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Diwaan
 Director: Surya Prakash
Cast: Sharat Kumar, Kiran, Sharmilee, J.P.R., Anandraj, Udayprakash, Vadivelu.
In how many different ways can dual roles be depicted,where one is aged, and the other the typical young 'hero'? Not many, if we were to refer to many of the earlier films! The younger one has invariably not much to do, except all the 'heroic' acts most heroes do in films. And as for the older guy, it's normally a lot of attitude, with slight changes in mannerisms, and get-ups, the character again invariably in a white ensemble. Unless a filmmaker comes out of this mind-set and tries to do something different, it's going to be monotonous viewing for the audience!
In his latest release 'Diwaan', Sharat Kumar plays two characters. That of the powerful, aged, feudal lord Duraisingham, and of his long-lost grandson Bala Murugan alias Raghavan. The first part depicts orphan Raghavan wooing the wealthy Gita (Kiran), and giving refuge to Aishwarya (Sharmilee) the lonely rich girl who had eloped with her driver and was stranded. The second half begins when Raghavan suddenly finds himself face to face with his past and learns that he is Bala Murugan, the grandson of local bigwig
Duraisingham.
 A long-drawn-out cut-to-the-past, depicts the times and life of Duraisingham. Durai walking with long majestic strides,always accompanied by his two sons, the duo always with their hands folded and a step behind him. The refrain of a song 'Singha nadai...' following him. Durai has an ongoing feud with wily politician Kandavelu (J.P.R.), ending in Kandavelu going on a bloody massacre at Durai.s house. As Durai's sister (Manorama) escapes with his grandson Murugan, the baby is accidentally flung across, where he falls plonk next to a blind beggar sitting with his own baby. The beggar-who doesn't seem to have heard
the thud or any commotion around - mistakenly picks up Murugan and walks away, leaving his own baby behind.
Durai in a vendetta spree, kills Kandavelu and his gang. The fierce fight scenes here, probably to go with the 'Singham' name, has a lot of growling sounds in the background.! Durai surrenders and confesses to his crime. The director in eulogising his hero, turns the whole court-room scene into a mockery. Back to the present where Murugan alias Raghavan visits the prison to see his grandpa. Only to be shown a 'samadhi' right inside the cell. For the director what counts is 'homage to the hero', and he has gone overboard and taken a lot of liberties while going about it.
 Kandavelu is supposed to be the dreaded villain, but J P R (from Telugu films) cuts a comic figure with his snarls and tortuous expressions straight out of some decades old film. There's a constancy about Kiran in her looks, dressing, performance and roles. So there's not much of expectation or disappointment here. Sharmilee has to get out of her cute bubbly act. With his long flowing, grey, shoulder- length hair, a part of it falling over his left eye, and in a white dhoti-kurta ensemble, and those long strides, one has to concede that Sharat does cut a handsome figure as Duraisingham. Apart from this, 'Diwaan' is all sound and no fury!
Malini Mannath
Published on 30th Aug, 2003
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Now
Showing |
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