There are very few movies that stand the test of time and remain as relevant and as good as they were at the time of their release. This is one such movie. If you only have the time, the opportunity or the inclination to watch only two Indian movies in your entire lifetime, watch this one twice. There are many truly great things about this movie and my ability to adequately express this movie's greatness is constrained by my limited vocabulary.
The story is simple and the simplicity of the storytelling makes it engaging and more effective in underscoring the theme of this masterpiece. The relationship between the protagonists in this story, as some have pointed out, is not just a relationship between a teacher and student. Neither is it one of an admirer and an artist. Nor is it one of a devotee and a deity. It is an ineffable love, a pure platonic affection, an ardor that exists between two people who understand each other at their very essence. As Ayn Rand puts it, it " is reverence, and worship, and glory, and the upward glance. "
The actors are exceptional in their parts. The director is an auteur. It takes special skill to take something so simple and make it a sublime piece of art. He makes even the moments of silence in this movie so poignant. It must be mentioned that the female protagonist ( calling her a heroine is trite and inadequate ) does not speak a single word to the male protagonist but you do not notice it.
The director, during the opening credits, in a voice over, talks about this movie being a humble effort to extol the beauty and majesty of traditional Carnatic music. He was being modest - the music of this movie is exceptionally well written and composed. It celebrates everything that is good and true about Indian Music. The vocals by SP Bala Subramaniam, Vani Jayaram and S Janaki are par excellence.
Good Art - Books, Music, Movies, Sculpture, Painting - whatever the medium usually is nuanced, layered, multifaceted and multi-dimensional. Repeated viewings usually show you something new or something old in a new light. This movie lends itself to repeated viewings not just because of the timeless appeal of its story, but also because you discover something new or rediscover what makes it special every time you watch it.
The story is simple and the simplicity of the storytelling makes it engaging and more effective in underscoring the theme of this masterpiece. The relationship between the protagonists in this story, as some have pointed out, is not just a relationship between a teacher and student. Neither is it one of an admirer and an artist. Nor is it one of a devotee and a deity. It is an ineffable love, a pure platonic affection, an ardor that exists between two people who understand each other at their very essence. As Ayn Rand puts it, it " is reverence, and worship, and glory, and the upward glance. "
The actors are exceptional in their parts. The director is an auteur. It takes special skill to take something so simple and make it a sublime piece of art. He makes even the moments of silence in this movie so poignant. It must be mentioned that the female protagonist ( calling her a heroine is trite and inadequate ) does not speak a single word to the male protagonist but you do not notice it.
The director, during the opening credits, in a voice over, talks about this movie being a humble effort to extol the beauty and majesty of traditional Carnatic music. He was being modest - the music of this movie is exceptionally well written and composed. It celebrates everything that is good and true about Indian Music. The vocals by SP Bala Subramaniam, Vani Jayaram and S Janaki are par excellence.
Good Art - Books, Music, Movies, Sculpture, Painting - whatever the medium usually is nuanced, layered, multifaceted and multi-dimensional. Repeated viewings usually show you something new or something old in a new light. This movie lends itself to repeated viewings not just because of the timeless appeal of its story, but also because you discover something new or rediscover what makes it special every time you watch it.