Baaram Movie Review
Baaram, an independent Tamil feature film became popular among film buffs after bagging the National Award for the Best Tamil Film, at the 66th National Film Awards. After coming a round in the film festival circuits, Baaram is all set for its theatrical release on February 21 and we have seen the film at a special preview show. Acclaimed filmmaker Vetri Maaran has presented the film under his banner of Grassroot Films, in association with SP Cinemas.
Baaram revolves around Karuppasamy (R.Raju), who is bed-ridden after meeting with an accident. Karuppasamy’s son Senthil (SP Muthukumar) refuses to get him operated at the hospital, as he feels it involves a huge process and also decides to take care of him at his home. In a few days of time, Karuppasamy passes away and things turn ugly when the mystery behind his death unravel. What is the mystery and does it get solved, forms the rest of the plot.
First things first; a big round of applause needs to be given to director Priya Krishnaswamy for taking up a premise like this, which needs to be told to the society. The film is intense and hard-hitting and leaves you with a heavy heart when you leave the theatre. The film is full of life, thanks to the natively rooted characters and their impactful performances. The mise-en-scene is maintained throughout the film and even the sounds are live in a majority of the places.The camera shakes add to the element of an eerie reality of a social evil called Thalaikoothal (literally meaning cold water head bath). The term is a euphemism for the practice of ‘mercy’ killing, where, in some parts of Tamil Nadu, the elderly are dispatched through lethal injections or pills, supposedly to end their suffering. To see how organized this crime is is alarming.
The film becomes essential viewing as it also poses an ethical dilemma for the viewers, which comes as baggage with the term ‘mercy killing’. Through her extensive research, Priya reveals that there are 26 different ways known of putting the elderly to rest. One of these is to shove mud down their throats. So aware are the aged of this practice that some even ask for mud from their own land as they believe it will grant them salvation. Then there are others who leave home so they don’t fall prey to Thalaikoothal.
The director takes an almost voyeuristic approach in her narrative. As Karuppasamy is ferried to and from the town and village, a certain carelessness for the value of life is evident. Thalaikoothal is simply an extension of this disregard for the life of the elderly.
Priya, an experienced film editor, ditches glamour to make a point through the craft of storytelling. Her artistes support her ably. R Raju, who plays Karuppasamy, is brilliant as an ailing man, who speaks little of the ill-treatment at the hands of his son and daughter-in-law. His character is bed-ridden after the accident, and Raju brings out his pain without going over the top.
Director Priya explores the untouched sides of parricide (Thalaikoothal) and she brings out some dark incidents to light, that are practiced in the name of tradition. She questions the organized crimes that happen in the rural parts of our state. A few months back, we saw a film called Karuppu Durai aka KD, which also talked about Thalaikoothal but in a light-hearted manner. Baaram is a serious take on the same practice. The parricide sequence is disturbing and that is what leaves you with an impact.
This film emphasizes on the importance of taking care of your parents and it cannot be told in a more impactful manner. Baaram will book a memorable place in Tamil cinema, along the lines of Kuttram Kadithal, ToLet, etc. Baaram is a film that has been made for the love of cinema and it needs the support of the Tamil cinema audience.
