Akshay Shah Reviews PITHAMAGAN (Tamil, 2003)

PITHAMAGAN (Tamil, 2003)

Every now and then comes a movie that takes the viewer by the throat and takes them on a journey through its story telling which not only mesmerises the viewer, but leaves a haunting and unforgettable impact…PITHAMAGAN folks, is one such movie.

Director Bala earlier directed the heart rending tragic romantic tale SETHU, delivers yet another hard-hitting, humane and ultimately gripping drama which proves that he is amongst the best directors in Tamil cinema-frankly PITHAMAGAN is unlike anything I have ever seen in my life.

The movie revolves around Chithaan(Vikram) who has abandoned at birth in a graveyard, the local graveyard keeper decides to keep him and raise him as his son. The graveyard becomes his home, and from a young age Chithaan is bought up around death as the undertaker. He is bought up as a reculse with his feelings numb, emotions suppressed and his behaviour is no different to that of an animal.

Sakhti(Surya) is a street smart conmen who makes his living by looting other peoples goods and conning them. Lively, forever talking, full of life and mischief.

After Chithaans father finally passes away he is forced into entering the “normal” world-where he is befriended by a local marijuana seller Gothmati(Sangeetha). She gets him a job with the local drug don (Mahadevan). After a raid by the police Chithaan is put into prison where he runs into Sakhti. An unlikely bond of friendship strikes between the two and Chithaan starts seeing life in a different way through Sakhtis eyes. His his heart Sakhti is his mentor, his guide and his guru and he will do anything for him. All seems to be going well until calamity strikes..What happens? PITHAMAGAN provides the answer.

I have seen many stories of friendship before, but never before have I seen a story of friendship like the one portrayed in PITHAMAGAN. This is probably the most unusual tale of friendship, loyalty, trust, love and violence ever portrayed in cinema and frankly its takes guts to write a rather risky yet engrossing story like this. The screenplay is almost fluid for most of the movie, except for a rather unnecessary angle with actress Simran playing herself, which does provide a rather “masala filled” medley of songs but seems unwanted in the movie. The sequence of events in the last half hour of the movie is an astounding piece of writing which deserves accolades all around.

As a director Bala directs one of the most unusual, yet strangely engrossing and ultimately emotional tales of our times. His style of direction is almost fluid as he lets his character take over the movie completely and take the story forward. He etches his characters so well, they strike an almost hypnotic chord with the viewer which is extremely unique. Directing a story like this, is no easy work however Bala takes helm with utmost sincerity and conviction that one cannot help but admire the director. There are many scenes which are simply unforgettable in the movie including..

• The start of the movie with the birth of Chithaan(graphic)
• The scene where Chithaans father passes away and he does his final “rites”
• Chithaans numerous fight scenes-raw and powerful
• Sakhtis introduction and his various con acts
• The various scenes between Chithaan and Sakhti
• When Chithaan burns a man as ordered by his boss, and he does his final rites-the singing is simply haunting and brings goose bumps.
• The entire last ½ hour of the movie which is disturbing and ultimately haunting in the truest sense.

There is so much portrayed in the movie just through gestures and symbolism(like Vikram not liking Suryas closeness with Laila, the bond between Vikram and Sangeetha and no doubt the bonding between Surya and Vikram.

One can’t help but salute Bala for bringing a tale like PITHAMAGAN to celluloid and doing full justice to the movie.

Those who are thinking the movie is ultimately a sad and depressing affair throughout..think again! The movie is actually laced with some superbly brilliant moments of masala through Suryas character and has quiet a number of comic sequences as well as humour which is natural and brings a smile to the viewers face, though in the end it’s the “tragedy” end of the tale which lingers with the viewer long after the movie is finished.

As far as performances go they are the movies backbone and masterstroke.

Vikram as Chithaan delivers what I would right call one of the GREATEST performances I have ever seen in my life. Chithaan will no doubt remain a remarkable milestone in Vikrams career, and given it’s a character which requires the actor to barely utter 10 lines throughout the whole movie, Vikrams cements his performance in the viewers mind simply through his get-up, expressions and body language and explosive screen presence. It would be easy to overact in a performance like this or ultimately over-do the performance in the sense it screams “look at me im acting” however Vikram avoids this on all counts-he CONVINCES the viewer that he is the animalistic Chithaan and therein lies his biggest victory as an actor. There is a thin line that separates a man from an animal, and we are reminded throughout the movie that Vikram is ultimately an animal who has the form and shape of a man. As he growls, grunts, brutally fights, and shows absolute loyalty to the person who cares for him its quiet clear that through Vikram and Chithaan, director Bala has created one of the most unique characters ever in cinema. Vikrams eerie singing when someone dies, his absolutely insane fight scenes(I always talk about PURE ANIMALISTIC RAGE, and in that sense Vikrams performance is the definition of the very term), his bonding sequences with Sangeetha and Surya, the climax scene where he cries and howls as he hounds Mahadevan like a beast are all ample proof that Vikram is one of the finest actors ever in contemporary Indian cinema(Tamil or otherwise).

In a movie like this, one would think any other actor would be sidelines with Vikram in such an author backed role, once again..think again! Bala has cleverly written the movie to ensure that both “stars” are given ample footage in their diametrically opposite roles. In relation to Vikrams character, Surya is required to do the absolute opposite and in turn delivers what is quiet possibly one of the finest “masala” acts I’ve ever seen. As the loud-mouth, street smart, con-man, tapori Surya has never looked so much at ease in front of the camera. Exuding charm and wit this is one extremely likeable performance that strikes an instant bond with the viewer. Surya is a livewire constantly changing his expressions throughout the movie, as well as his delivery providing the movie with some fantastic comedy and bringing a smile to the viewers face. A character so ALIVE in every sense of the movie, is ultimately a brilliant contrast to Vikrams morbid and sombre Chithaan. It simply would be unfair to compare both actors in their respective roles, as both deliver a performance of a lifetime.

On a sidenote, why aren’t there more Multi starrers in Tamil Cinema? The chemistry shared between Vikram and Surya is simply fantastic, and is ample proof, if both actors are given the right roles, it’s possible to keep both fans of the actors happy. I’m guessing in Tamil cinema, almost all the movie are designed to suit the “image” of the “star” and in a sense, its up to that star to carry that movie through to the box-office and by sharing the limelight with a bigger actor it would mean comparisons as well as the possibility of another star stealing the show. It would be simply fantastic to see more multi-starrers with actors like Rajni, Kamal, Vikram, Surya, Madhavan coming in one movie together.


The supporting cast in this movie is fabulous. Laila who I didn’t like much in DHILL, is great here. Her comic scenes with Sakhti where shes angry with him are hilarious and extremely cute, though I wish her love story with Sakhti was better defined. In the climax of the movie too her facials are just stunning.

Sangeetha too delivers an excellent account of herself and comes out triumphant. Mahadevan as the main villan is hateable in his cold-hearted character.

Music by Ilaiyaraja is just fantastic. The song picturised on Vikram at the start after he is abandoned is haunting. The “medley” type number with Surya and Simran too is simply superlative as is the song that features in the end of the movie.

Technically the movie is a fantastic. From the camerawork which captures the whole milieu and ambience of the movie to perfection, to the editing, sound and most definitely the action scenes its all top notch.

All up PITHAMAGAN may not be everyone’s up of tea, however it is a movie that is simply unmissable…and one that is absolutely unforgettable!

Overall Rating 9.0/10.0