- Date of Release: 31 October 2024
- Genre: Action, Biopic, Drama, War
- Watch On: Theatres Only
Amaran
Introduction
In a scene after the halfway mark in the new Tamil film Amaran, you see the protagonist Major Mukund Varadarajan and his team travelling in a convoy amidst a lurking threat, only for each of them to share quiet moments about their best films in cinema. The references of Annayum Rasoolum and Gangs Of Wasseypur were timely reminders on how the characters who are soldiers also have and crave a life outside their assigned areas in the war zone. The conversation carries on for a good couple of minutes, expertly switching POVs until the protagonist gets a call from his wife, before the ambuish takes place. And the ambuish continues while the phone call is on – a wonderful moment created while depicting the dual life of the protagonist, one of a loyal and loving husband, and the other a loyal soldier. The sequence is also a hard depiction of the psychological impact that war may have on the members of the family while their own family member is in the middle of a war. These are the kind of grounded moments that are supremely effective in creating an ambience around the life of Major Mukund Varadarajan who was awarded the Ashoka Chakra posthumously for his heroics in 2014.
Story & Screenplay
When it does come to a biopic, the skills of the makers are always in play given that the genre comes with an added form of restriction. And to have the drama unfold like an episode out of the life of the concerned individual would often result in the drama being fragmented. While is why the transitions matter in a biopic, something that was nicely executed in Amaran. The opening sequence prepares the viewers for the inevitable even as you see the character of Indhu (a terrific Sai Pallavi) reminisce about her times with her husband and the protagonist of the film Major Mukund Vadarajan (a solid Sivakarthikeyan) who is the leader of his battalion 44 Rashtriya Rifles. The scene soon transitions into a sort of a flashback wherein you are introduced to the protagonist and his team who participate in a mock drill before submerging in action with the setting being a sensitive area in Kashmir. What this sequence does is set the context of the conflict while showcasing the palpable and tense situations created in Kashmir, that was far from the smooth ride that Singham had.
The writing here is mindful of the roadblocks that the drama may have in terms of the fragmentation due to the genre. As a result, it was a great creative decision to resort to a non-linear narrative to begin with while frequently jumping timelines. So soon, you are essentially at the start of the college life of Indhu even as she bumps into a quietly charming and righteous Mukund who aspires to be in the Indian Army. Their blossoming relationship is often met with a couple of roadblocks based on their religion and the occupation that Mukund wishes to pursue, while offering a deft commentary of sorts. But more importantly, this little phase highlights the emotional bond between Mukund and Indhu which would later have a huge payback. While the beats of the drama are fairly predictable in the first act, the characterization definitely takes center-stage with an underlying layer of emotions that definitely touch the strings of your heart.
The proceedings are engaging even as the mood of the drama changes to something more serious wherein Mukund is elevated to the position of a Captain while being assigned a duty to nullify the bouts of tension erupting in the state of Kashmir. But the writers never lose sight of the character dynamics that form an integral part of the narrative here. For instance, Mukund’s bond with his team is warm and infectious even while you are witness to the synergy that they possess together. Likewise, the writers also try and balance the whereabouts of Indhu during this phase and the consistent bond that she shares with Mukund, along with traces of sacrifice that both have to make at different junctures in the drama. And because the emotional quotient of the drama is so strong, automatically the energy in the combat sequences is doubled because you are always invested in the journey of the individuals in play.
The character of Indhu is the fulcrum of the story even though Mukund is the centerpoint of the story. This is because Indhu is what makes this drama grounded to reality in many ways while being an important key as far as the emotional quotient of the drama is concerned. The politics of the drama is generally restricted to the state of Kashmir and adds important context to how the drama eventually shapes up. Be it the electoral posting of Mukund that sees him separate from his family while having to perform his duty, or a little previously, an injured Mukund being protective towards his subordinate, a Kashmiri who accidently fired a bullet. These scenes may seem trivial and in the background used as fillers, but they tell an important tale about the state of politics in the region. This brought me to the moving finale act that not only did boast of a tremendous combat sequence that was tense, but it also was emotionally moving in many ways. The difference lay in its treatment that wasn’t of empathy but triumph for both Indhu and Mukund in many ways. Indhu, contrary to what she had showcased earlier in the drama was rather stoic almost imbibing the emotions as opposed to showcasing them. And that further contributed towards a deluge of emotions at the end which were bittersweet yet relisient in many ways, that absolutely hit home in the context of the drama. The screenplay is very well written and makes for a wonderful watch.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are sharp and evoke the right kind of sentiments in the drama apart from being quite authentic with the area in which the drama is set. The music is soothing and contributes beautifully towards the emotional quotient of the drama laced with wonderful lyrics by Sajeev Sarathie. Collectively, the music elevates the mood of the drama, and even the BGM is exceptional in enhancing the impact of so many scenes. The notes alternating between adrenaline pumping ones during combat sequences to something more softer along the way, adds the right amount of balance to the drama. The cinematography comprises of frames that stylishly shift POVs during the action sequences that are brilliantly choreographed with intricacy. The editing is excellent too with some brilliant transition shots that seamlessly shift from one scene to another. Be it the photo-frame that zooms enough before clipping and continuing from the point in the frame, or brilliant match cuts that offer a solid technical prowess, the editing is really good here. Director Rajkumar Periasamy does such a terrific job in unfolding the events in the celebrated life of Major Mukund with utmost sensitivity without showcasing him as a larger than life figure. The beauty of the drama lay in its treatment which was grounded and filled with emotions that ultimately made for a solid watch. The director handles his characters really well too that further enhances the drama. The direction was excellent here.
Performances
The performances are really good by members of the cast. Shyrush Zutshi as Altaf Baba and Rohman Shawl as Asif Wani are intimidating and both manage to impress. Mir Salman as Saif and Umair Ibn Lateef as Waheed are dependable and both of them have their moments to shine. Rahul Bose as Colonel Dabas delivers a subtly dignified performance while wonderfully making his presence felt. I am the happiest for Bhuvan Arora given the kind of roles that he is getting post Farzi. Here as Sepoy Vikram Singh, he definitely is excellent while utilizing his body language to perfection, and standing out amidst the crowd. Sai Pallavi has to be one of the most natural and effortless actors doing the rounds at the moment. As Indhu, she is quietly charming while adding the calming influence in the drama while being the epicenter of the emotional quotient that the film has to offer. She beautifully expresses herself in a minimalist manner that allows the viewers to absorb the underlying layer of emotions associated with her character. She was incredibly good here. I am a huge fan of Sivakarthikeyan and his choice of films be it Don, Doctor or Maaveeran. I would compare him to Nani with an equally tall screen presence while seamlessly adapting to various characters that he portrays. Here too as Major Mukund Varadarajan, he has a towering presence and an amazing personality to showcase that automatically is half the battle won. But his acting chops are incredible too while showcasing a depth of emotions and excelling in combat sequences. This was a brilliant outing by him.
Conclusion
Amaran is a rousing salute to an immortal braveheart packaged in a bittersweet drama laced with sincerity and emotions that makes for an excellent watch. Available in a theatre near you and Highly Recommended!
