a completely different genre.
While most director-turned- actors opt for the heroic roles, Kalanjiyam has taken on the amoral, ruthless Pottalam Ravi in his debut as an actor in ‘Karungali’. Centered around a man with no redeemable qualities, the film has a dark gruesome feel to it apart from the sexual overtones throughout.
The story depicts three phases in the life of Ravi and the women who cross his path. Sengodi (Asmitha) comes into his life while he lives in the slum, loves him unconditionally and tries to deviate himself from the self-destructive path. Ravi’s relationship with her, their sexual trysts and his callous treatment of her, all have a natural feel.
When Ravi visits a mortuary where the dead body of his favourite actress has been laid, Sengodi, aware of his unholy intentions, tries to dissuade him, pitifully. Asmitha fits in impressively as Sengodi, bringing out the torment quite well that the character experiences. These initial episodes narrated in flashback, are the best part of the film. The grim life of slum kids and how drug-lords like Rajesh (Ponmudi) exploits them have been realistically depicted.
The second episode is that of Kani, a doctor (Sunitha, in a neat performance). Judging Ravi by the one unselfish act he extended towards her (which didn’t quite gel with his character), she believes in his goodness and marries him. The director seems to have lost his grip here. It’s puzzling as to why Kani, who admits later that she knew Ravi couldn’t be trusted, continues to rely on him for crucial matters.
Intertwined with this episode is that of Amudha, an innocent village girl (Anjali) married to the city-based Guna (Srinivas). Yearning for a child, she almost falls prey to Ravi’s manipulations.
This episode is the weakest in the plot. A timid Amudha, who has never stepped out of home, is shown boldly walking into a gynaecologist’s clinic for consultation. Gross and crudely executed, there is more of titillation than conviction in the events here. Anjali, a consummate actress, effectively conveys the vulnerability and dilemma of Amudha. But the inconsistency in characterization and Amudha’s constant whining does get to you after a certain amount of time.
The whole story ends at the slum where it all began for Ravi, a well-planned and fitting finale. It’s a theme that had the potential to turn into an engaging and provocative entertainer had it been executed with more conviction and finesse.