Aayirathil Oruvan ( 2010 ) - Film review

Aayirathil Oruvan is a near three hour journey that shows us what we've lost / gained in the last eight centuries. An original script woven around a lost Chola legacy, this film easily manages to keep the viewers glued to their seats for most of its running time. Director Selvaraghavan unravels the story at a perfect pace through the first half, while things get a little slow at times in the second.

*Spoilers ahead, heaps of them*

Aayirathil Oruvan is an extremely audacious attempt by the Producer and the Director to mix commercial cinema with the artistic. It wouldn't have been daring, had it not been this brutal; because in that case, it would have been a runaway blockbuster. The story begins in 1279 AD with a prophecy, that a man will come, eight centuries later, to relieve the troubles of a civilization cut off from the rest of the world. Cut back to present day, archaeologist Prathap Pothan gets lost in his search for the lost kingdom near Ming hua island close to Vietnam. An expedition is arranged by a Union minister to go there and see what is going on. Initially, you might wonder why he should allot so much of time and money for this. Anyway, Reema Sen heads the expedition which also includes Azhagamperumal, few armymen under him, archaeologist Andrea and a band of coolies under Karthi, the MGR fan. While the story is as serious and magical as it can get with all the traps put in place by the Cholas (well, almost all) like cannibals, warriors, jellyfish, a million snakes etc, Karthi plays a very vital role keeping things believeable to an extent with all his antics, like "Paatha vudanaye mudivu paniten, ungala than kalyanam panippen nu..." and "Onnu pesave matengudu. Onnu over ah pesudu." that has the theatre in splits.

The real story unravels in the second half, when Karthi, Andrea and Reema reach the lost village only to discover that the civilization is not destroyed yet. The last of the Cholas live in dark caves under their king, Parthiban.It is most unusual to see Parthiban portray such a serious role, sticking to the original script, and he pulls it off brilliantly. This is where we are shown that Reema Sen is actually a Pandiya royal who is here to retrieve the statue of their goddess. What she didn't expect was the existence of Cholas under such circumstances. How she betrays the Cholas and tries to lead them to their doom and why Karthi is one in a thousand (ada, Ayirathil Oruvan) forms the rest of the story. Don't take the 'A' certificate lightly and walk in with your family / children. You will regret it. There is too much of open eroticism, blood and violence of all forms.Hope Selvaraghavan realizes that brutality is not an essential part of movie making when he makes the Second part of the movie.



Everyone (technician to actor) excels in the battle scene and Karthi shines in the gladiator-ish scene. That was awesome inspite of below average CGI. Coming to think of it, the graphics were all a little weak and meek throughout the film with a camel, in graphics, last seen near Super Mario, being the height of it. Graphics were from a lost generation too. Sigh. The songs did not fit in perfectly; only the Cholan ecstasy and 'Un mela aasa thaan' were picturized well. 'Oh Eesa' was a let-down.

The director not only shows us how brilliant movies can get through Aayiratil Oruvan, but also shows us how psychologically screwed up they can get with a 'depicting reality' tag. People were squirming uneasily in their seats for the last fifteen to twenty minutes. Almost hated that part of the movie. The Indian Army is shown in such a poor light, which could and should have been avoided. Reema Sen gets a role of her lifetime and Andrea just had to look cute (bigger role in the second part, maybe?).

If you're over eighteen and you don't throw up on extremely brutal exploitation of women, free flowing blood and loads of decapitations, you should probably give this one a try for Reema, Karthi, Parthiban and the Producer.