Sarpatta Parambarai - A Review!

Sarpatta Parambarai - A Review!

The film is an amazing ode to a forgotten sport, that had been an integral part of Madras’s culture in the 70’s. Ranjith delivers an intriguing sports drama, while subtly touching upon his usual strengths of caste discrimination and inequality.

The thing about Sports Dramas is that they are predictable - you know what’s coming at the end. But the success lies in keeping it gripping! And Ranjith does it effortlessly. The protagonist’s journey and the clash between the two boxing clans (Sarpatta & Idiayappa) does not bore you at any stage in this movie, and that is a huge success in itself.

Arya gives a performance of a lifetime as Kabilan. I was pleasantly shocked by his acting prowess in Magamuni, and here he tops that. His expressions, body language and dialogue delivery are all crisp and to the point. We can only imagine the efforts he must have put for the boxing scenes, and to build a beast of a body like Hugh Jackman in Wolverine, is something highly admirable. The only scene where I felt he could have scored, but missed is the one where he cries to his wife and mother, but overall an amazing show!

Pasupathy is one actor who is underrated so much in Indian cinema. He is a monster of an actor, who gets wasted in silly villain roles, and here Ranjith provides the feast for the monster’s appetite! He lives as Rangan Vaathiyar. He epitomes a typical Vaathiyar of that era and does it with ease. Every frame he comes in, we watch with awe! One more astounding role to add to his already decorated career.

John Vijay as Daddy - Konnutada Bloody Bugger… What a performance…!!! Every scene he comes in, he makes you sit upright to listen to what he says. His Anglo-Indian accent and dialogue delivery is just amazing to watch! Hatsoff man…

Shabeer Kallarakkal as Dancing Rose wins our hearts with a very limited screen presence. His bout with Kabilan is one of the best Tamil Cinema has ever seen. A neat and commendable act!

Dushara Vijayan as Mariyamma produces a power packed performance. Seeing a female lead performing so well in mainstream Tamil Cinema is a treat to your eyes, and thanks to Ranjith, he does it in every movie of his.

The best thing about Ranjith’s movies is that he draws out superb acting from his entire cast! And he achieves the same here. Kalaiyarasan, Vettai Muthukumar, Anupama Kumar, Sanchana Natarajan, Santhosh Pratap, GM Sundar, Kaali Venkat, Maran - and everyone else gives an apt and yet riveting performances in their respective roles.

Ranjith is truly one of those filmmakers, who is gonna leave an unreplaceable mark in Tamil Cinema! He has not only written & directed a masterpiece, but has written the dialogues as well. The dialogues are fitting, crisp, riveting and hits the spot every time!

SaNa oh SaNa - with every movie, this man is showing signs of becoming a legend in Tamil Movie Music. His BGM is just out of this world. He uses music as a character in his movies, and he has done it yet again. Santosh Narayanan at his best! Both “Neeye Oli’ & “Vambula Thumbula” are gripping tracks as well.

Murali G has helped out Ranjith so well with his Cinematography to make us travel back in time and to witness the sport first hand! Editing by Selva is laudable.

Art Director T Ramalingam & Costume Designer Aegan Ekambaram has played pivotal roles in producing a period drama.

The first thought that came to my mind when I was done watching the movie, was that this would have been a cracker of a theatrical experience! We certainly missed it. The efforts gone into, to bring out that era on screen should have been catered on the big screen, but it couldn’t happen.

The first half was swift and engrossing. I personally wouldn’t say the second half was slow, but comparatively it travelled in a slower pace, but it had to!

Ranjith has paid tribute to an amazing sport that was part of the lives of people in Namma Chennai! As a true Chennaite, I felt so proud and happy, that a piece of Madras’ history has been bought to the silver screen.

Overall a really power packed sports drama, that everyone should watch.

#sarpatta #Idiyappa #youhavefoundyourpathbugger