by Trailerman Sam (tapessam@gmail.com)
These days not many movies can reach an 8.5 star on IMBD only with a few thousand users’ rating. But Meiyazhagan did.
It’s a 2024 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by C. Prem Kumar and produced by Jyothika and Suriya under 2D Entertainment.
The film stars Karthi alongside Arvind Swamy, Rajkiran, Sri Divya, Devadarshini, Jayaprakash, Sriranjani, Ilavarasu, Karunakaran and Saran Shakthi.
Meiyazhagan, which translates into “Man with truth as beauty”, focuses on memory, nostalgia, and self-discovery. The story follows Arulmozhi Varman (played by Arvind Swamy), a man in his 40s, who returns to his hometown after over two decades.
His journey triggers memories and reflections on his past relationships, personal losses, and the enduring effects of trauma. As Arulmozhi reconnects with familiar places and people, including an enigmatic character named Meiyazhagan (portrayed by Karthi), he confronts unresolved emotions and learns to come to terms with his past, aided by Meiyazhagan’s compassionate and non-judgmental nature.
With about slightly more than 60 days before the curtains fall on the year 2024, this is a feel-good movie and one of the best this year. Watching Meiyazhagan is like getting a warm hug on a cold night.
The film is structured around intimate, meaningful conversations, much like Prem Kumar’s earlier work, 96. These exchanges reveal the characters’ depths and shared vulnerabilities, inviting audiences to reflect on themes of forgiveness, belonging, and the beauty of life’s simple moments.
The musical score by Govind Vasantha enhances the emotional resonance, particularly through a memorable melody sung by Kamal Haasan, which reflects the film’s introspective mood
Set in Thanjavur, it sums up the tone as a conjunction between ecology and humans. The director’s ability to blend melodrama with the characters is his biggest strength, accentuated by good acting.
The visuals, which reflect local culture and history, especially Jallikattu — a traditional event where a zebu bull is released into a crowd as participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull’s back with both arms and hang on within a certain time frame. Indian Rodeo, so to speak, and it was beautifully done.
These subplots neither falter or overkill the movie’s run-time of two hours and 40 minutes. At times, the movie’s bittersweet silence also “does the talking”.
Meiyazhagan is a refreshing change, never a single bleak or dull moment. Sometimes, there are lengthy scenes where Meiyazhagan shares his thoughts and experiences with Arulmozhi, and as an audience, you forget you’re watching a film. Instead, you feel like a third person overhearing a deep, raw conversation between two men who live and breathe their emotions.
While the characters of Arulmozhi and Meiyazhagan are opposed, differing from head to toe, they grow to complement each other as the story unfolds.
Meiyazhagan unfolds like a beautifully written poem or a novel brought to life, where each frame feels like a chapter of quiet reflection and deep conversation. At its heart is a delicate exchange between two characters: one, expressive and talkative, the other, introspective and reserved. Their reunion after years of distance feels like a quiet homecoming.
As distant relatives reconnect, the film subtly explores the complexities of human relationships, what is said and what is left unspoken. In the film, Meiyazhagan always addresses Arulmozhi as Athan, which generally means the paternal aunt’s son.
Where does the name Meiyazhagan fit in? I could go on and on writing about it and the beauty of this movie, but let me end by saying that you will experience bittersweet joy in the end.
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