Movie Review : Chittha
ETAKI ENTERTAINMENT
IN
AN S.U.ARUN KUMAR PICTURE
SIDDHARTH
NIMISHA SAJAYAN
ANJALI NAIR
Baby S.AAFIYA TASNEEM
BAALAJI
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY – S. U. ARUN KUMAR
TITLE SONG - SANTHOSH NARAYANAN
SONGS - DHIBU NINAN THOMAS
ORIGINAL SCORE – VISHAL CHANDRASEKHAR
DOP - BALAJI SUBRAMANYAM
EDITOR - SURESH A PRASAD
ART DIRECTOR - C. S. BALACHANDAR
LYRICS - VIVEK, YUGABHARATHI & S.U.ARUN KUMAR
SOUND DESIGNER - VINOD THANIGASALAM
STUNT - DANGER MANI
PRODUCED BY SIDDHARTH
Eswaran ( Siddharth) is a municipal officer. His brother passes away and he lives with his anni ( Anjali Nair ) and her 8 year old daughter Sundari aka settai whom he dearly loves.
Into this scenario walks in his school time love Sakthi ( Nimisha Sajayan) who joins in the same municipality office.
In the midst of their normal lives, one day a calamity befalls Sundari's friend Ponni who is physically abused. Her father suspects Eswaran and he is beaten up badly. Just as Eswaran is trying to recover and find the true perpetrators, his own neice Settai, goes missing and is later confirmed to have been abducted by a serial abuser and killer.
Eswaran swings into action and with the help of the police, leaves no stone unturned to find his dear neice. Does he find the child ? Is he able to save her before its too late?
The film and entire team deserves kudos for the sensitive making and presentation of an important topic. The film subtly relays several messages in a manner that pulls at the heartstrings and leaves a deep impact.
The superb choice of cast ( see list above) right from the 2 children, to every cop, friend, relatives and supporting cast members, is a huge plus for the film, as they all bring a realistic touch to the film, set in and around Palani.
Siddharth as Eswaran delivers a very sincere and superb performance, easily his career best role. He actually lives the role as Eswaran and Siddharth the actor is nowhere to be seen. Be it his relationships with the children, his anni, his cop friend Vadivelu, his tender relationship with his childhood sweetheart Sakthi, to his frustration and despair when searching for his neice and his sheer anger against the perpetrator, he is convincing to the core.
The story takes its time to showcase the tender loving relationship he has with Settai and the gentle concern he has for Ponni. This is a plus, and sets the stage for proceedings in the future. The story touches upon issues like love, care,nuture, trust, faith and protection of children, and as Nimisha points out in the end, what care really means.
Director Arunkumar seems to also lay bare how despite the stress on education, how poorly we equip our innocent kids about safety, and judging strangers and let them get addicted to mobiles and games which make them easy targets for perpetrators to exploit. Arunkumar also shows how alert good samaritans can actually help save lives, and also touches upon the few lacunae in the investigation systems in crimes against children.
The absence of any sort of melodrama, preaching, stunts or long winding dialogues, makes the film all the more engaging and realistic and pulls the viewer right into the story. The heightened tension at crucial moments is superbly portrayed.
Nimisha makes a solid entry into Kollywood while Anjali Nair impresses as the distraught mom. The two child actors have done an excellent job.
The bgm by Vishal Chandrasekhar rises to the occasion while the art department does a good job as well. Debutant Balaji Subramaniyam impresses with his camerwork.
On the flip side, some scenes with Eswaran and Settai seem repetitive as also few with Sakthi and Eswaran. Vadivelu, a special cop in mufti could have been shown doing more investigative work.
Overall, Chittha, with its tender moments, earnest performances,strong messages, emotional appeal, engaging and gripping screenplay and thriller angle, is a must watch movie. In theatres from September 28th.
Rating 4 /5
