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Monday, July 30, 2012

Arangetram (1973) - My thoughts


NewImage Talking about a movie that released way back in 1973, and 30 years later, I still think this is one of the best movies offered by Tamil Cinema. The sheer depth in  categorization and bold theme chosen by the director are the major reasons why this movie stands out in comparison to other scripts that have been offered ever since. K Balachander is one of the pillars of the industry who offered variety of scripts and showed the courage to portray strong female protagonists. To sculpt such characters, one needs to fall in love with them, and KB must have been deeply in love with Lalita (actress prameela), to have etched out a masterpiece. 


I happen to see a video, where the blogger mentioned this movie as one his all time favorites and this provoked me to revisit this movie and observe the sheer intent to make the audience think and decide for themselves (deciding for yourself is a topic we never like to think about).

The first thing that struck me was the title, and how there are tacit mentions sprayed throughout this 150 minute masterpiece. How the friend is consoled by telling that till you reach the stage, you will be nervous and once you start your Arangetram you would never know that you were once nervous (Arangetram medai erum varail thaan kashtam). One of KB's favorite topics is maintaining the balance between authenticity of a ritual and the repercussions of modernization; How Ramu Sasthri feels humiliated and squirms at the way society is performing the acts unauthentically. The social messages that are tacitly touched upon by KB just leaves me spellbound; be it flesh trade and how male escapes scot-free, family planning or societal impressions on a call-girl. 

There are various scenes where you can find KB's stamp on his characters, Kamal's opportunism, Lalitha's histrionics due to frustration towards men or be is the usual, not-a-brahmin-do-gooder. This movie, tends to push you towards thinking about the outlook of a middle class indian family and the parochial view on a woman we once lived with. 

Portraying Lalitha as an intelligent, subversive young woman is a master-stroke and makes you sit up and take notice of the emotional intelligence she possesses. This is a movie, that i think helped Tamil cinema hold its head high and commercial success only encourages you to choose scripts such as these. 

It is tough to imagine the 70s and 80s without KB and makes me uncomfortable thinking of the movies that might have ruled in his absence. We would have had KR Vijaya as the obedient daughter-in-law and preached to house wives how to follow the 26423498 rules to keep you husband happy and not question him. I am proud to have seen KB's movies and still salute him for the sheer intent in making movies with unusual characterization. Characters in the movie make-or-break the experience and KB had that spot on. 

To other people who might have not watched this, I highly recommend it to understand the quality of cinema then, and how surprisingly we never found another KB ( there might be a mani, shankar or Bala), though Bhagyaraj was pretty close in terms of characterization.

 (You can find the movie here)http://www.einthusan.com/movies/watch.php?lang=tamil&id=351

20 comments:

Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalam said...

Hey nice! I'm a huge KB fan myself (who's not?) and have just begun to watch his b&w/ old classics (until recently varumaiyin niram sivappu was probably my oldest KB movie). Finished apoorva ragangal and avargal. Next on my list was and aval oru thodarkadhai, and now arangetram too!

Unknown said...

Avargal is just so awesome. You will just realize my fanhood for Rajini has deep roots in the KB era.
Oh and yeah, please see Moondru Mudichu along with the ones you mentioned.

Goda Ramkumar said...

I have only watched a few Kannada movies he has directed and adaptations of his Tamil movies. still appreciated his direction,characterisation and the no-drama approach he takes to make u believe the characters exist just next to u. I am sure if I watch the Tamil classics I would love them.

sharelot said...

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Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon said...

Nice Blogger.....

Mohan said...

I am too a great fan of KB.. And 'Nizhal nijamakirathu' and 'arangetram' are my most favorite.. Just awesome..

Mohan said...

I am too a great fan of KB.. And 'Nizhal nijamakirathu' and 'arangetram' are my most favorite.. Just awesome..

TESOL Study said...

next post,,, :)

Unknown said...

First, KB sir is one of my most favorite director. I started watching his movies from 2012(because before that I haven't heard of his talent works). I just searched for best directors in Tamil cinema and I saw KB sir in the list. I got more curiosity about his directions because he used to make his movie in more realistic way(it happens really in everyone's life).
The first movie was Arangetram. Each and every scenes are real to our life(I like only these kind of movies only). I was surprised to see how people have come through during 1970's in India especially females.
From then, I started to collect and watch most of KB sir movies. My favorite list includes Arangetram, Aval Oru Thodarkathai, Bama Vijayam, Puthu Puthu Arthangal, Avargal where heroines play a strong and major role and heros seems to be dummy.
After watching KB movie, one will get more matured and responsible(since cinema influence ones life) as he explains many family and social issues.
Last thing I want to say is, After KB sir, no director(except Bharathiraja) has guts to make such movies..even till today

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