- Date of Release: 14 January 2022
- Genre: Drama, Anthology
- Language: Tamil
- Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
Puthum Pudhu Kaalai: Vidiyaadhaa
RATING
Introduction
Onto the final release of the weekend in what turned out to be a laborous Sunday. First it was the Hindi series Human which took considerable amount of time to watch and pen its review. And now I am following up with the new Tamil series Puthum Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa on Amazon Prime. This makes it the first anthology to release in the new year. With another one lined up next week, the anthology as a genre is alive and kicking. So then is Puthum Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa worth your time, stay tuned.
Story & Screenplay
Puthum Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa comprises of 5 heartfelt and relatable stories told against the background of Covid. The pandemic as you know has made us change our lifestyles and with it brought us loneliness, emptiness yet a mirror on the lives which we had been leading this far. And all of these lingering emotions are packaged in each of the five stories.
The first short Mugakavasa Mutham is probably the lighest of all the shorts. A cute love story between two police officials amidst the pandemic makes for a heartwarming watch. The screenplay is breezy throughout.
The second short Loners(I won’t reveal too much about it) is much more complex in its storytelling bringing out emotions of pathos and repent in the most poetic form. The casual interactions are often what we just need at the end of the day. A brilliant one here!
The third short Mouname Paarvaiyaal begins on a light note featuring a couple who haven’t be3n talking for years until the pandemic in a strange way improves their communication. The story is heartfelt with a heartwarming screenplay that leaves a smile on your face.
The fourth short The Mask(again concealing the story) is the story of self realisation thereby being very progressive in its natration. The clever metaphor here is very effective in conveying the ultimate message which is relevant but unfortunately looked down upon.
The fifth short and my favourite is Nizhal Tharum Idham which follows the story of a 30 year old woman who repents not giving time to her father while being busy with work. This is wonderfully self reflective and extremely emotional which would definitely tug the strings of your heart. Beautifully poignant, wonderfully penned.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational in 4 out of the 5 stories whereas the 3rd story has almost no dialogues. Yet all of them are able to communicate the final message beautifully. The music is excellent particularly in the 1st, 2nd and 5th story. The BGM blends well with each of the five stories. Balaji Rao who directed the first short has done a pretty good job. The lighness in the drama works very well here. Halitha Shameen who directed the second short is able to wonderfully craft the complex emotions and break them up bit by bit. The direction was exceptional here. Director Madhumitha who has directed the third short is successfully able to communicate her vision despite the lack of dialogues. This was a risky proposition but she does a swell job here. Director Surya Krishnan who has directed the fourth short handles the delicate subject with utmost sensitivity. Richard Anthony, the director of the fifth short gives the subject such a relatable touch that after a point the film begins to speak to you. Absolutely brilliant!
Performances
The performances are excellent here. Gouri Kishan, Teejay Arunasalam and Kallori Vinoth are exceptional with the former two having a cute vibe to them. Lijomol Jose and Arjun Das who represent two broken souls are wonderfully heartfelt and they feed off each other beautifully thereby filling up their void with so many emotions. Joju George and Nadia Moidu have the toughest role as they have no dialogues to play with. Yet they are exceptional and even subtle nuances and glances, they are able to successfully communicate the message. Sananth, Arun Kurian and Dhillip Subbrayan are the heroes of the fourth short. Their performances are wonderfully restrained and they manage to hold your attention. But my favourite is Aishwarya Lekshmi who certain did make me shed a tear in the final short. Such a beautifully enacted part, she definitely makes you feel every bit of the emotions in play. This was indeed an acting masterclass!
Conclusion
Puthum Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa is a feel good and heartfelt anthology that deserves some love! Available on Amazon Prime.