Aayirathil Oruvan – Insulting our past glory

Aayirathil oruvan

After all the blah on blogs, news portals and news papers, I watched Aayirathil Oruvan (AO). I wish I were a director in the Tamizh movie industry. Why? Well, it’s so easy to spin a story out of 10 other Hollywood movies and present it in a third-rate platter, for an equally third-rate audience that laugh their heart out when they see heads getting chopped off the bodies, and blood splattering all over the screen. I’ve enjoyed movies like 300 and Saving Private Ryan (uncut version), but the gore is portrayed in an authentic way – not laughable at all. You get the intensity of the action in such movies. Definitely not here in AO, where the graphics for the gore scenes are pathetic and cheap, and looks like it was done in haste.

Throughout the movie, why ‘m I constantly reminded of movies like The Mummy, National Treasure, Gladiator, Tomb Raider, Apocalypto and so on? Looks like Selvaraghavan (huh, the director) took the pains to watch all of these movies (and a few more that I may have missed over here..) to tell an Indianised story.

Do you know why we Indians are a bad example of ourselves? Spitting on the road, unruly traffic, disrespect for fellow citizens, and regionalism? It’s ‘coz we don’t know out history properly. Adding to this, there are directors like Selvaraghavan who portray our great ancestors in bad light. Portraying Cholas as barbarians is the last thing one could ever think of. Cholas and Pandyas indulged in fine arts and architecture, and even today their monuments stand as an example of their passion for whatever work they did. They even excelled in foreign trade.

I was really frustrated on watching the movie. Putting up a disclaimer that this movie has nothing to do with Cholas and Pandyas is a mere gimmick. It’s like portraying the character of his mom on the movie as a whore, but typing a disclaimer that it’s a work of fiction.

The society is already in chaos, why should directors like Selvaraghavan spoil the reputation of our great great ancestors who lived in glory? I suggest Selvaraghavan (and other directors) to refer to Chola and Pandya history, and learn a thing or two about their governance, culture, people, etc. This guy must know that Europe was still in dark ages when Cholas and Pandyas were creating world class architecture and statues. And, that they were excellent in metallurgy, music, trade, and a lot more.

We’re now characterized by dirtiness and loudness. They need to turn down the volume in theaters too. Deafening! Are you people deaf, already?

However, there are a couple of things that need to be appreciated in this movie. Ramji’s camera (cinematography) is simply superb! Hollywood class!! The background score by G V Prakash is very apt, and syncs our mood to the scene being portrayed on the screen. That’s it. No more credits to anyone else.

Movie Rating: 1/5

Music Rating: 3.5/5

Cinematography: 5/5

Watch if you wanna see your ancestors in bad light. Also, if you wanna see the Tamizh version of the trailers of the aforementioned English movies. Last but not the least, watch it if you wanna join all the third-rate audience whistling and laughing for the gore scenes. What a taste!

I prefer to stay away from these barbarians.

Pic source