Unnai Pol Oruvan (2009)

Rarely, a Tamil movie had made me sit up straight and gaze in awe at the big screen as the story unfolded. When the actors live the characters and the technical aspects do not stand out, but, rather support the screenplay which moves with such an incredible pace as it happened in UPO, I knew I had witnessed a milestone of a movie in Tamil Cinema. And, if we, the Tamil Cinema audience (who appreciate quality movies) have mainly one man to thank for, it is none other than the one who celebrates his golden year in the film industry as we speak, Mr. Kamal Haasan.

This is neither a movie review nor me singing praises on Mr. Haasan, but, rather my thoughts on the movie and a few issues that seem to crop up in some of the reviews for UPO.

Kamal as a "Common Man"

Some people find it hard to differentiate Kamal Haasan the movie star and Kamal Haasan the versatile actor. If you are a fan or even an avid viewer of Tamil Cinema then you should be prepared to receive whatever he throws at you. There have been so many characters from "Kalyana Raman" to "Dasavatharam", where he has portrayed a range of characters in all walks of life. If you had taken that in mind into the movie theatre, you may not have been imbued with his "star value". I believe the great characters we have witnessed on-screen were not dashing heroes but rather common men (in movie terms, character actors). One of the greatest Hollywood examples would be "Travis Bickle" played by Robert De Niro in "Taxi Driver (1976)". Travis as Kamal Haasan's character in UPO has his own sense of justice. He metes out justice as he sees fit.

Kamal's Viewpoint of Terrorism

It is best that we do not assume that the "Common Man's" viewpoint of terrorism in UPO is that of Kamal Haasan. Would we as the good people of this earth, want "instant justice" like "2-minute-noodles"? It would not be surprising to see many people divided over this issue. We have seen too many movies where the protagonists fight the evil almost single-handedly and save the damsel in distress at the end of the day and ride into the sunset, and sing and dance to few songs along the way. Is the "Common Man" in UPO a protagonist? Has he triumphed over evil at the end of the day? I believe the answer to both questions to be a firm "NO". The common man walks the fine line between the good and the bad (as we, the good people like to call, the necessary evil). As a common man he has seen politicians play games with each other (clue: the TV program "Mush & Bush") and red tapes all over when a solution could have been realised instantly. So, the "Common Man" of UPO proceeds to decide the fate of the terrorists.

Kamal & Secularism

Why was one of the terrorists a Hindu? Is this Kamal again forcing his secularist issues on the audience? Was Kamal trying to play it safe? I believe not. When Naseeruddin Shah played the "Common Man" in "A Wednesday", the audience watched the movie theatres with an instilled sense of justice as Naseeruddin Shah is by nature, a Muslim. Unfortunately there are people, who would see Kamal Haasan (by birth a Hindu and now an atheist who orchestrates to kill Muslim terrorists) and will call him politically incorrect and burn his effigy.

Unnai Pol Oruvan works as an "engrossing thriller" a clichéd review would say, but as far as I am concerned, Kamal Haasan has yet again lashed out against the mundane and ignorant existence of the common men. Especially his monologue scene as tears flow from his eyes, we watch like most people, who are unable to do anything lest we speak out. How much more evil must we face before we are pushed over the edge?

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