Aramm review: Exceptional performances lift this film that captures social evils of bureaucracy

Director Gopi Nainar's Aramm is a gripping thriller that revolves around the efforts of a district collector to rescue a child that has fallen into a borewell. In the process, the film also holds a mirror to society, underlining how the government continues to fail the common man time and again. It tells of how hollow our claim of being well on our way to becoming a superpower is.

Aramm also shines the light on the lives of those living in the rural parts of the country and the struggle to meet even the most basic of their needs, blocked by red-tapism, corruption and a bunch of incompetent officials with no sense of responsibility or accountability.

The film is buoyed by exceptional performances from its cast. The finest of these comes from Sunu Lakshmi, who plays the mother of the fallen child, Dhansika (Mahalakshmi). Be it her love for the two children, or the manner in which she defends them from her husband's wrath or the fear she expresses on discovering the missing child, followed by the anguish she portrays as her trapped child undergoes the ordeal, Sunu Lakshmi is just fantastic.

Equally good is Ramachandran Durairaj, who plays the husband and father. The manner in which he tells his wife why he pretends to be stern with his son, and how he deeply loves his children is an eye-opener. The anguish he experiences and the helplessness he showcases move you. Together with Sunu Lakshmi, the pair melts your heart and makes you pray for the child's safety. 

Next in line for praise is the child Mahalakshmi herself. Her innocent smile, despite the entire ordeal within the borewell, makes you want to applaud her efforts. The manner in which the sequences inside the borewell are shot is exceptional and captured realistically. A big round of applause needs to be reserved for cameraman Om Prakash for breathing life into the brilliant sequence.

Another wonderful performance comes from the child artist, Ramesh, who despite his fear chooses to do what is needed of him.

Nayanthara plays the district collector Mathivathani with absolute ease. For an artist of her calibre, the role is a cakewalk, and she delivers with aplomb.

Director Nainar has not minced words in the film and shows the truth in its most natural state. This is the film's biggest achievement. His hard-hitting  dialogues explain the sad state of affairs and the inept manner in which the government machinery functions. The other big plus is the music of Ghibran, which amplifies every emotion the director is looking to showcase in a scene 1,000 times over. 

On the whole, Aramm is a good film that will be remembered more for the social issues that it highlights than the rescue itself.