Readers Write In #752: Meiyazhagan: Full of truth, beauty, and warmth

By Jithendar Anandan

Though he’s directed only a couple of movies, I can confidently say that Prem Kumar ranks among my top three favorite directors in Tamil cinema. Prem’s movies, just as his name, are filled with love in every frame whether it’s the tenderness of romance or the bond of a brotherhood. Prem just effortlessly excels at interpersonal storytelling, and Meiyazhagan is the closest Tamil cinema has come to capturing the slice-of-life essence found in Malayalam and Iranian films.

Though Mei and Arul are two distinct characters, I perceive them as two aspects of the same person, existing in different times and settings. Mei represents our inner child, while Arul embodies the version of ourselves that society encourages us to become. Arul has given in to societal pressures, while Mei has managed to resist them. True victory (probably a blessing?) in life lies in remaining true to our inner Mei, despite the challenges and temptations to change for material gains.

The movie stood tall in a couple of places to me. First, when Mei reflects on his childhood, sharing how he was mistreated by relatives due to their economic status, yet quickly adds that deep down, everyone is good and it’s just that money can sometimes drive people apart. Second, when Mei urges Arul to forgive those who have wronged his family in the past.

Credits to Karthi, Aravindsamy, and Surya for choosing to set aside their stardom and blockbuster successes to be part of films like these. Women of this film and supporting characters add so much love to this already heartfelt movie. Prem and Govind Vasantha have reached a point where they’re inseparably linked; thinking of one naturally brings the other to mind just as the two lead characters of the movie. Karthik Netha is one of the underrated lyricists in Tamil, what beautiful and soulful albums. It’s just magic when this team comes together.

I have a soft spot for films that begin and/or end with poems or quotes, and I love that Prem incorporates this so well. I’d love to see him continue making it his hallmark. There are few movies that leave you eager to read the script or bounded script, and Meiyazhagan is definitely one of them.(What’s stopping directors from publishing this post movie release?).

Had The Goat Life not released this year, this would have been my top favorite movie this year. I hope other storytellers and filmmakers in Tamil cinema feel the same sense of responsibility and perhaps a bit of guilt that Arul does, realizing that films like Meiyazhagan can be made here in Kollywood and that there’s a large audience eager to embrace them. It took me a good few days to walk out of 96 and it will be the same for Meiyazhagan. Just as the movie title (with the appropriate ‘y’ in it), Meiyazhagan is full of truth, beauty, and warmth.