Subramaniapuram: A tale of Crime, Trust and Betrayal
Revisiting one of the best debut movies in Tamil Cinema
2008
July 4
Subramaniapuram — a crime drama about a gang of friends set in the 1980s starring a bunch of newcomers — was released but big theatres refused to screen the film. Director-actor-producer Sasikumar says about the time of release :
“Subramaniapuram released two weeks after Kamal sir’s Dasavatharam. There were some other big films running too and we didn’t get good theatres when our film released. Sathyam complex didn’t pick our film for the first week, in fact. Shanti theatre gave us only their smaller screen; other theatres also slotted us only in the noon shows. The trade was sceptical seeing our poster featuring a group of rugged, bearded men”
The film picked up slowly and became a commercially and critically successful venture. It ran for 100 days and even the theatres that refused to screen it initially started premiering the film on their main screens. People were surprised at the rootedness of the film, staying true to the plot, without needless dance numbers or over-the-top fight scenes. Famously, the film inspired Anurag Kashyap to go back to his roots and thus “Gangs of Wasseypur” was born.
I rewatched the film recently and it still feels as fresh and affecting as it was. So here are some elements that stand out for me even after 14 years of its release:
SPOILERS AHEAD
Kangal Irandal:
Aged like wine. Such a brilliant composition. The other songs from the album are good too but nothing beats this.
Parallels between Azhagar and Kanagu:
Azhagar falls at an unknown woman’s feet to save his life. Kanagu falls at his niece’s feet to save his life
Azhagar feels enraged by the fact that he had to fall at a woman’s feet to save his life and wants to kill the people responsible for it. Similarly, Somu’s wife chides him for hiding in embarrassment after losing out on the post he desired and Somu ends up beating his wife. This episode at home, where the men feel embarrassed as a woman confronts their defeat, pushes Kanagu to kill Somu’s rival.
Trust and betrayal:
Paraman warns Azhagar about Thulasi and her family. Azhagar, blinded by love, doesn't pay heed to his warnings and even goes on to say he feels safe only when he’s with her. But he ends up being betrayed by his lover.
Kasi’s greed :
Kasi’s greed is foreshadowed throughout the movie. In the first hour of the film, you see him pushing others to give him money or buy liquor. He even pushes Paraman and Azhagar to accept money from Ravi while others are hesitant.
Stunning climax:
The climax segment is probably one of the best in Tamil cinema. The deaths affect you deeply and convey the pain of betrayal. Consider the scenes where Paraman and Azhagar meet brutal deaths — the pain caused by betrayal registers more deeply than the pain of sickles prodding through.
The way the scenes are staged — Azhagar dying on the inside while learning that Thulasi has ratted out his location. Sasikumar keeps shifting between Azhagar and Thulasi. The violence is relegated to the background and the emotional impact is registered deeply.
He employs a similar technique for Paraman’s death. Kasi gives up the location in exchange for money, and we see him take away the weapon of his friend. We don’t cut to Paraman’s situation but we stick with Kasi, as he moves away from the scene of the crime, without any remorse. The tracking shot ends with him accepting money and sitting at the end of the town border. Such a cold and harrowing scene.
It is stunning to see the craft and control displayed by Sasikumar as a debutant director. He has moved on from Subramaniapuram and turned into a full-time actor, featuring prominently in rural dramas. One wonders if the film’s success is more of a burden, as his career hasn’t reached the peak he achieved with Subramaniapuram.
