Thalavara (Fate Line) is one of the rare films that manages to be sweet without overwhelming us with its saccharine nature. And pulling that off without being cringe-inducing is as much a challenge as making a good horror film or a comedy. Thankfully, filmmaker Akhil Anilkumar has passed with flying colours in his second feature, unlike his first, Archana 31 Not Out. Thalavara is a relatively richer film, replete with many delightful visual flourishes to go with its genuine performances.
A fresh, contemporary take on Beauty and the Beast, Thalavara is an unconventional hero's journey — or, rather, the unconventional journey to becoming a hero who trumps conventions. It's a film that pulsates with a genuine heart. It has a set of actors who keep things simple. And in this age of failed 'pan-Indian' big-budget masala entertainers that try to compensate for their lack of a soul with star appearances, a film like Thalavara comes along like a breath of fresh air.
As someone who experienced a fair amount of mental distress due to a certain skin condition, but one that's manageable, I could relate to the struggles of Arjun Ashokan's vitiligo-affected protagonist. Of course, I cannot claim to have experienced even half of the pain he felt; however, anyone born with a problematic skin condition that doesn't cause anyone any harm but is a primary cause for anxiety and extreme self-esteem issues, not to mention the concern of social stigma engendered by the ignorant and misinformed, will find much to relate to in this film. In the case of Jyothish (Arjun Ashokan), this condition is a seeming impediment to progress — not just his career but also his relationships.
But is getting this man to fall in love with a woman the film's principal goal? It's not, because it makes it clear early on that there is no obstacle in that department. It aims for a positive portrayal of love. And one cannot argue that it's "fantasy" because such people exist, too — people who don't ditch you because of your condition. Interestingly, though, Jyotish isn't nervous around the woman, played with enough sagacity and strength by newcomer Revathy Sarma, because he doesn't expect any woman to love him. Their love story happens when you least expect it. It has to do with the film's predominant philosophy, uttered by Jyotish's mother (Devadarshini), who tells him that when you think that you're not going to get it, that's when you'll get it. There's a slight variation to this line in the film's third act that got my eyes welled up. (Damn, even writing this line in this review almost did that.)
There are multiple instances where the filmmaker and writers' strengths shine through. The scene where Jyotish finally puts up a sticker on a glass door to protect his girlfriend from accidentally hitting her head. The scene where he discovers that a group of youngsters are filming a short film discreetly — a chance encounter that changes the life of this aspiring actor. The scene where Jyotish is humiliated during a film shoot that ironically has a scene of protesting exploitation of the downtrodden — the same scene that requires the hero of the film being shot to give a rousing speech because the director thinks it would add "drama" since it happens to be the interval portion, but we see that it has actually become dramatic for Jyotish, and, a few seconds later, the interval card appears for... Thalavara.
Thalavara is a personification of the idea that to be a good (or great) creator, one has to go through several trials and tribulations. This is a film that imbues its characters with enough flaws and contradictions. They may behave one way first, but differently later, and it makes perfect sense why. This is neither a film where characters evolve randomly without any reasonable explanation, nor a film where events are rushed or haphazardly stitched together to hastily arrive at where it wants the 'hero' to arrive. It's not a film devoid of sorrowful moments, but it also doesn't linger there; it believes in moving on once it makes its point, and doing what you want to do to reach your destination, without wallowing in self-pity. I wish I could write more, but some things are better experienced without reading anything beforehand.
There were hardly 15 or 20 people in the theatre, and I wished there were more, because this is a film that demands to be seen by many. It deserves to be placed on an elevated platform so that everyone can see, like in an early scene in this film where Arjun Ashokan makes a special arrangement for his mother to see a performance from a better vantage point, and now everyone in the crowd turns to look at the two instead.
Film: Thalavara
Director: Akhil Anilkumar
Cast: Arjun Ashokan, Revathy Sarma, Ashokan, Devadarshini, Sarath Sabha, Shebin Benson
Rating: 4/5