Paradesi (2013 film)

This article is about the 2013 Tamil film. For the 1953 Telugu film, see Paradesi (1953 film). For the 2007 Malayalm film, see Paradesi (2007 film).
Paradesi

Release poster
Directed by Bala
Produced by Bala
Written by Bala
Nanjilnadan
Starring Adharvaa
Vedhicka
Dhansika
Music by G. V. Prakash Kumar
Cinematography Chezhiyan
Edited by Kishore Te.
Production
company
B Studios
Distributed by JSK Film Corporation
Release dates
  • 15 March 2013 (2013-03-15)
Running time
 126 minutes[1]
Country India
Language Tamil

Paradesi ( English: Vagabond) is a 2013 Indian Tamil drama film written and directed by Bala[2][3] starring Adharvaa, Vedhicka and Dhansika.[4][5] The film's music was scored by G. V. Prakash Kumar.[6] The film is based on real life incidents that took place before independence in the 1930s.[7] It released on 15 March 2013. The dubbed version of Telugu was released with the same name. The film opened mostly to positive reviews.[8] Sify said that the box office collections were average.[9]

Plot

Rasa (Adharvaa) is a carefree young man living in a rural village in the Madras Presidency during the early days of the British Raj. Orphaned at a young age, he is brought up by his nagging but loving hunchback grandmother. Angamma (Vedhicka), a village girl falls for him and takes pleasure in bullying him. When she finally confesses her feelings for him, they become intimate and soon reveal the fact that they are in love before the entire village and also get into physical relationship. Angamma's mother objects as Rasa is jobless and irresponsible, making him unqualified to become anyone's husband.

Rasa then goes to the nearby village in search of work. He comes across a friendly Kangani, who then follows Rasa back to his village. The Kangani offers a work for the villagers at the British tea plantations at the hillside. He promises them proper accommodation and high wages. Like many of the villagers, Rasa signs up with the Kangani, hoping he can send home money every month for his ailing grandmother. Both Angamma and his grandmother are sad to watch him go.

When Rasa and his villagers finally arrive at the tea plantation, things are not as what the Kangani promised. The Kangani and his henchmen rule the plantation with an iron fist. The British plantation manager does not care for the workers. Rasa becomes friends with Maragadham (Dhansika) and her little daughter, the wife and child of the only worker who have ever escaped the plantation so far. Rasa soon gets a letter from his grandmother stating that Angamma now lives with her after her family found out she is pregnant with his child.

It is soon revealed that all the workers' daily wages go to their food and lodging. Rasa will have to work there for many more months if he wishes to leave the place. Maragadham too has to work for both her time and for her husband's contract. The workers finally realise that they have been made slaves to the British businessmen. Feeling homesick, Rasa tries to escape. Unfortunately, he is caught by the Kangani's henchmen and cuts the left leg main bone (fibula), just like every other worker who had tried to escape and failed.

An epidemic soon kills many workers in the plantation, including one of Rasa's villagers. During a tea party, an English socialite asks the plantation manager to bring in a real doctor to treat the workers. A doctor from Madras in the form of an Indian Christian convert and his English wife come to the plantation. But rather than treating the sick workers, they spend all their time trying to convert them.

Rasa's time at the plantation draws to an end. But he cannot rejoice as Maragadham becomes ill and finally dies. He then adopts her daughter and awaits his time to leave. However, he is then told that by adopting Maragadham's daughter, he has also inherited both her parents' debt to the plantation and will have to work there for almost ten more years to pay it all off. As he is lamenting his fate on top of a hill, he notices a new group of slaves being brought in. Among them, he sees Angamma and their son. He runs after them and in tears, tells them they have both walked into the mouth of hell.

The film ends with a wide shot of the tea plantation and all its workers staring at Rasa crying.

Cast

Production

Development

Paradesi, a pejorative Tamil term meaning a foreigner or wastrel, deals with the story of enslaved tea plantation workers in pre-independent India. The film has been adapted from Eriyum Panikadu a Tamil translation of the 1969 novel Red Tea by Paul Harris Daniel which deals with Harris's encounters with enslaved tea plantation workers in the Madras Presidency in colonial India.[10]

Casting

Adharvaa was signed on to play the lead role, in his third leading role after Baana Kaathadi and Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal, and Bala asked him to shed 10 kilos and sport a shaved hairstyle.[11] Initial reports suggested that Amy Jackson would play a pivotal role in the film, but the actress denied that she was approached for the role.[12] Vedhicka was signed to act in the film after a brief sabbatical away from Tamil films and the project marked her most high-profile venture til date.[13] Bala roped in about 200 junior artistes for this film and had them all go bald, requesting them to stay bald throughout the 200-day schedule as it is one of the major requirements for the film.[14]

