Vaazhai

One of the best movies in 2024 - Definitely a much watch movie to understand the happiness of simple things in life with the pain of poverty and hunger mixed.

The real success of this movie is - you get connected and corelate your life if you have crossed hardship in life. The movie will make you to self examine your self with regards to how you cross every news.

Food waste is a major problem in many countries, this movie will show the importance of food.

Oscar material - definitely this movie can be nominated to International nominations. Kudos to director for giving us this "BEST MOVIE - Vaazhai"

RATED 7/10 Language: Tamil Media Partner: Hotstar Source: Nil

The movie has powerful and highly impacting climax. The complete story is (very) slowly moving towards that climax portion. All these slow narration adding more impact for the climax. But one point of time you will get bored with the lengthy shots and unnecessary stretch of some scene sequences.

This movie definitely lack the eventful screenplay of "Pariyerum perumal". There is not much events in the first half and most of the events are get windup in second half only. I almost went to snooze state when "panchu mittai" song stretches, but the next scene its stunning....

Bear the slow and uneventful narration for the climax....

This movie is about Sivanaindhan, a school student who is forced to work at weekends and holidays as a labourer to carry heavy banana bunches to pay his family's debt. The movie covers Sivanaidhan's friendship, his crush on a teacher, the state of villagers relying on only one job and the exploitation by the owner.

The movie starts with a serious flashforward scene of the movie's conflict. The school sequences, the fights and the unity between Sivanaidhan and his friend Sekhar, Sivanaidhan's infatuation towards his Teacher Poongodi, and the love scenes of Kani and Vembu were written as if in a slice-of-life movie. The attempt of Sivanaidhan and his friend Sekhar to avoid going to labour work was funny as well, as it shows how badly they hated it.

The conflicts were written as whenever Sivanaidhan does something for his joy it reverts to him negatively. I set my mind that something bad was going to happen as I saw the characters were happy for some time. The movie shows how the poor are being exploited without proper pay and treated poorly by the owners and middlemen. The movie gets darker by the climax. All the emotions were high in the movie, as required. The movie is good in every aspect.

Mari Selvaraj did a great job in crafting the true incident into a story of a schoolboy and then as a movie. Respect for him goes up, and I have high expectations for his next movie. The two boys who played Sivanaidhan and Sekhar did very well in their roles as debut actors. Other actors were good too as they played their roles well in the movie. The cinematography and composition were good. The music and songs play a vital role in this film to give a fulfilling experience.

In conclusion, I love this movie. It has had a huge impact on me. I would suggest everyone to watch this at least once.

Very Good movie based on real events .I can say that the best movie from Mari Selvaraj. No politics like his earlier movies. Only real story with some movie element to make you engaged .The cinematography and music is top notch If you are somewhat familiar with the life in villages, you will definitely love this movie. If you lived your entire life in cities like Chennai you may not connect with this movie. No powerful mainstream hero, duet songs and typical fight scene. You will love the portrayal of lifestyle in southern districts in Tamilnadu in 1980s. The inclusion of movie songs from that era is beautiful. The only concern to me was overloaded emotion.

Vaazhai is more than just a film and those who have experienced it knows it leaves a mark - a film that is psychologically draining yet ultimately heartwarming coming-of-age journey that evokes smiles but with a heavy heart. It is a remarkable film from threads of real life events from director Mari Selvaraj's own life.

It follows the arduous journey of young Sivanaindhan, living with his mother and sister in the idyllic yet challenging village of Puliyankulam near Tirunelveli. He and his best friend Sekar navigate the treacherous terrain of poverty, a relentless cycle of labor mirroring the hardships. Sivanaindhan has a morbid wish, might sound messed up but he hopes that someone in the village passes away daily so he can avoid the laborious task of lugging. The banter between both about Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth is sure to elicit laughter from audiences and this adds a layer of humor to the film.

However, amidst the harsh realities, a delicate beauty unfolds. Despite the weight of existence, Sivanaindhan remains steadfast in his studies, finding solace in the gentle gaze of teacher Poongkodi.

Furthermore, Sivanaindhan's obsession with Poongkoodi reaches new heights as he not only sniffs her handkerchief and hums songs named after her but also accompanies her on her daily errands, such as visiting the rice mill. This is like a beacon of hope for the young Sivanaindhan who doesn't want to miss school amidst the tempest of life that demands he carry banana plantains to repay the debt of his late Father. The film's emotional climax and surreal imagery are hallmarks of Mari Selvaraj's distinctive style. The director skillfully employs a raw sequence involving paper cuttings to reveal the true incident.

Mari Selvaraj, a master storyteller, paints a vivid portrait of childhood with a fine balance between nature's elements and the village's intricate caste dynamics. The cinematography captures the beauty and the brutality of rural life with equal poignancy. Additionally, Mari Selvaraj's approach to the film's intermission was particularly noteworthy. Instead of relying on the conventional template, he opted for a more retro-inspired cinematic technique, utilizing on-screen text to echo Sivanaindhan's internal turmoil and his vow to his mother.

For some, the boy's daily life might seem mundane, and the village life, with its fights and caste divides, might appear like not an everyday affair to city dwellers. But I guarantee you that Vaazhai provides a unique perspective, showcasing the complexities of rural life that often go unnoticed as it delves deeper revealing another side of Sivanendhan's inner world. His coming-of-age experiences, a delicate blend of joy and sorrow, which will be rewarding for those seeking a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant cinematic experience.