Subramaniyapuram

A step back into the past - about 28 years. The year 1980. Think about what was in store then.

I went back to the old photo albums lying in the house to understand everything. The eighties. Wavy or curly hairdo, a rough look on the face sporting a thick beard or a nicely shaped mustache, bell bottom pants, colorful and kaleidoscopic designer shirts with an insanely long collar, wide belts with large buckles - thats the men. Now for the women - plaited hair (it was always black), jasmine flowers, half saris, eyeliner.

Subramaniyapuram (S.Puram) - set in the year 1980 was nothing different. Everything that you would possibly expect from a situation in the 80s was provided with utmost attention to detail. Even the motor vehicles - take the auto-rickshaws and the trucks - the registration number plate also reflected the 80s.

S.Puram is about the life of a few unemployed men who spend their lifetime living in a small town, working for a local wannabe politician, and how they end up becoming outlaws. S.Puram is also a story about living a life for today. Characters in the movie do not have great ambitions. They are very down-to-earth.

What I liked about the movie was the simplicity in the script. There was very clear emphasis on how friendship binds people, and the innocence among people that allows them to go to any extent to do what they want.

Swathi - the girl with the coy glances. She was just amazing. Without any glamor or style, in most of the romantic sequences, it was her big round eyes that did all the talking. Credit goes to the director for having delved into that direction of romance.

Love in the 80s wasn't any close to what we see in the movies nowadays. It was like running water on lotus petals, very much on the surface, brimming with emotions. No violent kisses or vulgarity. It brought in a divine feeling.

Jai - the bowler from the Rockers team in movie Chennai 28; has done an amazing job as Azhagar. Equal credit goes to his friend in the movie who plays this character called Parama. Imagine the angry young man of the 80s. Thats Parama for you. Azhagar is also on similar lines but partly enamored by Tulasi.

The movie lacked a forewarning of violence. There should have been a clear communication to the cinema halls telling them not to allow children for this movie. The second half of this movie deals only with blood filled violence and its quite shocking to see all that. Its comparable to the final scene in Paruthiveeran. If you;d scene that movie, then I am sure you wouldn't recommend watching that with your children or school going cousins. This is quite similar.

Overall: Great movie for a small budget.