Paradesi (2013) Reviews

• Based on 1940's Real life incidents of Tea Plantation workers.

  sadiqkhandirector2013-03-15

  Story: Ottuparuki alias Rasa (Adharvaa) is the local messenger, who travels across to different villages, delivering the news! Angamma (Vedhika) is a bubbly village belle, with a soft corner for the lively Rasa! However, the villagers are against Angamma getting involved with him, and warn her against it. Sensing the need to prove himself he decides to work in Zameendar's tea plant. Rasa's struggle for freedom at tea plantation forms the crux. Performances Adharvaa is stunning throughout the movie. His big expressive eyes bring out many emotions. His extreme physical and mental effort can be seen clearly on screen. Climax act was top notch. Vedhika is sure to make a mark with her character which has both shades. She brings out some relief from proceedings during interval. Dhansika gives some quite subtle reactions. Her character is contrary to Vedhika's character but still she is the show-stopper. The others in cast like the villainous landlord and the granny of Adharvaa are excellent in their performance. Technical Analysis Cinematography by Chezhiyan is brilliant, the locales of 1940 village and tea plant are well captured and camera work stands out in the film. Musical scores are excellent while background score is quite impressive. Action sequences are fantastically shot. Bala has succeeded again in direction department while screenplay is interesting. Editing by Kishore Te, who made the cuts perfect without any flaws is outstanding. Paradesi is technically brilliant. Analysis Director Bala has come up with innovative story line.. Paradesi is based on novel The Red Tea (written by Paul Harris). The film depicts the wretched lives of tea plantation workers. Director Bala shows us the lives of carefree and poor villagers who are forced to work as slaves for rest of their lives with no trace of freedom. The first half is smooth going with few heart touching scenes and interval bang is absolute outstanding. In the second half of the movie Adharvaa steals the show with his sheer acting skills along with Dhansika who plays the role of abandoned mother of 2 children. Climax is remarkable. With no commercial elements, we are yet to see how the Tamil movie lovers will receive the film. Nonetheless, the film will be loved by Bala fans and remains as one of his best works. Final Verdict Paradesi is surely going to be a landmark film for Tamil cinema.

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• Bala's Best

  chandrasekar912013-04-09

  Paradesi is by far Bala's best film. With no compromise on commercial aspects the movie literally relives the lives of the famine stricken people of southern India under the rule of the British. One can watch this movie simply to enjoy the language and the Tamil slang the people of that age used. At the end of the movie one would have gone through all emotions; happiness, sadness, laughter, pain, fear, pity. Though the story is adapted from 'Eriyum Panikadu' a Tamil translation of the 1969 novel Red Tea by Paul Harris Daniel this film has got a flavor of its own. The narrative style of the Director makes you feel as though you are one of the characters in the movie. The movie actually sucks the audience into it for its entire length leaving the audience much to think about in the end. Any person who enjoyed the movie would want to read the novel, any person who has already read the novel will enjoy the movie even more. Coming to the technical aspects, the film has already won the National award for Best costume designs. The Camera work is noteworthy,specially in the initial scenes. The background score is descent and the songs go well with the flow of the movie. The lead characters have excelled individually however the rest of casting could have been a little better. All in all Paradesi is a movie to watch, a movie to live,a movie to learn from..

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• Paradesi movie is about lost paradise.

  parkbench-636-54212013-03-18

  PARADESI movie review by me. Paradesi movie is about lost paradise.(Just juggle the words paradise,paradesi will come,actually the story is about people who leave their place on lookout for better future (paradesi looking out for paradise) but here as how the words can be juggled their life was juggled to Hell. Just now seen "Paradesi" movie,I got involved in the movie so much,the tears came when exactly the climax came even though I don't know it is Climax,that is Direction at its best,kudos Bala. Cons:The movie reminded me of Apocalypto at some scenes but it is the story about "paradesi's" who were same and who were cheated and tortured like this. Pros:Whenever we go to tourist places in TamilNadu and Kerala border we just take picture of Tea estate and Tea plantation but this movie rather pictures their History,sufferings,life in ancient India. I never seen a Indian movie hero living in a Hut in a movie or be it shots shot inside a Hut or treated like beggar in the Indian movies of this past decade. Verdict:If you love drinking a cup of tea,please see the movie and feel the aroma of this movie,which extracts not tea from tea leaves but Blood from this leaves. This movie is adapted from the novel named "Red Tea" by Paul Harris Daniel ,which I believed and the people who watched this movie or those who have read the novel will believe as aptly named. Director:Bala

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• A Period play from the house of Bala

  SivakumarBalachandran2013-03-23

  Paradesi (2013) Review: Joining the genre of adapted screen play "Paradesi" opens up as an authentic period play. This is a true story adapted from a Tamil novel named "Eriyum Panikadu" which is the Tamil version of the novel named "Red Tea". Bala has given us yet another close to nature realistic story of the natives of Saalur village. The story line time travels back to the year 1930 when the British government basically involved in the business of tea plantation. The entire movie shows how Indians have been brutalized by the British lords. Director Bala has depicted clearly about the slavery treatment and the harassment in all forms may it be to the sexual abuse or the merciless punishments and thrashing the Indian slave employees. Interestingly we also observe how in those days poverty was taken advantage for religious conversion. Director Bala for sure has done tremendous research to showcase this film. After the king maker the director let us see how casting has helped out in this movie. Coming to the lead role by Adharva Murali has shown such matured acting in the role of Raasa allies Otti Poriki. He has lived the role and it shows how he has been moulded by the director. He can now proudly join the "Bala stars Band wagon" along with Vikram, Surya,Aarya and Vishal. The lead ladies done by Dhanshika and Vedhika C Kumar, both of them have done picture perfect.Dhanshika reminds us of Muthalagu with her commanding base voice tone and Vedhika did perfect on her role but could have maintained her tanned look evenly throughout the movie. Other small 200 characters has lived really and added strong basement to the story. Special mention would be the newly married couple. Dialogues by the Ace Tamil writer Naanjil Naadan were too raw in certain places. BGM has been a definite plus to add the grieving silence in the movie and songs as well by GV. Very nice cinematography to show the period colour on celluloid. The editing was little dragging towards the end. Verdict: On the whole get in for a 2hour 5 mins film stripping and showcasing the black pages of Indian history. Reviewed by Sivakumar Balachandran (bsiva84@gmail.com)

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• really awesome movie

  kevindvds2013-03-18

  really awesome movie :) bala the godfather of Tamil cinema Paradesi One of its kind.... hats off to the national award winner Director Bala....Brilliant performance from the whole crew.. no one to spare...Heard t was a true story hand Prue independence.... kinda heart broken... Its kinda tribute to those people working n tea plantations.....Tears at the end...highly worthy movie... BEst original screenplay film by bala ever !! Paradesi No one in Indian cinema Industry can take this subject !! makkalaal maraikapatta Unmai !! very Sad It happened for real !! Bala Living a REal men Life . took cinema beyond entertainment Pls we waiting For Film on Tamil ealam , sir. P.S : Oscar 2 awards parcel for aadharvaa and bala

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