Kadaisi Vivasayi
Probably my favourite Tamil film of this year along with Vikram. In 2015, cinematographer, writer and director M. Manikandan broke through with Kaaka Muttai, a film that revolves around two kids in a slum yearning for a slice of pizza at a new neighbourhood pizzeria. Manikandan manages to create the same ‘lump-in-the-throat’ moments in Kadaisi Vivasayi (The Last Farmer). A mishap in a village prompts the locals to conduct a festival that requires rice grown in the village. They turn to the unlikely protagonist of the film - Maayandi (played by Nallandi), the last farmer in the village. The film features brilliant cameos by Vijay Sethupathy (who sizzled in Vikram) and Yogi Babu.
Watch the trailer here:
Vaazhl
Easily one of the most visually spectacular Tamil films I’ve watched in the recent past. Arun Prabu Purushothaman broke conventions with Aruvi (2017), a film that revolves around how HIV patients are treated in society. In many ways, Vaazhl (‘to live’) is a film that revolves around our everyday fantasies, especially in a post-pandemic world. It’s the story of an IT professional who decides to break away from the monotony of daily work deadlines and family pressures. It takes him through unexpected adventures, mishaps and to unexplored film locations including Papua New Guinea that probably deserve to be seen on a big screen and not on a smartphone.
Watch the trailer here:
Maanaadu
This was a comeback vehicle of sorts for TR Silambarasan (aka Simbu), one of Tamil cinema’s top 10 stars at the box office, and for director Venkat Prabhu who tasted commercial success with blockbusters like Mankatha (2011). A film built around a ‘time loop’ concept would have been unthinkable in Tamil cinema in a pre-Netflix era. The theatrical success of Maanaadu (Conference) was achieved by using a concept that we’ve largely seen in Western plots and stitching it with an Indian political backdrop. This riveting, fast-paced film makes a strong case for communal harmony without being preachy and is buoyed by terrific performances by SJ Suryah and Y. Gee Mahendra.
Watch the trailer here:
Thaen
Tamil Nadu is India’s most urbanised large state with close to 50% of its population living in urban areas. Thaen (Honey) revolves around rural healthcare (in a state with a reputation for its healthcare system) and the debate around preserving nature versus progress is set in the scenic Kurinji Hills. The aerial photography is one of the highlights in a film that chronicles the lives of villagers like Velu (who is a beekeeper) in this hilly region.
Watch the trailer here:
Seththumaan
A hard-hitting film on food politics based on Perumal Murugan’s short story Varugari (Pork Roast). Debutant director Thamizh makes a strong statement about societal norms around food choices and caste. This documentary-style story is centred around Poochiyappa and his grandson Kumaresan (whose parents have been killed in a hate crime) who have to constantly look out for a seththumaan (‘choice pig’) for their landlord Vellaiyan in a conservative area.
Watch the trailer here: