What Is the Story About?
Mathi (Andrea Jeremiah) leads a happy life and will soon be wed to a dream husband. Her life is shattered when she attends a co-worker’s wedding out of the station. She is raped and left alone in a forest area.
What does Mathi do? How do the police react? And finally, the movie’s overall story reveals the real culprits and the family’s reaction to the incident.
Performances?
Andrea Jeremiah gives a restrained and believable performance as Mathi. It will be, without any doubt, among her best acts as a performer. The role goes well with her persona, which is that of a confident modern woman. It does look a little rooted for her in parts, but she overcomes the urbanness and delivers the necessary. The character offers her various shades of fear, breakdown, anger, and disgust, and Andrea does them well.
Analysis
R Kaiser Anand writes and directs Anel Meley Pani Thuli. It is a realistic drama about a rape victim and her actions to get justice and feel better about herself.
The narrative is a straightforward one with little twists along the way. The beginning sets things up for the investigative angle in the middle until the real revelation.
The story, therefore, takes off only after the gruesome incident takes place. We only see the before and aftermath of the incident, and the goriness related to it is only invoked through the words. It is nicely done, and kudos to the team for going this way instead of going the routine by showing the details.
It also makes sense because there is a twist related to it, which might not have worked out when taking a routine approach. However, it also leaves one puzzled when revealed as if done for shock and tick out all the boxes where a message needs to be delivered.
The setup, the red herrings related to it and the beginning of the investigation, despite issues (at the start), feel organic to the flow. What happens post the twist doesn’t seem connected to the incidents before and looks like a different story altogether, which makes one wonder if two different stories were stitched together. There is a little jarring effect, but the drama is powerful and takes over eventually.
Then there is a scene involving a higher police official, a female. Her action after the revelation by the victim doesn’t look logical. It seems to be put in place only to amplify and overplay the issue further and highlight ‘another’ message related to rape crimes. While the end serves the message, the means to achieve it ‘despite the gravity and harrowing nature’ lack a natural flow writing-wise. It is as if the future is pre-decided, and the whole thing has been re-engineered to reach an intended conclusion.
Such reverse-engineering work in the story is the biggest issue with Anel Meley Pani Thuli. It makes parts look formulaic even though honesty and sincerity are brimming. Leave that aside, and it is grippingly executed and well-acted. The message, as always, is pertinent.
Overall, Anel Meley Pani Thuli is a gripping drama centred on a rape victim. It is intense in parts and delivers a sensitive message without over-the-top moments. If you like realistic dramas with a serious issue at their heart, give it a try.
Other Artists?
The supporting actors are good in Anel Meley Pani Thuli. The seniors Azhagam Perumal and Ilavarasu are dependable as usual. They depict the necessary without going overboard in their acting. Anupama Kumar is alright for the limited time she appears. Aadhav Kannadasan as the supportive fiance, is neat. The rest of the actors have more minor roles but do well in what’s given to them.
Music and Other Departments?
Santhosh Narayanan’s music goes well with the mood of the film. The songs aren’t particularly memorable, even though they have likeable parts. The background score is better and elevates the proceedings at critical junctures. R Velraj’s cinematography is good. The police station scenes are well-shot, maintaining a natural and intense tone. The editing is smooth, but some parts could have been further tightened. The writing is fine.
Highlights?
Performances
Message
BGM
Direction
Drawbacks?
Turns Formulaic In Parts
Beginning
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes
Anel Meley Pani Thuli Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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