Pudhupettai (2006)

Cast: Dhanush, Sneha, Sonia Aggarwal, Bala Singh, Azhagam Perumal, bala singh etc.

Plot and Summary:

Pudhupettai is a Tamil gangster drama flick directed by Selvaragavan. It is about the life of 'Kokki' kumar, his rise from a beggar to a political leader told as a retrospective from a jail cell, The film starts with Kokki Kumar's (Dhanush) narration. Kumar is a school kid who returns one day to find his mother murdered by his dad,  Afraid of his Dad he flees his home and starts to beg in a railway station. Suddenly he is caught by the police for cocain trafficking, which leads him to join Anbu's( Bala Singh) gang. The rest of the film follows Kumar's life , how he transforms from a kid, to a man who is respected and feared by all and finally into a mad man.

This film can be considered as one of the most complex films which Selavaragavan has ever made, although all of his films have a complex characterisation and emotions. Pudhupettai is more relatable and convincing. The first half of the film is about how Kumar transforms from a school kid to a Local thug, Selvaragavan beautifully shows how his innocence is broken down by exposing Kumar's to the realities of the brutal world , In scene's where he cries and goes into the police van when the cops mistake him for a cocain trafficker.

His actual transformation happens when Kumar and his gang members get stuck in an opposition's place and are outnumbered. Only Kumar gets caught with 100 other people surrounding him, He is sure to get killed, It is here, Selvaragavan exposes Dhanush's dark  (the music suggests even demonic) trait. he kills one of the opposition with a single blow and becomes a legend in their place. At many places in the movie whenever Kumar is pushed to a extreme, either emotionally or physically ,all is reduced to a single instinct - survival (very much relating to the caption of the film).

There are two female leeds in the film Kishnaveni(Sneha) and  Selvi (Sonia Aggarwal), Krishnaveni is a prostitute, a very strong character in the film. Though kumar shows affection towards her until the very end of the film, we don't really understand if Kumar loves Krishnaveni or is it just an instinct of possession.  He never marries her, only after he finds out that she is bearing his child he agrees ro marry her, Even at the near end of the film when Krishnaveni asks him "Why didn't you doubt that this might be someone else's child, Do you have so much faith in me? ". Kumar controls his pain and says yes, his real intentions are not very clear even here.

The second part of the film is where Kumar is consumed by power, and how that destroys his family. The narrative stops in between and Kumar introspects and gives reason for his doings in between. In a way Selvaragan portrays how Kumar becomes a mad man finally, a man consumed by greed for power. It starts when he forcefully marries Selvi at  her marriage function. There are many inspirations drawn from " The Godfather", the scene when Dhanush pleads in the courtroom saying that "Selvi will die" and the scene when Kumar's team members kill all of their opponents in a single scene.

Finally the Politcal involvement comes to the film, It is a point when Kumar sets to ask for a higher position in his leader - Anbazhagan's (Azhagan Perumal) party, In  frustration he raises his weapon. he is mocked by all the other party members,  He is thrown out of the party and his wife flees away and he finally ends up throwing away his kid in a dustbin. The narration ends and police take kumar away, possibly to kill him we presume.

The final scene describes what seems to be a Selvaragavan's joke to the indian political system. After killing is opponent Leader, Kumar becomes his replacement and as the credits roll out he gives a big talk about how a great and generous the opponent was, How familiar this might be, What were the directors intentions? All is really a mystery.

Verdict:

Pudupettai is the third film where Dhanush and Selvaragavan work together after Thulluvatho Ilamai and Kadhal Kondaen, It is the film which i could say moulded Dhanush's character into a serious one. The music in the film also needs a special mention, Yuvan- Selvaragan combo has always worked and in the film it is on another level. From the intro of Kokki Kumar to " Oru Naalail" , this album will be remembered for a long time for the soul stirring music. The cinematography is very unique in the film, though it could have been better. there is use of graphics in many places, Every time Kumar transforms emotionally as a animal.

Finally I would say Pudhupettai as a masterpiece, though Many of Selva's films are hard to follow at times, Pudhupettai is relatable and convincing. One of the greatest performances of Dhanush till date.