Paradesi by Bala (Review)

Story:The film is based on real life incidents that took place before independence in the 1930s. The film has been adapted from Eriyum Panikadu a Tamil translation of the 1969 novel Red Tea by Paul Harris Daniel which deals with Harris's encounters with enslaved tea plantation workers in the Madras Presidency in colonial India. Another stereotypical Bala movie with primitive characters and slow paced story with an open ended climax. Full of native speech, simplicity, savage, small community of pre-independence and thriller. Exactly the same genre with his earlier movies.

Cast: Atharva dons the role of native newspreader for his village named Rasa. Major makeover from his earlier movies. Of course Bala at his best of making handsome actors as ugly as possible. Quite a lot of scope for Atharva to show is acting skills. A job well done. His speech and body language was well polished. But it's just that we cant see much difference in terms of characterization with other lead characters in Bala's earlier movies. Nothing special or innovative.Then there is Vedhika as Atharva's lady love named Angamma. A cute character with a bubbly role. Of course this is something new for audience seeing her as Angamma since all we have seen her was as Kutty Pisaase. Danshika as maragadham, hutmate and working colleague of Atharva at tea estate. She was shown as an iron lady and a mother of a child in this movie. Her character doesn't differ much with her role in Aravaan. But still she did a very good job throughout the movie.Then we have some supporting character done by Pasupathi, Rithwika, Uday Karthik and many others. Uma Riaz Khan was said to play Atharva's mother but there was not even her shadow in that movie.

Screenplay: True bala fan would say this is a remarkable movie. but as a normal audience we will feel why is he not coming out of the shell. The same shade of story, screenplay, music taste and even cinematography. At one point I was confused whether the music done by G.V.Prakaash or Illaiyaraja. I'm sure this is the director's demand. It can be said a mixture of Pithamagan and Naan Kadavul. Ugly village people who wanted a purpose of life. It ends just like that and audience wont realize it ended. As if there is no conclusion. If there is no conclusion then why pull that story 2 hours? could have end it in 30 Minutes. Only plus point I noticed was realism. The director tried to show beat up scene, village events and the people as realistic as possible. but this not first time he had done that. All his movie has the same theme, of course it would look realistic.

Music: Composed by G.V.Prakaash Kumar. Only on song worth listening. others were just a reflection Director Bala.

Plus Point: Realism and Originality in story

Minus Point: Bala's stereotype(screenplay, music, cinematography,characters)

Verdict: Different story told in the same way. If you have patience to watch Pithamagan,Naan Kadavul, Nantha and Sethu again, then go watch it at cinema. Or else just wait for the DVD rip.