Spoiler Alert: This post contains surprises you may come across when you watch Meiyazhagan . If you haven’t watched the film, and plan to do so, you may want to skip this post.
Watched what: Meiyazhagan
Watched where: Netflix
Language: Tamil (language and subtitle options available)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 2 hours 58 minutes
Cast: Arvind Swamy. Karthi. Various others.
What is Meiyazhagan about?
Arulmozhi (Arvind Swami) is a disgruntled man at war with himself. He lives with his family, feeds a multitude of parrots every day, and is weighed down by a 20-year-old family grudge. Under the pressure of emotional blackmail, he agrees to attend the wedding of his favorite cousin in the town that he has avoided for 20 years. The town he grew up in and where everything he loved was taken away from him due to a family feud. Arul plans to meet the bride and groom, give them his gift, and leave before he encounters the relatives he feels a deep resentment towards.
At the wedding, Arul encounters a happy, go-lucky young man (Karthi) who knows him and everything about him. This young man even seems to know everyone, from the caterer to the bride, her family, and Arul’s Uncle. Before he realizes it, a baffled Arul is being escorted around by the young man who is such a stranger to him that Arul doesn’t even know his name.
In no time, the young man has Arul smiling and relaxed, convincing him to stay back for the night and spend it in his house. Guilt gnaws heavily at Arul, who can’t remember who this man is or what his name is.
What did I think of Meiyazhagan?
The beauty of the film Meiyazhagan lies in its simplicity. A thoughtful script, elevated by a superlative performance by Karthi, ably supported by Arvind Swamy and the supporting cast.
Karthi’s innocence, warmth towards everyone he meets, including animals, and his awe and respect for Arul warm your heart towards him. His eagerness to please without compromising his respect and his belief in humanity makes his character shine.
As Karthi starts prodding Arul’s memory, he takes him back to when he was a teenager, and Karthi, a child then, visited him with his family. Arul, who has no recollection of even meeting Karthi, is amazed to discover that the kindness and love he showed towards little Karthi shaped how that child chose to lead his life as an adult. The warmth and generosity of a teenaged Arul made the child that Karthi was look up to him and emulate him through his own life.
An embittered Arul finds himself letting down his guard and encountering the version of himself Karthi recalls so evocatively.
When Karthi reveals that he plans to name his soon-to-be-born child – Arulmozhi, Arul finds the last of his defenses melt away even as shame at not even knowing Karthi’s name makes its presence felt. Karthi then requests Arul to bless him and his wife by taking their names the next morning, Arul is left contrite, to counter which he slips away quietly into the night without bidding the sleeping Karthi or his wife goodbye.
This heartwarming film makes one realize that our ego fans our devils, keeping them alive even as they eat away at us. That distrust leads one to miss the goodness in people and good people. That grudges not only hold us down, but the weight of them cripples us into misshapen selves who don’t, instead can’t, fit in anywhere. That hatred forms shackles that bind us to people we are trying to distance ourselves from. That forgiveness is crucial because it sets us free. That a pure heart sees purity in every heart.
Meiyazhagan was a beautiful watch. It made me smile, it made me laugh, it left me misty-eyed, and it made me introspect. The lessons I learned from this film will stay with me for a long time. My biggest takeaway from Meiyazhagan was that a kindness done is never lost, like your luggage on a baggage carousel it may pass you by once, but it will always return to you.
***** Five Stars to Meiyazhagan
*M’s Rating Chart.
* I want my money back + a fully booked and paid 3 month trip to _________(please fill in a destination of choice)
** I don’t want my money back even though I didn’t like the movie, but director/producer may please pay for my popcorn/samosa/parking.
*** Time and money both well spent!
**** Loved it!
***** Whistle, clap, even smile at irritating neighbor-who-kept-talking-on-cell phone and extol the movie’s virtues.