Paava Kadhaigal
Directors: Sudha Kongara, Vignesh Shivn, Vetrimaaran and Gautham Menon
To emit: Kalidas Jayaram, Shanthanu, Anjali, Kalki Koechlin, Prakash Raj, Sai Pallavi, Simran, and Gautham Menon
The Netflix anthology movie Paava Kadhaigal, which translates as Tales of Sin, is not an easy movie to watch, because it lingers for quite a while even after you’re done with it. Such is the kind of impact it leaves on the viewer, and it does so by asking many important questions that will lead to a healthy debate on the various topics covered in the four segments of the anthology. Although honor killing is the underlying theme in all segments, the film also looks at topics such as same-gender love, love involving a transgender character, caste politics, rape, and inter-caste marriage. It is a great achievement that a film, despite dealing with multiple themes, is never lectured in its attempt to express its point of view.
Sudha Kongara’s segment is about equal relationships. It focuses on a transgender (Thangam) and their longing to be loved like anyone else. Set in the 1980s, the film also addresses issues such as interfaith marriage and transphobia. This segment features Kalidas Jayaram, Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, and Bhavani Sre. Kalidas Jayaram is a revelation in the role of Thangam, and he couldn’t have played the character more convincingly. He is the owner of the role, generally considered taboo in mainstream cinema, with a rare degree of dignity and maturity. More importantly, you never find his performance dramatic; it is measured and well rehearsed. Shanthanu and Bhavani also play their respective roles quite well.
Vetrimaaran’s short explores the dynamics of the relationship between a father and his daughter, who is pregnant from a marriage with a lower caste child. The story follows the events after the father, putting all hatred towards his daughter aside, invites his daughter home for a baby shower ceremony. The story takes an incredibly forceful turn with the arrival of the daughter. Vetrimaaran does not hesitate to portray the horrors of honor killing. In what is easily the most forceful segment of the film, it’s amazing how Vetrimaaran doesn’t do this about caste pride, but instead focuses more on the inability of a guilt-ridden father. Prakash Raj and Sai Pallavi as the father and daughter couple give outstanding performances. It’s their performances that make this short surprisingly realistic.
Kalki Koechlin and Anjali in a segment of Vignesh Shivn.
Vignesh Shivn’s short is starring Anjali and Kalki Koechlin. It’s about same-gender love and caste politics. Known for making outlandish stories in mainstream cinema, Vignesh takes a similar route to tell his story. The result is refreshingly funny and here is a filmmaker who reminds us that it is possible to tackle a controversial topic and use humor to say it with as much skill as other filmmakers. The use of subtle humor brings to life an otherwise bleak and dark film. It was quite audacious of Anjali, especially popular for her work in mainstream Tamil cinema, to play an uninhibited lesbian. Kalki also has a meaty role and plays it with confidence.
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The Gautham Menon segment focuses on a beautiful family of five and how one incident in particular makes living a nightmare for them. Rather than focus on the incident, the short follows the aftermath of the incident and its effect on family members. Menon plays the title role alongside Simran, who has a strong presence as a wife and mother. The story takes an unexpected turn at the climax and offers a very interesting take on the subject of honor killings.
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