Spoilers ahead…
Text:
The best of screenwriters cannot imagine writing something like the Mahabharata because there are so many plots, subplots, and characters. And oOne of the most fascinating characters is Karna, who is born a demi-god. He is the son of a queen (Kunti) and a god (Surya). But he’s abandoned by his mother and raised by people from oppressed communities. So it’s no wonder he’s often seen as an outsider; a tragic figure who never gets what he wants. He doesn’t get to be with his mother, brothers, or even the woman he loved (Draupadi, in some versions of the epic).
My favorite film version of the Mahabharata is Shyam Benegal’s Kalyug. He sets the tale between two feuding industrial families, and Shashi Kapoor plays the Karna character. But Tamil viewers are probably more familiar with Mani Ratnam’s unofficial “biopic” of Karna, Thalapathi. The film has all the familiar characters — Karna, Draupadi, Kunti, Duryodhana — but Karna is the hero of the story, rather than the traditional Arjuna. And then we have the actual biopic called Karnan, starring Sivaji Ganesan and made by BR Pathulu in 1964.
Read the rest of this article at the link below.
Copyright ©2021 Film Companion.
Baradwaj Rangan 
Arvind Vupadhrishta
April 9, 2021
No 😦 We need a text review for this. Please consider. Apologies, if it is in the works…
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dhananjayank
April 9, 2021
I always expect a written review from Mr. Baradwaj Rangan {DOT}
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Rajesh Balasubramanianr
April 9, 2021
Yes. Please. text review please. I can’t spend 15 minutes for a movie review. I am here to read.
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Yajiv
April 9, 2021
Video killed the writing star 😦
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YAML92
April 10, 2021
Please! We need a text review for this … just a link will do.. we’ll even read it at the FC site but not having to read a BR review after watching the movie kinda feels incomplete now 😦
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Poonaam
April 10, 2021
Oh no I can’t watch the video! Why no text?!
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Aravindan R
April 10, 2021
For a decade, my movie watching experience has always been to read your text review on the way back home from the theater. Feeling bad this may not be the same again.
I understand video review may make more business sense. Still… #BRingbackTextReview 🙂
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Satya
April 10, 2021
Except for the scene when the Charuhasan’s character rejects marriage proposal, we hardly see or sense that Surya’s caste in Thalapathi is a legit issue. Hence it works as a study in isolation – you don’t need the community here beyond the point that they raised him. And, I think the oppression faced by Surya wasn’t from his background. He was denied love, not privilege. That is a marked difference from Karnan, but then it is a Mari Selvaraj’s film. Hence kinda expected.
I love the basic idea of the film and what it tried to say, but I guess we had very much to unpack in a limited time. I wonder how it would turn out as a web series. BTW BR and others, please let me know. Is it just me, or anti-Vishnu sentiments are a trope in films about the oppressed communities in Tamil cinema?
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Berlin
April 10, 2021
Indian Express, First Post, The Hindu whose primary content is nowhere near films have all carried out elaborate review of this magnificent and significant film. It’s disheartening to see Film Companion which solely relies on films did not let the best in business to write a review for this one.
There has not been much content that I connect with in the blog in recent days and I was badly waiting for your review BR. God knows how many times I refreshed. Disappointed 😦
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ravenus1
April 10, 2021
This possibly one of your most effusive reviews, looks like you were thoroughly absorbed by the film. Looking forward to see it when I can.
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brangan
April 10, 2021
Satya: And, I think the oppression faced by Surya wasn’t from his background.
That’s exactly what I say. THALAPATHY is the story of Karna vs Arjuna. It’s a character drama.
Even though this one’s named KARNAN, it’s about his community.
I think I say this quite a few times in the review.
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krishikari
April 10, 2021
The Mahabharatha is such an amoral epic, who we see as the heroes is crazy.
This is a very passionate and yeah, effusive review, great to hear. Can’t wait to watch the film now. (Just wish I could see it legally) BR, your interviews with Mari Selvaraj were the best too, and his teaming up with Dhanush feels almost inevitable after Pariyerum Perumal.
Thoughts about making a story about individuals and making a story about their story in the context of the caste system or “community” if you want to use the euphemism — if you look at who makes the film you will see this divide. Who is interested in just a dramatic character story and who is interested in stories about changing an oppressive system? Who complains about “message” movies when the message is against the status quo and who doesn’t even see that it’s a message movie when it upholds it? Your location within society is revealed each time.
As far as the comments about text vs. video, you do what you want to do. Who are we to complain? 🙂
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YAML92
April 10, 2021
I think this is some kind of test done by the Film Companion team to see if having only video reviews drive up more revenue/engagement… Sigh although I think this move makes business sense .. I just hope FC can get back BR writing text reviews at-least for major movies… 😦
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brangan
April 10, 2021
Got this via email, from Sreerag:
Like ‘pariyerum perumal’, ‘karnan’ also begins by showcasing the audience a death scene. While “karuppi” was shown more like a sister to the hero than a dog, here it’s karnan’s actual sister who’s dying. While karuppi’s death was something that shook Perumal’s life, here in karnan it is shown as an event that affected the lives of everyone in the community.
