Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan, the pioneer of Indian cinema, poured love on the upcoming film 'Kottukkaali' through a long and heartfelt letter. The movie's producer, Sivakarthikeyan, shared the same with pride and joy on social media. This social drama features Soori and Anna Ben in the lead roles, directed by PS Vinothraj. Here's what Kamal said in the letter:

"From the moment the Central Government certification for the film 'Kottukkaali' appears on screen, the surprises begin. Upon noticing the duration of 103 minutes and 44 seconds, it becomes clear that Tamil cinema has evolved from the days of melodrama to become a platform for modern storytelling.

Except for Brother Soori, I didn't recognize any familiar faces. After three minutes, even he became unrecognizable, and only the character Pandiyan stood out. Like a rooster with a stone tied to its leg, standing bewildered without even crowing for dawn, a woman, whose foot is bound by an invisible stone, stares blankly at the rooster. On the title screen, 'Kottukkaali' appears.

In the blink of an eye, the rooster kicks off its leg binding and escapes. The woman's eyes briefly flicker with hope, but soon, two relatives capture the rooster and take it away, extinguishing the woman's hope. This woman is our heroine.

Pandiyan is introduced as he hangs upside down, viewing the world in reverse. A woman smears a lime paste on his neck. This could be a painful lump in his throat or the early signs of cancer. It depicts a rural family facing a college girl's love and cancer without any understanding.

The village is equipped with 21st-century modern amenities—cement roads, vehicles, cell phones, TASMAC shops, sanitary napkins, and 24-hour electricity. Yet, Pandiyan shamelessly tells people, "Our child is possessed by a ghost, and we are taking her to get rid of it," and the family passes this belief down.

As they travel, a cart selling plastic pots seems to drift by like a ghost. Demonic faces avoiding the sun's glare occupy another cart. Even though we see many spirits in the middle of the road, including the TASMAC ghost, we understand that these are spirits that priests cannot exorcize.

This is indeed a ghost story—a love ghost story. The patience of the earth is reflected in the heroine's eyes. There is no background music, just a line on the title card thanking nature. This gratitude is evident in the cinematography and sound design, as nature itself provides the film's music. When approaching the family deity's temple, the cinematic-style background music offered by young Karthik's voice serves as a small reminder that such elements are absent in this film.

Symbols of male dominance include the rooster, the raging bull, and Pandiyan. Although many people, such as the priest, appear, the way the heroine confronts them shows that times have changed, even if the other characters don't understand it. This is made clear to the audience.

In the end, the director leaves both Pandiyan and us on the shore of rationality and humanity, turning off the light and heading home with a sense of fulfilment. Just like Pandiyan, we are nudged to feel the conclusion of this love story.

This is not a review of the film 'Kottukkaali'. It is a cautionary note to some, signalling that such quality cinema will frequently come in Tamil henceforth. Those with a deficiency in taste are advised to quickly elevate their standards; otherwise, they will find themselves unable to keep up with the flow of modern cinema and must quench their thirst while standing on the shore, without polluting the water.

Overall, the 'Kottukkaali' team has beautifully told a brilliant story of rationality through the language of cinema. For that, thanks are due not only to nature but also to Mr. Sivakarthikeyan.

The old commercial gatekeepers can no longer imprison Tamil cinema in a cage. New creators have emerged, and so have the viewers.

Hail Cinema!

Kamal Haasan."

A moment to cherish for our team #Kottukkaali. Appreciation from the pioneer of Indian cinema, our Ulaganayagan @ikamalhaasan Sir.
This letter is a treasure.

Thank you so much Sir. 🙏🙏❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/uoCNkTYA1C

— Sivakarthikeyan (@Siva_Kartikeyan) August 21, 2024