Bharathiraja returns with a complicated but mature relationship story
- IndiaGlitz, [Saturday,February 22 2020]
The very name of Bharathiraja conjures up images of authentic village life captured with such reality that you can almost smell the soil when watching his films. Credited for taking Tamil cinema out of the studios and onto the live locations the most respected filmmaker is back with yet another mature story of man-woman relationship in a fresh setting.
'Meendum Oru Mariyathai' aka MOM is clearly inspired by Bharathiraja's own 'Mudhal Mariyadhai' that starred Sivaji Ganesan as a washed-out old village headman who carries on a platonic relationship with a woman (Radha) young enough to be his daughter. In 'MOM' Bharathiraja is an Old Man and that's how the teenage girl calls him at first but then shortens it to OM.
Set in London, Bharathiraja saves the girl from suicide and the two embark on a journey of self-realization in which he teaches her the value of life but he question remains who he is to her and what relationship the duo share which is answered in the screenplay.
Debutante Rasi Nakshatra plays the teenage girl Venba opposite Bharathiraja's home and most of the screentime is occupied by both with supporting turns by Joe Malluri and Mounika. Salai Sagadhevan's brilliant cinematography is complemented by the background score of Sabesh Murali and the songs of Raghunathan NR. Overall a film by Bharathiraja with his stamp evident in the poignant shots.