If Kamalahaasan's Anbey Sivam (God is Love) was a self-indulgent exercise masquerading as a critique of 'globalisation', Virumaandi pretends to make a statement against capital punishment while actually celebrating the machismo of caste violence. It opens with V.R. Krishna Iyer pleading against the death sentence in a documentary within the film. A filmmaker-lawyer (Angela played by Rohini) sporting cotton saris, ikat blouses and short hair is perhaps Kamalahaasan's idea of realism. Angela interviews convicts Kotthalathevar (Pasupathy) and Virumaandi (Kamal) and they narrate different versions of events in their village Chinnakkolarpatti and neighbouring Nallamanaickanur that leads to the slaughter of 24.
Virumaandi, the prodigal, returns after a long stay in Singapore. His Thevar moustache, mannerisms and dialect intact, he plunges into a jallikattu (where wild bulls on the rampage are tamed by wilder men) and quells the bull reared by Annalachumi (Abhiraami), who eventually falls in love with him. Kotthalathevar, Annalachumi's uncle, always had an eye on Virumaandi's land. Nallamanaicker and Kotthalathevar are traditional foes. Kotthalathevar creates a wedge between Virumaandi and the Naickers and tries to kill Virumaandi. He fails and misleads Virumaandi into thinking he would approve of his love for Annalachumi. He and his men unleash a bloodbath. Virumaandi is falsely implicated but lies in court to save Kotthalathevar, then elopes with Annalachumi. More murders follow. Kotthalathevar, Virumaandi are convicted.
When the film was initially titled Sandiyar ('thugs' as some rowdy elements among OBC Thevars are locally known), Dalit political leader Krishnaswamy protested fearing the film would celebrate the cult of violence. While making a passing statement against capital punishment, the film romanticises caste feud but Dalits do not figure anywhere. It fails at both levels: as a classic story of violence and revenge, and also as a politically correct tale—its pro-life message soaked in the villain's blood. The jallikattu scenes, excellent art-work, and a few Ilayaraja songs cannot salvage the film. Kamal, the singer, lyricist, producer, writer, director and actor tries to take too many bulls by their horns. The audience is bored.
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Courtesy: Film Information
