R ARIVANANTHAM
Fifty years ago director Singeetam Srinivasa Rao made a Tamil film ‘Dikkatra Parvathi ‘ (Helpless Parvathi), based on the novel of the same name by C Rajagopalachariyar, espousing the evils of drink. After that many films have made on the same theme. Despite these efforts, drug and drinking habits play spoilsport on the life of youngsters and many a families have been facing untold sorrows.
Kaviyarasu Kannadasan, an alcoholic, had also urged the youth to shun drinking. At the launch of ‘Jailer’- trailer, Superstar Rajinikanth candidly admitted that ‘alcoholism is the biggest mistake of my life’ and exhorted the youth not to fall prey to this bad habit.
- ‘Alcoholism is the biggest mistake of my life’: Superstar Rajinikanth said at the launch of ‘Jailer’- trailer
- It is a commendable work that consciously tells how alcoholism can damage health and destroy relationships
- Government of Tamil Nadu ought to make it tax-free
Debutant director-actor Jaya Krishna deserves a pat for directing the film ‘Aalakaalam’ and playing the lead role, which is based on the old saying ‘Kudi Kudiiyai Kedukkum’ (drinking habit will spoil the family). ‘Aalakaalam’ means deadly poison. The poison of deceit, intrigue, alcohol, drugs and oppression is threatening the world. Many people are trapped in this vicious cycle and could not come out of this deadly trap.
Trailer:
‘Alakaalam’ is a commendable work that consciously tells how alcoholism can damage health and destroy relationships.
Having lost her husband to excessive drinking, mother Yasoda (Iswari Rao) brings up her son Jai (Jayakrishna) without the shades of drinking and as an ideal son. The son also listens to his mother and passes the O Level exam and succeeds. After that his mother Yasoda admits Jai in an engineering college for higher education in the city. She also enrolls him in the student hostel there.
Hostel life… New friends.. New environment…. Jai is very happy. A girl named Tamil (Sandini) who studies with Jay in that college falls in love with him. Tamil expresses her feelings for Jay. Jay goes to the peak of happiness. A rich college-going boy who loves Tamil, tricks the non-drinker Jai to drink alcohol with his friends to create a wrong impression on Jai. At first Jai drinks alcohol moderately and then gradually becomes addicted to it.
In this environment, a son who grows up with ambition, a young man who fights for success, a girlfriend who confidently asks for his hand, have they recovered from the deceit and intrigue that come into life? Whether or not is the story. It has become a family film full of love and affection.
The first half of the screenplay moves without making any impact with fans guessing scenes. In the second half of, we can enjoy the sufferings of the hero who is unable to give up the habit of drinking alcohol. But in the climactic scene, unable to bear the grief of her son who died of alcohol mother Yashoda’s Rudra Thandavam brings tears in the eyes of viewers.
Jai loses a leg at one point as he becomes addicted to alcohol. Even then, his desire to drink alcohol did not diminish. The director has designed this character as an example of how alcohol can degenerate a person and sends a strong message to the society at large with his acting prowess.
Actress Chandini, who is playing the role of Tamil, is a college student, a lover, a mother of a child, and although she appears on screen in different looks, she has won a place in the hearts of fans with her unique performance.
One should appreciate the director for setting the climax scene differently.
Because teetotaler are initiated to start drinking through their friends as a game, and then become addicted to alcohol and destroy their relationships and health. This is the success of this film.
All the technical artists like songs, background music, cinematography, art direction, cinematography have given their full contribution to the director’s idea.
Sathyaraj has done the cinematography for this film composed by NR Raghunandan.
Cast
Jaya Krishna, Chandini, Iswari Rao, Deepa Shankar, Thangadurai, Gotandam, Scissar Manohar, Baba Bhaskar and others.
Crew
Produced by Sri Jai Productions and Directed by Jaya Krishna
