Friday Oct 19 2007, Chennai

Sringaram: Aesthetically appealing

Directed by - Sharadha Ramanathan

Produced by - -

Music by - Padma Bhushan Lalgudi Jayaraman

Casts - Aditi Rao, Manoj K. Jayan, Hamsa Moily, Sashi Kumar, Manju Bhargavi

Banner - -

Sringaram is a period film that revolves around the traditions and lifestyle of ‘Devdasis’.  The fact that it has bagged many awards even before its release itself speaks volumes about the film.The debutant director Sharadha Ramanathan has come out with an artistic film that has a strong storyline based on ‘Devadasi’ tradition that prevailed in Tamilnadu in the pre independence period.Ponnamal is a devadasi in Mahadevapuram Sivan temple.As per tradition she makes her daughter Mathura played by Aditi Rao to follow her footsteps of dancing to the tunes of the temple, a devdasi, her heir.

  She becomes the concubine of the local Zamindhar, Mirasu, played by Manoj K.Jayan who looks majestic and handsome and is an apt choice for the role he plays.  Smitten by the classical beauty of Mathura, Mirasu enjoys her company.But Mathura’s only form of expression, her dance, remains her only peace.At one point of time Mirasu wants Mathura to cross the line and entertain an English official to get some personal favour.

  Mathura is angered by this and firmly declines the ‘offer’.She makes it clear that she can be a “dasi” but not a “vesi” (meaning prostitute in Tamil).  To pursue her sole interest in dance in a more dignified manner Mathura escapes from her land and joins a rebel group.  She gives birth to a baby girl and later lives her dreams through her daughter who becomes a renowned dancer.The director has successfully recreated the look and feel of the period in which the story happens on celluloid.

  The social order of the day has also been pictured well.  The movie is all about the woman who is subdued in the beginning, revolts later and finally emerges victor.Sringaram, which runs for around a hundred and twenty odd minutes, is an artistic expression in every respect, and a wonderful entertainer as well.The movie has two debutants.One is the Director, Sharadha Ramanathan, who has done a great job in presenting a story through art.

  The other is the heroine Athiti who has scored high points in her first film itself by giving a wonderful performance.  Her rendering of the character as well as the dance is a vision to behold.  Sashi Kumar is competent in his role as a ‘dwarapalaka’ (guard) of the temple.Chandrasekar, as the driver of bullock cart, too has done well.The music director (the legendary Lalgudi Jayaraman), the choreographer (the outstanding artist Saroj Khan), the cinematography (Madhu Ambat) have received national awards for their outstanding works in the film.

Art director Thotta Tharani, along with the stalwarts has taken us back to the period.Together, all of them create a feeling of living in that era.On the flip side, the script somehow lacks the adequate grip and emphasis.The last word, Sringaram has a strong artistic element with entertainment value.It is for sure a feather in the cap for the debutant director Sharadha Ramanathan.