- Date of Release: 25 January 2024
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sports
- Language: Tamil
- Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
Blue Star
Introduction
A time when people are divided on the basis of their caste and religion, one thing that unites them is undoubtedly the game of cricket! With that, I just thought of taking a small break from the watching content from around the world and heading closer to home. And so I zeroed in and finished watching the new Tamil film Blue Star which is now streaming on Amazon Prime. There were a couple of things that coaxed me into watching the film – firstly it was the game of cricketz something that I really admire and second being Ashok Selvan, a tremendous actor who I still think is underrated with the quality work that he does. It was sometime back that I had watched his film Por Thozhil and absolutely adored it and Ashok himself delivered an understated performance which wasn’t over the top and hence left a lasting impact. Something told me that here is an actor who understands the world around him very well and only reacts to the situation that his character finds himself in. And that is something that I was expecting from the film Blue Star which was also presented by Pa Ranjith. So then does Blue Star manage to impress, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
Set in the 90s, Blue Star follows the story of two rivals of a village who need to put aside their differences with respect to their caste, and join hands for a cricket match against a strong opponent. The story here is refreshing simply because it goes far beyond the sport of cricket which itself is a metaphor for life. Sports dramas are usually tricky given that they follow a fixed trajectory, and it is their predictability that often poses as a challenge to the overall experience. And hence, you need to build a world and throw in some interesting characters which would eventually rise above the predictability and make the drama engaging. That is exactly what is served here in a drama that touches upon the politics of the land with respect to the caste while also imparting an important message of unity over the course of its screenplay that stands at a whopping length of 160 odd minutes but never feels heavy with its runtime.
The drama is quick to give a quick context to the viewers on being centered around cricket while introducing the two protagonists of the village, two characters from rival groups who have not been on the same page as far as playing the sport at an assigned area is concerned. Amidst a budding love story, you are given context of their animosity that also had an undercurrent of casteism waiting to pop up every single time. The two protagonists having grown up in the hostile environment often do not see eye to eye, something that reaches a crescendo while challenging each other(and their respective teams) for a game of cricket. This until a turn of events prompts them to join hands against a powerful opponent which is a conflict in itself.
The proceedings are engaging and at no point do the events get preachy or weigh the film down. There is a certain light handedness with which the drama is treated that allows the narrative to consistently make an impact. Yes, cricket as a sport does take centerstage but the underlying layers of caste along with the hierarchy that the village follows with respect to the financial condition of the characters is also nicely highlighted. Cricket as a sport is a great leveller and there is so much to learn from it, one thing that we all could agree with is that it teaches us unity which in context of this film is really important.
On the little downside, I did feel that the cricket portions could have been fleshed out a little more to give a feeling of watching an actual cricket match. Those portions needed a little more drama although the sequences were indeed exciting. I did feel that the conflicts in the second half were slightly understated but it wasn’t necessarily bad. In fact, the added a subtle flavour to the proceedings that infused it with freshness up until the final act. My criticism about the final act though was that it was a tad too simplistic and the tensions didn’t quite peak, this while the final match itself felt a little abrupt along with an issue with its staging. But overall, the screenplay is quite well written and adds a refreshing spin to the traditional sports drama.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational but also give a distinct flavour of the theme of the film that revolved around cricket and the hierarchial caste divide, something that leaves a lasting impression. The music here is outstanding and the songs are not only melodious but also are well integrated in the drama, so much so that they don’t stall the flow of the drama. The BGM is pulsating and simply phenomenal, something that keeps you on your toes throughout. The cinematography is excellent and captures the vibe of the drama perfectly through its frames, even capturing the cricketing portions quite effectively. The editing hides some of the flaws of the staging of cricket matches with some well edited sequences of cricket that keep you on the edge. The production design deserves a mention for the amount of detailing that they integrated in the drama. For instance, the V 500 English willow bat which was a vibe in the 90s, is seen here just to give the 90s vibe. Director S Jayakumar does a fine job here in creating a world and connecting it with some well written characters and the sport of cricket. I think he briefly falters in the staging of the finale act with respect to fleshing out the conflicts but taking nothing away from the control that he showcases throughout the film that did establish his prowess as a director. The direction was pretty good here.
Performances
The performances are excellent by the ensemble cast. Saju Navodaya as Bullet Babu is a lot of fun to witness with his crazy antics but the writers also give him an earnest arc at the end which was great to witness. Lizzue Anthony and Kumaravel as Ranjith’s parents have their moments to shine. Dhivya Duraisamy as Thenmozhil is quite impressive despite a limited screen time. Keerthi Pandian as Anandhi has a terrific screen presence and her chemistry with the character of Ranjith was quite infectious. Prithvi as Sam is wonderful as well in a stunning job done. Bagavathi Perumal as Emmanuel delivers a sincere and an earnest performance that makes his character affable. Shanthnu Bhagyaraj as is outstanding here with his body language as well, and he pulls off his character arc so efficiently. Ashok Selvan as Ranjith delivers another powerful performance while excelling once again with his expressions. His chemistry or should I say bromance with Shanthnu is tremendous, and something that grows on the you while making you root for them throughout. Another stellar act by a very talented performer.
Conclusion
Blue Star is a powerful drama on cricket with undertones of casteism and boasting of solid performances that makes for a wonderful watch. Available on Amazon Prime.