Period dramas are always a not-so preferred cup of coffee for any producers and for directors as well. Especially, when it amalgamates with a musical backdrop, many feel it to be a speculative bet and don’t opt for it. Firstly, we have to appreciate AR Rahman for taking up this endeavour giving more life and soul into Vasantha Balan’s dream. And then, the producers – Sashikanth and Varun Manian followed by the Dream Factory releasing it.
Kaaviya Thalaivan is a story about Thalaivankottai Kaliappa Bhagavathar (Siddarth) and Melachivilberi Gomathi Nayagam Pilla (Prithviraj) inheriting the best traits of acting from their father-like mentor Thavathiru Sivadas Swamigal (Nasser). Both of them have a close bonding, but sooner jealousies and betrayals become a hurdle in their friendship leaving them so much desolated in their lives forever.
When we watch Kaaviya Thalaivan as a film, it has much on commercial elements and Vasantha Balan has tried to use some oomph factors like Siddarth and Anaika on their intimacies. But sooner, he picks the most complicated sequences that involve the turmoil and upheavals breaking up between Siddarth and Prithviraj. When it comes to performance, Prithviraj deserves the best of all praises and Siddarth scores the brownie points after a very long interval. The balancing characterisations delineated by Vasantha Balan between Prithviraj and Siddarth become the strong element in Kaaviya Thalaivan. Vedhika is simply good in her role and in some places she carries the traces of her role in Paradesi. Anaika is a misfit. Nasser doesn’t need a criticism and he is someone beyond it. Thambi Ramaiah, Ponvannan and Singam Puli make the best on their parts.
It’s been more than a decade we heard such a bombastic classical music from AR Rahman. The rerecording and background score have its realms more than songs. Everyone in the technical department have exerted the best on their charm.
There are some aspects on the flip side that includes few slow moments, which could have been avoided. But Kaaviya Thalaivan is a special and new experience to the contemporary audiences.
Verdict: Classic attempt and deserves a watch.
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