Virumandi

Cast : Kamal Haasan, Abhirmai, Pasupathy, Napoleon, Rohini,
Shanmugharajan, S.N.Lakshmi, OAK.Sundar, Kanthimathi, Nasser, Pyramid Natrajan
Producer/Banner : Chandra Hassan & Kamal Haasan / Rajkamal Films International
Story-Screenplay : Kamal Haasan
Dialogues-Direction : Kamal Haasan
Music : Illayaraja
Cinematography : Keshav Prakash
Art Direction : M.Prabhakar
Stunts : Vikram Dharma

The film starts with Anjela Kathumuthu (Rohini) and her cameraman in Central Jail filming interviews of prisoners serving life imprisonment and awaiting death sentence. She meets Kothala Thevar (Pasupathy) who is serving life sentence. He tells his version of the story that led to his getting convicted. According to him the root cause of the problem is Virumaandi< (Kamal Haasan) the happy go lucky rogue. His support to Thevar in his clash against Nallama Naicker (Napoleon) brings about a bonding between two. Annalakshmi (Abhirami) the niece of Thevar falls for Virumaandi. Thevar with an eye on the fertile land owned by Virumaandi does not object to the romance. According to Thevar Annalakshmi was abducted by Viramaandi and raped. A clash between Viumaandi and Thevar takes places in which 26 innocent are killed.

Now it�s the turn of Virumaandi to tell the story. He tells his version of how he fell in love with Annalakshmi and her influence on him. He is told to learn to apologize and that forgiveness is a virtue. A clash at the Panchayat infuriates Annalakshmi and asks Virumaandi to apologize to the elders whom he insulted. He goes to apologize but Thevar and his men thinking he has gone to take revenge come in groups and hack down innocents to death. Thevar uses his clout to get out of the murder charge but Virumaandi who was involved in the bloodbath is disturbed because he had to lie to save Thevar and his kin. As part of the penance he wills his land for the villagers and Annalakshmi asks him to marry her and leave the village. He marries her at the village temple and goes away in the night with the girl and stays with a relative. Thevar's men come and abduct Annalakshmi and forcibly marry her to Thevar's son. This is to ensure that Annalakshmi's property does not go to Virumaandi. Annalakshmi commits suicide. Virumaandi takes revenge by hacking to death Thevar's family. Thevar escapes. Nallama Naicker gives refuge to Virumaandi and sends him off to Chennai. Thevar and his men ask Nallama Naicker to hand over Virumaandi. A battle ensues in which Nallama Naicker is killed. The case goes to court. Virumaandi turns up in court. He finds all evidence is against him. He is convicted of having raped Annalakshmi and killing her and later on killing 26 men of Thevar who questioned this rapist. Anjela Kattumuthu's cameraman discreetly shoots the deputy jailor conspiring with warders and convicts to bump off the chief jailor (Nasser). A revolt among the jail staff leading to jail break, the jailor being stabbed and Virumaandi saving the vital evidence and Anjela from the deputy jailor and his henchmen forms the climax. The film ends on a note that death sentence should be abolished.

Kamal Haasan has excelled as Virumaandi. He has given a magnificent performance. He carries out the various tempers like his show off, careless attitude, boozing, witty talk and sorrow effortlessly. Pasupathy as Kothala Thevar, the villain has stolen the show. No doubt his performance is the most talked about one in the film. His has brought out his ruthless and scheming nature through his eyes. If you say Abhirami as Annalakshmi has lived the role it is not an exaggeration. She has given a splendid feat as the bold, brainy, and strong-minded girl. Shanmugharajan as Paykkaaman, the disloyal cop is a new villain with stuff to Tamil cinema. Napoleon has given a subtle performance and has well underplayed the role as Nallama Naicker. Rohini as Angela is sufficient. Nasser�s role as the Chief Jailor, Prisons is limited. All the characters are well defined. The two way narration of a story is a new attempt to Indian Cinema which Kamal as a director has executed skillfully. His experimentation in using the live sound for the first time also is enterprising. Madurai nativity and the local essence are sustained throughout the film. Kamal�s touch is seen in minute nuances of the film. The major asset to the whole film is the art director Prabhakar�s natural sets and Cinematographer Keshav Prakash�s marvelous camera work. The major part of the film is happening on the sets erected by Prabhakar. It is hard to believe that these are sets and one would feel that they have been shot at the interiors of Madurai and Theni. Illayaraja�s music is yet another plus point as his music goes well with the subject and narration. Vikram Dharma�s fights need special mention. His action choreography is restrained on an otherwise violent and gore blood-shedding scenes. Virumaandi will sure to go places.

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