Bharathi

I did not know anything about Subbayya Bharathi before seeing this, so it was enlightening to get a nice background on an important figure in Indian history. For one, it might help Western audiences get a more nuanced picture of the independence movement in India, as I think too often we think of it as a one man struggle (Gandhi).

As for artistic merit, this film certainly has some weaknesses. It doesn't particularly capture the period (turn of century). It also focuses almost entirely on Bharathi's family and personal problems, so if you are interested in his literary or political thought, this is actually not a very good source. I understand some Tamil critics were annoyed at this. Still, I think they did do a nice job of presenting the alienation of the social reformer in a culture still quite bound by notions of caste and gender roles. The relationship between Bharathi and his wife was particularly complex and compelling, I thought.

On a final note, the film is a bit overlong at 150 minutes. You are carried along for the most part, but the musical interludes (standard Indian fare) will probably seem silly and dragged out to western audiences.

Rarely has a better movie been made about an Indian freedom fighter.Brilliant acting,art direction,music,cinematography,this one has it all!!..this movie takes us into the life of a mercurial genius and makes us stay with him,laugh with him and suffer with him.The actors give once in a lifetime performances..Shayaji Shinde as Bharathi is so amazing he makes Ben Kingsley look like an amateur..A Bengali playing a tamil poet(and playing a firebrand like Bharathi) so realistically!!His eyes light up with the fervor that one has come to associate with Bharathi,his face portrays a whole gamut of emotions..the frustration,the joie de vivre,the sadness,everything that Bharathi went through..Devyani complements him brilliantly as Chellama. As a poet,Bharathi stands right up there with Shelly and Keats..but he was never given the recognition hes deserved when he was alive('a diamond in the dust'says one character)..To see him struggling to pay for his daughter's medication,questioning his faith in god,beating his wife and then being made to realize the idiocy of the act by Annie Besant..we are shown a flawed but entirely human maven ..Often Indian biopics(especially those of freedom fighters) tend to potray a larger than life image of the protagonists...Not Bharathi.. The end (with nallodhor veenai in the background) makes you shed tears..and therein lies the success of this movie

I watched this movie twice, I remember reading about Bharathi when I was 13yr old as part of tamil language. This movie reminded me quite a bit of my understanding of what rebel means (it was soothing and a best role model for teenagers...our class use to debate about this character...)

I loved the movie, great cast, best

a. Love Story b. Patriot Story c. Poet Story d. Social History

I love the character of "what ever it takes".......... Every culture should see this and encourage their thought leaders.........

Two thumbs-up to whole cast crew and production crew....

Don't miss to see this....... - Amar.