Searching yourselves in search of gold-Thangalaan Movie Review(Real Impact-P12)-Story of a tribal leader who found his lost roots from gold traces...

In the midst of my done and dusted sleep cycle post night shift, I decided to go to watch the movie Thangalaan(The son of Gold) with my pack.So when I  reached the theatre @ 3.30 pm and due to inadequate collections for the movie, it was replaced with Raayan(Dhanush50) and the next show was @7.30 pm.

The movie judged my temper as well as my mindset whether it was worth to watch or not before watching it in these situation. So I waited till 7.30pm and started watching the show.

What should be done before watching the movie?

Before watching the movie, make sure you unlearn the events happened in the movie *KGF(Chapter 1&2)* and it's commercial elements, because with the expectations watching Thangalaan may cause you to feel low about the movie. Thangalaan movie is a mixture of reality, adventure and fantasy which one may find it difficult or fail to understand as common audience as it deals with the real life experiences and stories based on the people of  Kolar Gold Fields who extracted the first gold mines in the year 1850 under the British rule. People may find it difficult to understand the Tamil dialect and the dialogues expressed in the movie(Make sure to watch movie with subtitles and in best audio experience theatres).Also don't expect Rocky Bhai cameo in the movie end..

What the movie actually about?

The movie is about the people of North Arcot lead by Thangalaan (Chiyaan Vikram)whose lives were devasted working as slaves for generations in their own lands under the debt bondage of the landlords who kept their lands as a collateral/asset for their debts.In the midst of these problems, British officers approach them for the search of Gold and promises them the necessary shares for their work.During the search, the crew earns the wrath of a sorceress Aarathi (Malavika Mohanan) who tries to stop them by placing many traps with her sorcery. Her role was to protect the land resources at any cost.The whole movie was about how Thangalaan found himself in the process of finding the Gold traces in the rocks forms the rest of the story.

This Film speaks about the past births, reincarnation of the lead characters(which Pa.Ranjith may have expressed how the mindset of the people changed generation after generation forgetting the roots of oneself as a result of extreme dominance and oppression by the invaders as well as the dominant communities.*(in my POV)*). It also speaks about the casteism, discrimination and how the native people were oppressed and made to work as slaves for thousands of years..

The Buddha statue shown in the movie plays a major role in the movie plot depicting our long lost roots connected with the people in the movie.

A scene in which Vikram buys and gives blouses to the women in his tribe depicts how the role of dress plays a major socio-political impact in the people belonging to the oppressed community. The scene reminds me of Nangeli's story who cut off her breast in exchange of  tax for coverage of breast imposed by the zamindars in Pre-British era. Further the Minikki Minikki song after the blouse scene has a very honest celebration fulfilling women's basic  needs and rights creates a huge impact for me than ' Celebration of Life'  in Ayirathil Oruvan movie..(Both movies are composed by G.V.Prakash Kumar)

Many scenes reminds me of different movies, the traps set during the search(as mentioned above) reminds me of Ayirathil Oruvan, a scene where Vikram shows his anger towards a rock reminds me of the movie Manjhi:The Mountain man.Every character in the movie have given their best ie., lived it and gave the 100% towards the movie

What kind of impact the movie give to audience after stepping out of the theatre?

The movie may be interesting and marvelous for someone,  artistic experience for someone and even could  lead us to a big political debate about the Nagas(later called Dravidians)who actually worked in the field who were oppressed by the Britishers, Kings and the dominants. Added point of famous Ambedkar quote says "The history of India is nothing but a history of a mortal conflict between Buddhism and Brahminism." Which is an easter egg to the movie plot.

My take home message of this movie was without an answer you will not be able to sustain in the society...you will hide yourself in someone's shoes which could even lead a generational curse. You are the answer to the questions framed by you.

Thangalaan is a worthy watch for me. Have a visit to the theatres for an amazing experience to the search by the "Son of Gold"

Regards-

Prithish Sukumar