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R.B.Choudary of Supergood Films and Bharathikannan have selected a theme relevant to our times in 'Tirunelveli'. How internecine caste rivalry divide people and finally lead to tragedy. But instead of making it the main focus they have gone after the beaten track of how the family fabric is torn asunder and siblings part ways through the machinations of a malevolent mischief maker. At least with innovative treatment they could have made it into a still more engrossing family drama.
It is Prabhu's sensitive portrayal and a more gripping narrative after the interval that have saved the film from slipping into mediocrity.
It is the story of a close knit joint Zamindar family consisting of two brothers, Tulasi and Velunaicker, their mother,and Velunaicker's wife and grown-up son & daughter. The elder one Tulasi, a bachelor is a stickler to truth and can't utter a lie even to kids. Life is idyllic till the second brother's wife Bhagyam succumbs to the chicanery of Chupusamy whose main pastime is breaking up homes. When Tulasi refuses to tell a lie even to pave way for his brother's son's marriage the rift becomes complete and the younger brother demands partition. It is even suggested that the old mother can stay in both the sons' houses by turn.
A heartbroken Tulasi leaves all his wealth to his brother and family and leaves home taking his mother along with him. Things reach a climax when Velunaicker's daughter runs away with the driver, marries him and seeks refuge in Prabhu's house. To save the couple from the wrath of not only the girl's father but the whole village which cannot digest the rich girl marrying a poor driver from another cast, Tulasi is forced to tell a lie. The story ends in tragedy.
The two brothers are poles apart in their thoughts and ideals. Tulasi tolerant and unsullied by caste prejudices but his brother too orthodox even to allow the 'low caste' people into the temple as is shown in the festival scene in the beginning of the film. There are many such situations which in one place even make the American returned vidushaka type-character in the film utter in disgust, "even a thousand Periyar's will not be able to reform you village people". How one wishes the director who has also written the story had developed that strain and made a meaningful film.
For the first time in his career Prabhu is doing a full length role of a grey-haired aging man and it is his career best. There are many touching scenes where Prabhu excels. Where the villagers taunt him saying how will he know about matters like marriage, family, etc when he has never known "the scent of a woman", is one. Prabhu's gait and voice have such an uncanny resemblance to his father's that someone from the audience was heard asking,"has Shivaji Sir dubbed for Prabhu?" Latter half of the film brings back memories of Shivaji's 'Muthal Mariadai'.
Karan as Velunaicker has given a restrained, satisfying performance except when he tends to overact in certain scenes. Manorama, it goes without saying, is excellent as the mother. Roja as Tulasi's ill-fated beloved, looks beautiul and has done well in the cameo role.
Fight scenes are well executed . But Ilayaraja's music is disappointing.
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Director Bharathikannan