Spoiler Alert: This post contains surprises you may encounter when you watch Meiyazhagan. If you haven’t watched the film and plan to do so, you may want to skip this post.
Watched what: Meiyazhagan
Watched where: Netflix
Language: Tamil (language and subtitle options available)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 2 hours 58 minutes
Cast: Arvind Swamy. Karthi. Various others.
What is Meiyazhagan about?
Arulmozhi (Arvind Swami) is a disgruntled man at war with himself. He lives with his family, feeds a multitude of parrots every day, and is weighed down by a 20-year-old family grudge. Under the pressure of emotional blackmail, he agrees to attend the wedding of his favourite cousin in the town that he has avoided for 20 years. The town he grew up in, where everything he loved was taken away from him because of a family feud. Arul plans to meet the bride and groom, give them his gift, and leave before he encounters the relatives he deeply resents.
At the wedding, Arul encounters a happy, go-lucky young man (Karthi) who knows him and everything about him. This young man even seems to know everyone, from the caterer to the bride, her family, and Arul’s Uncle. Before he realises it, a baffled Arul is being escorted around by the young man, who is such a stranger to him that Arul doesn’t even know his name.
In no time, the young man has Arul smiling and relaxed, convincing him to stay the night at his house. Guilt gnaws heavily at Arul, who can’t remember who this man is or what his name is.
What did I think of Meiyazhagan?
The beauty of the film Meiyazhagan lies in its simplicity. A thoughtful script, elevated by a superlative performance by Karthi, ably supported by Arvind Swamy and the supporting cast.
Karthi’s innocence, warmth towards everyone he meets, including animals, and his awe and respect for Arul warm your heart towards him. His eagerness to please without compromising his respect and his belief in humanity makes his character shine.
As Karthi starts prodding Arul’s memory, he takes him back to when he was a teenager, and Karthi, a child then, visited him with his family. Arul, who has no recollection of even meeting Karthi, is amazed to discover that the kindness and love he showed towards little Karthi shaped how that child chose to lead his life as an adult. The warmth and generosity of a teenage Arul made the child, Karthi, look up to him and emulate him throughout his own life.
An embittered Arul finds himself letting down his guard and encountering the version of himself Karthi recalls so evocatively.
When Karthi reveals that he plans to name his soon-to-be-born child, Arulmozhi, Arul finds the last of his defences melt away, even as shame at not even knowing Karthi’s name makes its presence felt. Karthi then requests Arul to bless him and his wife by taking their names the next morning. Arul is left contrite, and to counter this, he slips away quietly into the night without bidding the sleeping Karthi or his wife goodbye.
This heartwarming film makes one realise that our ego fans our devils, keeping them alive even as they eat away at us. That distrust leads one to miss the goodness in people and good people. That grudges not only hold us down, but the weight of them cripples us into misshapen selves who don’t, instead can’t, fit in anywhere. That hatred forms shackles that bind us to people we are trying to distance ourselves from. Forgiveness is crucial because it sets us free, and a pure heart sees purity in every heart.
Meiyazhagan was a beautiful watch. It made me smile, it made me laugh, it left me misty-eyed, and it made me introspect. The lessons I learned from this film will stay with me for a long time. My biggest takeaway from Meiyazhagan was that a kindness done is never lost, like your luggage on a baggage carousel; it may pass you by once, but it will always return to you.
***** Five Stars to Meiyazhagan
*M’s Rating Chart.
* I want my money back + a fully booked and paid 3 month trip to _________(please fill in a destination of choice)
** I don’t want my money back, even though I didn’t like the movie, but the director/producer may please pay for my popcorn/samosa/parking.
*** Time and money both well spent!
**** Loved it!
***** Whistle, clap, even smile at the irritating neighbour-who-kept-talking-on-cell phone and extol the movie’s virtues.
I loved your writing as much as I loved the movie ! This movie will stay in my heart for a really long time ❤️❤️
Thank you, Preethi.
Enjoyed your review just as how I enjoyed the movie.
Thank you, Devi.
Lovely review just like the movie
Thank you, Chinu.
“M” , I have seen the movie the day it came on the ott, and loved it…after reading your review( such beautifully written) I feel like going and watching it again ❤️
Thank you, Madhu.
I simply loved this movie. So beautifully done. I cried buckets when she opens his wedding gift on stage, sat on the edge of my seat during the final admission half expecting the cobra to strike and cause bad karma for another lifetime. I loved the movie so much. Learnt so much about life, regret, forgiveness, moving on and grace.
I am so glad you watched it and loved it, Nayan!