(Col. Dr. K. Kamalakar)
A story set in a small village, Polluru, near Sileru. It has a Father, Mother, Daughter, a school , a politician, a bunch of vagabonds etc. A film that shows their relationships, emotions, human weaknesses, and all that any man wants to do in one’s life. But the script writer decides to address the issue of ” insecurities of a Girl child ” in our society. And he has also taken up the challenge of running a thread of ” devotion” from the first frame to the last, as a backdrop to his story.
Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa. The film takes off with Swamys preparing for Irumudi and ends with a child coming for Irumudi from the second line Guru Swamy. While the film gives a hard-hitting message to the society not to fill the minds of girl children with ” fear”, it also gives a subtle divine message that certain humans are born for a purpose and live for it only.
Trinath (Raviteja), the father, and Manemma (Nakshatra) as the daughter stole the show. Siva Nirvana, the writer director has cleverly woven the Ayyappa devotees’ thread into a story dealing with a social issue. Four of the five songs are devotional as per the demands of the situation in the story.
The master stroke of Siva Nirvana is the stunning celebration of an end-of-life situation, towards the end. All the villagers good or bad coming to shoulder the responsibility of the celebration is in a way, a redemption. The final 15 minutes of the film will haunt you for a long time. It is emotionally stirring.
Siva also gave a message to the ” thousand (crore) wallah ” Pan India film makers and Stars that audience are still alive not to bother about ” Stars” if content touches their hearts.
Did I not tell you the name of the movie? IRUMUDI. He says it is a knot between the God and Devotee. But with his clever storytelling, he silently tied a knot between his movie and the audience.
Take a bow Siva !!!
(Reviewer is Medical Director to Ramdev Rao Hospital, Hyderabad)