News reports suggested that Uma Riyaz Khan's performance in Mouna Guru prompted Bala to ask the actress to play Adharvaa's mother in the movie, though she eventually did not play the character.[15] Pooja, who had appeared in Bala's 2011 film Naan Kadavul, was originally selected to play a crucial role in this movie,[16] but later had to opt out owing to call-sheet problems. She was subsequently replaced by Dhansika, who during post-production publicity noted that she starved for six days to achieve her look in the climax portions of the film.[17] Actor Srinivasan shot for a sequence in the film, but Bala's unhappiness with the output saw the actor later replaced by choreographer Shivshankar in the brief role.[18] Aishwarya Rajesh later informed that she had auditioned for a role in the film.[19]

Filming

First schedule of the film has been completed on 28 January 2012 on Ramanathapuram and the team is getting ready to start the next schedule in Connoor.[20] However, with the tiff between the FEFSI and Producers' Council still going on, the director has decided to postpone the shooting schedules until the issue is resolved.[21] The film was shot in Salur and Manamadurai in Sivagangai district, Munnar and Talaiyar in Kerala, and the forest areas in Theni district.[22] To get her act right in the climax scene, Dhansika survived with mere water and fruit juice for six consecutive days.[23] The film that was wrapped in just 90 days had released its first look poster on 8 August 2012.[7]

Promotion and release

Though early reports stated that Paradesi would release in October 2012,[24] it was later announced that it would release on 21 December 2012.[25]

A one-minute reality trailer drew controversies as soon as a preview was released on YouTube.[26] It showed Bala hitting and abusing the actors. Later after the release, the scenes were shown to be a part of the film and Adharva tweeted on his Twitter saying that the sticks Bala used were just dummies.[27]

After the film was passed with a "U" certificate from the Indian Censor Board,[28] its release was postponed to January 2013,[29] and later to March.[30] Finally it was released on 15 March 2013.

Soundtrack

Paradesi
Soundtrack album by G. V. Prakash Kumar
Released 25 November 2012 (2012-11-25)
Genre Feature film soundtrack
Language Tamil
Label Gemini Audio
Producer G. V. Prakash Kumar
G. V. Prakash Kumar chronology
Thaandavam
(2012)		 Paradesi
(2012)		 Naan Rajavaga Pogiren
(2012)

The soundtrack was composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar. The audio launch and trailer release of the film happened on 25 November 2012 at Sathyam cinemas, Chennai.[31] Vairamuthu joined hands with director Bala for the first time in this film. Prakash Kumar composed the music and Vairamuthu wrote the lyrics based on what has been shot.[32]

All lyrics written by Vairamuthu. 

Tracklist
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Avatha Paiyya"  Yazin Nizar, Vandana Srinivasan5.34
2."Sengaade"  Madhu Balakrishnan8.02
3."Or Mirugam"  V. V. Prasanna, Pragathi Guruprasad5.47
4."Thannai Thaane"  Gaana Bala3.07
5."Senneer Thaana"  Gangai Amaran, Priya Himesh6.22

Critical reception

S Saraswathi of Rediff rated the film 4 stars out of 5, saying "Bala's Paradesi stays with you long after you walk out of the theatre. In fact you need a few minutes to reorient yourself back to the present, Bala captivates with his authentic script, unadorned visuals and down-to-earth characters. A must-watch."[33] Sify said, "Paradesi may be too dark for some viewers. But here is a definitive movie that touches a deep emotional chord and will leave a lump in your throat. Paradesi is definitively a classic with grace and power", going on to call it "brilliant".[34] Shankar Ganesh rated it 4 out of 5 and stated that "Paradesi is dark, gritty and bloody realistic & concluded that it's film-making at its best. A must watch!"[35] IBN Live called the film "pure unadulterated cinema and the screenplay and the plot rank high above everything else" and "a master class in great filmmaking".[8] One India stated, "Paradesi is a brilliant made movie but the lack of commercial elements will not guarantee the success".[36]

The Hindu wrote, "(The) traditional commercial-film elements are an odd fit in a film that’s attempting to be something wholly different. Paradesi is an important lesson on a forgotten chapter of history, but as cinema, Bala's truest isn’t up there with Bala's best."[37] Nandini Ramnath of Livemint said, "During Paradesi's most heightened moments, it appears as though Bala is single-handedly trying to undo that cinematic legacy" and concluded, "Paradesi clocks a crisp 120 minutes– not enough to replicate the richness of Pithamagan and Avan Ivan, and not enough to accommodate new ideas on age-old forms of exploitation".[1]

