Paradesi

Paradesi (2013) Review: Joining the genre of adapted screen play "Paradesi" opens up as an authentic period play. This is a true story adapted from a Tamil novel named "Eriyum Panikadu" which is the Tamil version of the novel named "Red Tea". Bala has given us yet another close to nature realistic story of the natives of Saalur village. The story line time travels back to the year 1930 when the British government basically involved in the business of tea plantation. The entire movie shows how Indians have been brutalized by the British lords. Director Bala has depicted clearly about the slavery treatment and the harassment in all forms may it be to the sexual abuse or the merciless punishments and thrashing the Indian slave employees. Interestingly we also observe how in those days poverty was taken advantage for religious conversion. Director Bala for sure has done tremendous research to showcase this film.

After the king maker the director let us see how casting has helped out in this movie. Coming to the lead role by Adharva Murali has shown such matured acting in the role of Raasa allies Otti Poriki. He has lived the role and it shows how he has been moulded by the director. He can now proudly join the "Bala stars Band wagon" along with Vikram, Surya,Aarya and Vishal. The lead ladies done by Dhanshika and Vedhika C Kumar, both of them have done picture perfect.Dhanshika reminds us of Muthalagu with her commanding base voice tone and Vedhika did perfect on her role but could have maintained her tanned look evenly throughout the movie. Other small 200 characters has lived really and added strong basement to the story. Special mention would be the newly married couple. Dialogues by the Ace Tamil writer Naanjil Naadan were too raw in certain places. BGM has been a definite plus to add the grieving silence in the movie and songs as well by GV. Very nice cinematography to show the period colour on celluloid. The editing was little dragging towards the end. Verdict: On the whole get in for a 2hour 5 mins film stripping and showcasing the black pages of Indian history.

Reviewed by Sivakumar Balachandran

(bsiva84@gmail.com)

Im New to Tamil movies and I've heard bala sir's name during the release of Naan Kadavul .I've never watched any of his movies before, but heard a lot. Coming to Paradesi , All i would say is Wow. The story is inspired from the Novel "Red Tea" By Paul Harris, Which explains about the life of innocent people from the villages, who were cheated that they would be paid high wages for their work but sadly they are being abused. Bala sir have been writing his own scripts for his movies but now he made this novel as a movie. To all the people out there, This ain't called Copying. No one can Deliver this story as perfect as bala sir. He did it exceptionally well in the direction part. Some May think that the climax could've been well, Like the hero Fighting against the British, Escaping from the place , Blah blah blah , like the other stupid action movies. Don't be stupid people! bala sir has just finished the movie so well, because Do you think a Slave can fight against the Huge men ? And the British? You think its possible? C'mon he's not Chuck norris. The way he delivered the story, the way he made his actors act , the way he made the movie , cannot be done by the other directors, No Offence! Hats off to bala sir for his exceptional work. I wish he gives us more quality movies like this rather than doing commercial movies. he never did commercial, but He Shouldn't do either. We want movies like this from you. I'm speechless after watching Paradesi !

Well I blame this on IBDB because the rating does not mean where it should be based on,either directing ,acting or any other thing.

But my problem with this film is what is it trying to prove, an issue with British rule, the Barbaric rule and acts of Indian origin administrators, the not united acts of Indian at the time.May be its because they were influenced by British but it doesn't justify acts of Indians, like not releasing labours and not giving wages or medicine.I see only 10 minutes of British ignorant about there workers in the film. Almost all the other time about Indians acting against their own. Fooling Indians to work without pay, acting as a Doctor,cutting the nerve of Rasa, Not been united when been attacked. To name a few. Yes British was barbaric but why doesn't it come out from the film. Yes it has some message but I don't know which one is it.

A milestone in Tamil cinema! Bala has done complete justice to the story and plot he has chosen to showcase.A movie that will make you travel with every character for almost 2 hours and for sure at some point you will feel you are in the same world they are in, which itself is enough to say why Bala is a master of story teller. Bala has told this story about the Indian slaves in tea estate in his usual style - raw and rustic, not compromising his views for any commercial reasons, very daring particularly when portraying the intentions of Christian missionaries. Whatever he wanted his viewers to feel, he achieved with his perfection Every artist in this movie, we must say, has lived their character.Lead character in this movie is just one among the slaves, a innocent who cant even stand for himself, leads a lowerly life of waiting for food and his own independence most of his time. Bala just thrashes the formula we held ourselves for movies and heroes once again. Music, cinematography adds strength to the movie I personally feel Bala's best is yet to come. Eagerly awaiting his next one

We can try this movie just for the director Bala, he is one of the finest director in the world. Why bala is special from other directors in this world is because even if you give him a road side fellow he is capable of transforming him as a best actor.

Coming to the movie, right from the starting till end it has been taken very neatly. The movie starts with lots of joy where the people in a small dry village where leading their life happily. Then comes a cold blooded snake who will take all men and followed by their women to work as slaves in a tea estates, the rest of the movie shows how their life turn out to be a hell.

There are many hidden facts in this movie.

Wonderful casting, very good cinematography, outstanding costumes, marvelous acting.

Please try bala's other top notch movies like PITHAMAGAN, NAAN KADAVUL, NANDHA, SETHU.