Thai Kizhavi review🕶️

 Thai Kizhavi is a Tamil comedy drama written and directed by debutant Sivakumar Murugesan and produced by Sivakarthikeyan.

 With Radhika Sarathkumar, the other actors — Singam Puli, Arul Doss, Bala Saravanan, Munishkanth, Ilavarasu, George Maryan, Muthukumar, and Raichal Rabecca — play pivotal roles, along with several supporting actors, some of them from the very village itself. The casting itself is a big plus for this film, adding rural depth perfectly.

Music is by Nivas K. Prasanna, and it is beautifully blended with the film’s subject.

To put the story in short it’s about an old lady, Pavunuthayi, who is a strong and independent woman in a rural village. She is tough, rigid, and often intimidating. As a moneylender, she strictly collects her dues, which makes the villagers fear her. She has three sons and one daughter. Suddenly, one day she falls sick, becomes paralyzed, and is on her deathbed. Except for her daughter, no one in the family really takes any effort to save her, and the whole village is actually happy about the fact that she is going to die. But the family later gets to know that she has saved a particular amount of gold for her daughter. To find out where the gold is, the family wants her to stay alive.

Did they save her or not?

Did they get the gold or not?

Did they realize the humanity within them, or did they continue to live as money diggers? That is the story.

The movie takes some time to set its pace and tone. The first few minutes show how the main character, Pavunuthayi, played by Radhika, is established. With a few scenes and song montages, her character and its weight are clearly set. The hard work she has put into her makeup reflects on the screen and looks very convincing. Talking about her acting, this type of subject is truly her cup of tea. More than usual, she lights up the screen with her presence. It felt fresh to see her in such a strong character rather than the typical mother roles she has been given in recent years.

The supporting roles also contribute significantly to the plot with realistic performances. 

The first half establishes the three sons, the daughter, the village setting, and its people. Within 20 minutes, the main character becomes bedridden, so the whole story is carried by these characters. The quick humorous counters, the setting, and  Kamal Haasan song references — especially during the interval and climax — are peak moments and these references didn’t feel forced, as the character had a valid reason for them. It also shows how cinema is a part of our lives, especially in rural areas. The first half is lively, though a very simple one-liner is stretched for the sake of drama.

But I think that’s what this film needs and offers. So, I didn’t have any problem with it, though a few might find parts of the first half slightly stretched and plain.

The second half is where the actual story unfolds — where the characters move, realize, and act. As an audience, we get a few “aww” moments too. The small reveal behind all this drama was just hilarious — really. I don’t want to give any spoilers. The comedy scenes land very well in the second half. Bala Saravanan and Munishkanth’s emotional scenes bring moments of silence in between so much laughter.

Dialogues were impressive. There are many such that make us laugh, clap, and think. I would like to mention three dialogues in particular.

One is where the head of the hospital speaks in his own language, which the other doctors can’t understand. He questions how patients would understand if doctors talk in their own language. Since it is about life, information should be conveyed carefully. One shouldn’t use language to show status, make others feel smaller than them, or to show pride.

Another dialogue is where Uppuliyaan played by  Singam Puli says that somehow he wants to make his son study so that atleast they could understand what others speak. For people like them, such unknown languages feel like watching a cartoon — they can see the actions but can’t understand anything.

And another powerful line by Pavunuthayi (played by Radhika ), “I don’t know whether money brings happiness, but it definitely brings respect. For that, one should be independent.”

The climax message is conveyed clearly by the director without sounding preachy. . From defining what true freedom is to highlighting the importance of education and independence — that too through an old woman’s character — it was very interesting.

But one concern I had was regarding the film’s promotion. It was heavily marketed with Radhika’s face everywhere. ( I know it's needed  because  that’s what the market demands ). But in the film, her screen space isn’t as much as we might expect. That might disappoint some viewers. Even I was waiting for her to wake up from the bed. However the feeling doesn’t last long, as we get carried away by the plot and performances. And whenever she appears on screen, even for a minute, it is filled with aura.

So, It’s an impressive debut from the director. Thai Kizhavi will make you laugh, pause for a moment, think, and act.

And after a gap, a  family entertainer is back in Tamil cinema. I was happy to see a large number of families — especially mothers and grandmothers — coming to the theatres🩷.

If you’re free, just book tickets at the nearby theatres. 🤍