Accolades

List of awards and nominations
Award Category Recipients and nominees Result
National Film Awards Best Costume Design Poornima Ramaswamy Won
London International Film Festival[38] Best Film of the Festival Bala Nominated
Best Director of a Foreign Film Bala Nominated
Best Foreign Language Feature Film Bala Nominated
Best Director of a Foreign Feature Film Bala Nominated
Best Lead Actor Adharvaa Murali Nominated
Best Cinematography Chezhiyan Ra Won[39]
Best Costume Poornima Ramaswamy Won[40]
Best Music G. V. Prakash Kumar Nominated
11th Chennai International Film Festival Special Jury Award Adharvaa Won
Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards[41][42] Best Film Bala Won
Best Director Bala Won
Best Cinematographer Chezhiyan Ra Won
Best Actor Adharvaa Murali Won
Vijay Awards Best Director Bala Won
Best Actress Vedhicka Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Dhansika Won
Best Costume Designer Poornima Ramaswamy Won
Filmfare Awards South[43] Best Director Bala Won
Best Actor Atharvaa Won
Best Actress Vedhicka Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Dhansika Won
Edison Awards (India) [44] Best Director Bala Won
Extreme Performance - Male Atharvaa Won
Extreme Performance - Female Vedhicka Won
Techofes [45] Best Director Bala Won
Best Actor Atharvaa Won
Best Actress Vedhicka Won
Screen Moon Awards[46] Best Actress Vedhicka Won

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Nandini Ramnath (15 March 2013). "Film Review | Paradesi". Livemint. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "Bala's 'Eriyum Thanal'?". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  3. ↑ "Bala's Eriyum Thanal from December". Sify. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  4. ↑ "Atharva ready for Bala's next". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "Bala — Atharva's 'Eriyum Thanal'". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  6. ↑ "GV Prakash gets a call from Bala". Behindwoods. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Bala's Paradesi first look out! Release in October". Indiaglitz. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  8. 1 2 "Tamil Review: Paradesi is a master class in great filmmaking". IBNLive. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Chennai Box Office - Mar 29 to 31". Sify. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "Film | Bleak house". HT Mint. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  11. ↑ "Bala Cracks Down on Atharva". Behindwoods. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  12. ↑ "Amy denies doing Bala's film". IndiaGlitz. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "Vedika heroine of 'Eriyum Thanal'?". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  14. ↑ "Bala Wants Everyone To Go Bald". Behindwoods. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  15. ↑ "Bala picks Uma Riyaz to play Atharva's mum". IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  16. ↑ "Pooja Umashankar also expected to join in the film". Indiaglitz. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  17. ↑ "Bala's film: Pooja out, Dhansika in!". Indiaglitz. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  18. ↑ "Bala gets angry, Star absconds". Behindwoods. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  19. ↑ http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/From-Slum-Mom-to-Patti-Mandram-Speaker/2015/06/30/article2893381.ece
  20. ↑ "'Eriyum Thanal' – Schedule one wrapped". IndiaGlitz. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  21. ↑ "Eriyum Thanal – what is Bala waiting for?". Behindwoods. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  22. ↑ "Bala's Paradesi to release in October". Rediff. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  23. ↑ "http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/84803.html". IndiaGlitz. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012. External link in |title= (help)
  24. ↑ "Bala's Paradesi to release in October". Rediff. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  25. ↑ "Bala's Paradesi release date confirmed". Times of India. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  26. ↑ "Bala's 'Paradesi' teaser creates a furore!". Sify. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  27. ↑ "Twitter / AtharvaaFC: Hey guys in that video it's". Twitter.com. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  28. ↑ "Paradesi Clears Censors". Behindwoods. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  29. ↑ "Bala's Paradesi Is Delayed Further". Behindwoods. 19 December 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  30. ↑ "Bala's Paradesi pushed further". Behindwoods. 29 December 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  31. ↑ "Suriya and Vikram come together for Bala". 25 November 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  32. ↑ "Legend joins ace director". Behindwoods. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  33. ↑ "Review: Paradesi is exceptional". Rediff. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  34. ↑ "Paradesi". Sify. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  35. ↑ "Tamil movie review: Paradesi is a masterpiece!". In.com. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  36. ↑ Ramchander (16 March 2013). "Paradesi Movie Review". Oneindia. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  37. ↑ Rangan, Baradwaj (16 March 2013). "Review: Paradesi is exceptional". Chennai, India: The Hindu.
  38. ↑ "'Paradesi' nominated for eight awards at London film fest". IBNLive. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  39. ↑ "Best Cinematography Winner". London International Film Festival. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  40. ↑ "Best Costume Winner". London International Film Festival. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  41. ↑ "Tamilar Awards 2014: Winners and finalists announced!". Norway Tamil Film Festival. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  42. ↑ "Paradesi sweeps Norway Film Fest awards". The Times of India. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  43. ↑ "61st Filmfare Awards (South) Tamil winners list 2013". The Times of India. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  44. ↑ "7th Edison Awards: Winners List And Photos". 17 February 2014.
  45. ↑ "'Paradesi' won 5 awards at Techofes'14". 14 February 2013.
  46. ↑ "Screen Moon Awards 2014 Photos". 17 February 2014.
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