R ARIVANANTHAM
With India developing fast as the third economic power, highly industrialized states like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh attract more migrants – both blue collar and white collar. Similarly, many skilled and unskilled Indians go abroad to eke out a living.
People on the move or migrants are powerful drivers for development in both their origin and destinations, as workers, students, entrepreneurs, family members, artists, and much more. Migrants often maintain strong connections to their natives while embracing their new communities, where they bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and skill.
If managed well, mobility can be a cornerstone of sustainable development, prosperity and progress. Unlocking migration’s potential is the key to accelerating efforts to meet the significant challenges of the 2030 Agenda articulated during the Sustainable Development Goal summit in New York in September 2023, for the benefit of all.
There is an urgent need for the international community to provide people-centric and evidence-based solutions for people to remain in their communities, and for those who want to or must move.
Migrants and displaced people represent some of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in society. Migrants have proven to be a source of prosperity, innovation, and sustainable development to states or countries of origin, transit, and states or host countries.
There is a hue and cry in Tamil Nadu that North Indians have usurped their jobs and thus deprived them of their livelihoods. In reality, from time immemorial Tamils have moved to many countries and states in search of job and doing business. Many of them have even ruled over many countries and now show their clout in controlling the politico-economy of them.
The film ‘Rail’ is on right track to bring about the much-needed transformation among the masses to treat the migrants with due respect and dignity as ‘Tamil Nadu has been known as the land that promotes migrants’ for many ages.
With an avowed aim to reflect the trials and tribulations of migrants, sociopreneur Bhaskar Shakthi has deftly handled this delicate story, screenplay and direction and picked up the momentum too. Bhaskar Shakthi deserves a pat for presenting this sugar-coated pill to change the mindset of the locals about the migrants.
There is a dialogue in the film where a migrant worker in Dubai returns home and says, “We are all immigrants. If the people who work here are from Northern States, I am a migrant who went to work in Dubai. You know who cheated the people here, grabbed the land and accumulated wealth. Yet you don’t blame or question them because they are rich and powerful. Instead, you look to vent your anger at these immigrants because they are poor and powerless.”
The hard-hitting dialogue is grounded in reality and very apt. Similarly, there is another conversation about giving people a second chance. All these are positives that work in favour of the film.
‘Rail’ film producers seem to have put immense faith in their film’s story and their actors and their faith in both of them doesn’t seem misplaced. This film does not have any established actor as all are debutants who have infused life into their characters. This makes the film very attractive and interesting.
Trailer:
Both Kungumaraj Muthuswamy as Muthiya and Vairamala as Chellam are remarkable in portraying their respective characters. Kungumaraj is especially impressive in the latter part of the film.
Thought there is no comedian in this thought-provoking film some clever writing provides some good situational comedy scenes. For example, an old lady goes to the grocery store early in the morning teasing both Muthiah and his friend sarcastically. “Aren’t you going yet? Go go, it’s time,” she teases them.
The film has realistic and rustic scenes. It’s amazing how a good cinematographer can do wonders with her camera and make even simple, ordinary things look extraordinary by enhancing their visual appeal. Theni Eswari’s handling of camera in capturing the scenes is very adept.
Music composer SJ Janani comes with a suitably mellow background score to emphasize the mood of the scene. The music is very appropriate and used very judiciously, and it blends well with the scenes.
Director Bhaskar Shakthi tells a good story with minimal sources and substantial messages. Thus he makes it a neat, solid, meaningful movie to create the awareness on migrants.
