DIRECTOR
Balaji Mohan, Halitha Shameem, Madhumitha, Surya Krishna, Richard Anthony
LANGUAGE
Tamil
‘Won’t a new dawn come?’ Putnam Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa roughly translates to ‘Won’t a new dawn come?’ It is, in theory, a question. However, the statement is rhetorical in this case and in actuality. The pandemic’s intense fear has faded into a comfortable but deeper dread. This trend is seen in the latest installment of Amazon’s Tamil pandemic anthology.
Mugakavasa Mutham
They are, nevertheless, ordinary folks trapped in a miserable profession in Balaji Mohan’s breezy Mugakavasa Mutham. A covid checkpoint is manned by Murugan (TeeJay) and Kuyilu (Gouri Kishen). Tasteless food, dancing awareness films, masks, immunizations, and home-cooked meals all contribute to the blossoming of love. Balaji Mohan’s approach is comic book-like, and the lighter moments are effective. However, the picture loses its feet when it attempts to be serious, even if only for a little while. The words, like Gouri Kishen’s makeup, felt visibly out of place.
Loners
Online marriages, virtual photoshoots, Twitter spaces, and the death of celebrities like Vivekh and KV Anand are all references in Halitha Shameem’s short. ‘Vaccine a ponga Makka,’ Chennai’s new alarm tone, blares in the backdrop. The film depicts how the epidemic compelled us to seek collective sanctuary on the Internet, where we discovered new ways to be new people and meet new people.
Mouname Paarvaiyaal
The shots were produced to give the impression that they were eating together. However, it is clear after a few seconds that they are genuinely alone, even with each other. The epidemic has helped reignite forgotten relationships, as Mouname Parvaiyaal demonstrates. It has caused us to re-calibrate emotionally by offering a shared opponent.
The Mask
The Mask, directed by Suriya Krishna, offers a unique approach to presenting a gay protagonist. The short compare the mask to a closet, contrasting the pandemic’s psychological claustrophobia with the social judgment of the LGBT community. The only piece in this collection where the epidemic appears forced, more like an afterthought, is The Mask.
Nizhal Tharum Idam
With Nizhal Tharum Idam, director Richard Antony produces an intimate, personal mood piece about loneliness. The film, which is poignantly crafted, explores the paradox of emotional connection. Nizhal Tharum Idam’s evocative, atmospheric approach is well complimented by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s emotional yet restrained performance.
