R ARIVANANTHAM
Bull-taming sport or “jallikattu” is a religious and cultural festival that bears a “religious significance” to the people of Tamil Nadu from time immemorial or Sangam era. Some animal activists have moved the Supreme Court seeking ban on it while the Tamil Nadu Government has told the Supreme Court that bulls involved in the sport were treated with “great care” throughout their lifespan and no harm was ever allowed to be caused to the animals.
Now, ‘Jallikattu’ lovers are in a Hamletian dilemma whether they will be able to enjoy this ancient sport or not.
Amidst this legal tangle, actor Sasikumar’s ‘Kaari’ rekindles Jallikkattu spirit ahead of Pongal. Kaari is not different from numerous subjects the Tollywood that integrate the popular ancient sport of taming roaring bulls – Jallikkattu in to their core plots during the harvest festival – Maattu Pongal.
- The film speaks about topics on ethics of consumption of meat, pro-animal liberation, corporate greed and few other subjects the common men rarely come across in their day-to-day life.
- Shots of Karuppa (a superior quality bull) charging out of Vaadi Vaasal for the villagers to tame it are a delight to watch.
What is special in the rural drama ‘Kaari’ is that it speaks about topics on ethics of consumption of meat, pro-animal liberation, corporate greed and few other subjects the common men rarely come across in their day-to-day life.
The movie begins with a typical rural-actioner, deeply discussing a rivalry story between two villages in Ramanathapuram district and how the organizing Jallikkattu sport help them to bring together and resolve the long-last issue. Jallikkattu paves way of controlling the administration of common temple Karuppan for both the villages.
Sasikumar played the role of Sethu, a jockey who works in a horse racing stable in Chennai. His father, Vellasaamy (Aadukalam Narein), who works with him in the stable, is a socially responsible man and someone who never refrains from questioning wrongdoers.
Sethu’s life takes a turn when his father dies of a cardiac arrest a few minutes after his pet horse gets shot dead. What brings the people of Kariyalur and Sethu together, and how SKR’s business would affect their lives, form the rest of the story.
Debutant Director Hemanth’s writing is very much effective in most parts, and his ambitious screenplay includes a subtle discussion on certain topics that’s not very common. He also touches upon the human-animal bond with a couple of well-shot scenes that include the death of a pet horse and the disappearance of a bull that was kept like a family.
The Jallikattu sequences that appear in the pre-climax portion are quite interesting and unique. Shots of Karuppa (a superior quality bull) charging out of Vaadi Vaasal for the villagers to tame it are a delight to watch. Sethu falls in love with a girl (Parvathy Arun) in a nearby village who owns Karuppa, and little did he know that fate would want him to tame the same bull that’s been looked upon as a hero.
Actress Parvathy Arun is another talent to watch out for. Her performance after the disappearance of Karuppa the Bull is great, and she’s done justice to the role. Though Ammu Abirami doesn’t have much scope to perform, she has contributed her best. Samyuktha Shanmughanathan plays JD Chakravarthy’s wife, and she delivers a decent performance.
Cinematography by Ganesh and the BGM D Imman has elevated the script to next level.
Kaari has interesting and impactful film to watch that reminiscence the rural sports of Tamils.
Synopsis
Kaari revolves around the life of a horse jockey in Chennai and how fate brings him to a remote village in Ramanathapuram district, which is about to witness the cruelty of money and power.
