Padai Veeran review: An honest narration of love and caste divisions

Director Dhana's Padai Veeran is a story set in the rural backdrop of Theni. While narrating an interesting love story, the director also brings to the fore the strong caste divisions in society. 

The film, violently and yet beautifully captures grim realities and serves as a reminder that we have a long way to go in eradicating the evils of the deeply rooted caste system.

Muneeswaran (Vijay Yesudas) is a loafer in a village that has tensions simmering between the upper and lower castes. He, along with his pals from the upper caste community, is a trouble maker; drinking and enjoying a carefree life.

Following a strange set of circumstances, Muneeswaran realizes that the life of a policeman is probably what he should aspire as it would not only enable him to make money, with a constant inflow of free booze and food, but also empower him and enhance his position in the society. 

The seemingly lucrative occupation is too good for Muneeswaran to resist. The street loafer, who, until now had no goals or ambitions whatsoever, suddenly takes up the task of becoming a policeman. With help from his uncle Krishnan (P Bharathiraja), an ex-serviceman, Muneeswaran manges to get selected, despite performing poorly in all the entrance exams.

Meanwhile, Muneeswaran's relative Malar (Amritha Aiyer) is a tomboy who is all no-holds-barred when it comes to giving it back to those who dare to take her on. Muneeswaran and Malar are constantly at loggerheads over petty issues.

Malar's ambition is to get married to a man with wealth and social stature. As luck would have it, none of the wedding proposals that come her way materialize for various reasons. In short, the lady is desperate to get married. 

One day, a prospective groom and his parents refuse the alliance and walk out after visiting Malar. As the girl and her family members are brooding over the unfortunate event, Muneeswaran mocks Malar, telling her brother that no man would be willing to marry another man. He asks him to look for a good wife, instead of searching for a husband. The insensitive comment touches the raw nerve and a humiliated Malar plans revenge.

She seduces Muneeswaran and makes him see her feminine side. She makes him fall in love with her, giving him the impression that she, too, is in love with him. 

It is at this point that Muneeswaran is called to join the police force and is sent to the training camp. There, an indisciplined Muneeswaran finds life turning into hell as senior officers attempt to discipline him. Unable to take it, he runs away from the camp and returns home. 

The next day, officers from the camp come to the village in search of their run-away cadet. They try to take him back forcibly while Muneeswaran struggles to get away from them. At this point, Malar sees her opportunity and insults Muneeswaran saying that one could not expect him to fire a rifle like a man, and that he should be married off to a 'real man'.

Muneeswaran is stunned by the insult and realizes Malar has been playing him all along. He returns to the camp and completes the training. As he gears up to enjoy his holidays after the gruelling training period, news of rioting in his village arrives.

Singer Vijay Yesudas, son of veteran singer KJ Yesudas, makes his acting debut with this film. He has done a fairly good job as Muneeswaran the loafer, and a really good job as Muneeswaran the policeman. The man has a penchant for the craft and is even able to evoke laughter with his comical acts. On the whole, not a bad effort considering this is his first tryst with acting.

Amritha as Malar isn't very convincing at first, but as the story develops, she soon makes her presence felt and completely owns the character. The point where Amritha's acting skills come to the fore is the sequence where she decides to take revenge. The shift from a weeping girl to a seductive woman proves that the actress has immense potential if used in the right roles.

Ace director Bharathiraja, who impressed us with his performances in films like Kurangu Bommai (2017), again comes up with a good performance in this film. 

Other actors who make an impression are Kavitha Bharathi as Periasamy and Akhil Farook who plays an officer leading Muneeswaran's troop.

The film has a brilliant background score by Karthik Raja and good cinematography by Rajavel Mohan. 

Director Dhana's story is refreshing on one hand and disturbing on the other. While the plot is fresh and realistic, the violence and the mindset of the characters in the film are disturbing. Nevertheless, Padai Veeran is an honest and sincere attempt at story telling.