Selfie - A hard hitting expose' of the education mafia
'Selfie' carries with it a lot of expectations being the debut movie of Vetrimaaran's associate and close relative Mathimaran and the film's core subject dealing with the education mafia. To the question whether the film justifies the hype the answer is a big yes.
Kanal (G.V. Prakash Kumar) is from a rural area who studies engineering in a Chennai college and loves the fast life beyond his means. He comes to know that his father has been duped into paying a high capitation fees and fights with the management to get it back. When he fails he realizes that there is a mafia who make big money by creating demand for college seats and cheating parents of students from rural areas. He then with the help of his friend Nazir (D.G. Gunanidhi) and other friends start their own network and come into direct confrontation with Ravi Varma (Gautham Vasudev Menon) , a veteran agent close to the head of a large university. The ensuing events strike tragedy in the lives of the boys and what happens next is dealt in the gripping screenplay.
G.V. Prakash has once again given a very compelling performance as a live wire boy favoring the negative side. He has tackled all the emotions with ease be it his ruthless streak when cheating or the sentimental scenes involving his father and Nazir's mother. His love scenes with Varsha Bollamma (putting in a neat performance) are also natural and do not hinder the proceedings in any way. D.G. Gunanidhi the producer of the film plays Nazir and is quite effective on debut especially when he takes a harsh decision. Ravi Varma is perhaps Gautham Vasudev Menon's best ever in his career as an actor. He plays the role subtly with the beast coming to the fore every now and then. Sangili Murugan, Vagai Chandrasekhar, Subramaniam Siva and Sreeja Ravi bring their rich experience to the screen while Vidya Pradeep is impressive in a grey character as GVM's wife. The rest of the cast are all apt.
What works best in 'Selfie' is the authentic depiction of the functioning of the education mafia that feeds on the ignorance of parents and loot money in billions. The screenplay is raw and acting grounded that gives the sense of watching the terrifying happenings at close range. There is tension between GVP and GVM, GVM and the son in law of his mentor and double crosses galore amongst most of the other characters that all work in engaging the audience. The fight choreography involving GVP and the North Indian boys and the one between GVM and his enemies are gut-wrenchingly realistic. The focus is relentless on the subject making for an engrossing viewing and the NEET reference makes it contemporary as well.
On the downside post interval the film shifts genres and becomes a revenge drama and the screenplay sags after that. There is inconsistency in GVP's character starting off as a hot headed selfish youth who then seems to take to crime for sentimental reasons. There seems to be a rush to wrap up things in the end that is jarring.
Vishnu Rangaswamy's cinematography utilising loose framing, S. Elayaraja's jump cut style editing along with GVP's raw background score elevate the film to a high standard. Mathimaran on debut has delivered an authentic film told in an engaging manner that makes his mentor proud. D.G. Film Company has produced the film while Kalaipuli S Thanu, known for promoting good cinema, is presenting it under his banner V Creations.
Verdict : Go for this realistic take on the education mafia which is highly engaging and educative at the same time
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