While talking about the community, here they are trying to give us a lot of insight into their lives. like how they celebrate their victories, how they cry out their sorrows, how they celebrate death, how they grieve over someone’s death, how they spend their free time, the kind of games they play, the rituals that they follow, or how they fight amongst them. A lot of references and cinematic parallels are present all over the film. A dalapathy t-shirt worn by karnan is shown at the beginning, as an ode to the most famous cinematic version of the character. Almost all of the characters in the movie are named after mythological characters. In this version, we can also see karnan uniting with Draupadi (but the makers could have made her character more prominent.)
Above everything, the movie had a great connection with the Japanese classic seven samurai by Akira Kurosawa. An oppressed village fighting against a corrupted force for the sake of their survival. Even the village geography and their ways of fighting are very much similar to what we were shown in the Kurosawa masterpiece.
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brangan
April 10, 2021
FC does have a text review:
https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/tamil-review/karnan-movie-review-tamil-mari-selvaraj-second-film-is-a-chilling-wail-against-inaction-dhanush-rajisha-vijayan-lal/
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Rad Mahalikudi
April 10, 2021
BR, misdirecting us pointing to someone else’s review ;-))
Yes, it is your choice to do a video review or a written review. Considering the movie, I was expecting a long review from you similar to that of Pauline Kael’s (I always wonder how Pauline would have fared these times…would she have changed too…of course we will never know). Thanks to you, I bought her book “For Keeps” 3 years back (ended up paying INR7K!!) – love the book and her reviews. Think about this….how many times you will get the opportunity to write your views in a long format from Kollywood movies – is few like these movies. From your video review – You seem to have really liked the movie, it is 14+mts compared to others which are in mid single digits.
We are waiting!!
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Prakash
April 10, 2021
All of us stumbled upon this blog due to BR’s unique take on films and his writing skills. Atleast me. So I am disappointed that he is doing Video reviews which he himself some time back did not feel able to convey all his thoughts. His review felt more as an Ask BR segment. Disappointed
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Kandavel Karunanithi
April 10, 2021
We want Baradwaj Rangan’s text review 🙂
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Yajiv
April 10, 2021
BR sir, could you please consider writing some text reviews for your blog at least (even if they are not published in FC)? I really enjoy your videos but I miss your flair/wit when it comes to the written word. Doesn’t have to be every movie, but maybe a movie that really moves you (be it in a good or bad way) to put pen to paper. It would really make our day.
Of course, if this is a workload thing and you feel stretched as it, I completely understand. Please feel free to do what is best for your wellbeing.
I am looking forward to watching Karnan when it comes on OTT.
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brangan
April 10, 2021
The transcript is up…
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brangan
April 10, 2021
Yajiv: I did a text review of PAGGLAIT, no?
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Madan
April 10, 2021
I think as long as you put up transcripts of the video reviews, it will be fine. A separate written essay would be great but you have your priorities. So all we ask is to help us video-illiterate readers with transcripts we can read. It’s so much faster, don’t know why. 🙂
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Rahini David
April 10, 2021
Sorry to interrupt the love fest.
But does anyone remember this man recently said he has some long haul symptoms post-covid. Or is that irrelevant here.?
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Yajiv
April 10, 2021
@BR: Yes, thank you so much for that. I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on Paggalit even if I had differing opinions of the movie myself (I quite liked how it was constructed). Appreciate the transcript for Karnan. Madan, is right. This would do just fine. I can completely understand not having the time to write & record a review for every movie.
@Rahini: I had no idea (I don’t have comment notifications enabled in this blog). Feel terrible asking for written reviews now. Please take it easy & recover (however long it might take). Your health & well-being is more important than anything else.
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Madan
April 10, 2021
If THAT’S the reason, then I am sorry to have even asked for more transcripts. Do whatever works until you get better. I thought maybe it was just new priorities for FC itself.
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krv5vignesh
April 11, 2021
I really liked the opening scene. It has the hero intro scene, it has that mass song, even Dhanush being arrested reminded me of the Sivaji opening scene. It has all the mass elements but still it doesn’t look out of place in a Mari Selvaraj movie and also manages to set the tone for the rest of the movie.
I believe we are in (or atlast in the beginning of) the golden age of Tamil cinema where we are getting true director’s movie with big stars acting as just a character. Even Vijay and Ajith seem to bend towards these kind of movies (Master and NKP).
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poonguzhali
April 11, 2021
BR: Any plans to watch Vakkeel Saab? Watched it high on blunts and man I had a blast. The film essentially proved for me what other industries lack when narrating a larger than life story: Conviction. There are lots of gooseflesh moments throughout the film: there’s one involving a bike and gates of a building that just made me go Wow! Please please give it a watch when you have the time and tell me I’m not the only one who found it thrilling.
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madhusudhan194
April 12, 2021
What a powerful film! Mari Selvaraj writes some rock solid masala moments, combines it with the seething rage of a Pa. Ranjith film and delivers a film that’s very much a companion piece to Pariyerum Perumal. Although Karnan is a much angrier film, it doesn’t compromise on the rich cinematic experience that we expect from an artist of highest calibre.
Dhanush has grown from strength to strength in establishing that he’s one of the greatest actors around. It is a treat to watch him surrender to the character and play it to his strengths. He is in different league altogether when he works with a strong writer-director.
The mass moments come so organically with the story (much like Mani Ratnam’s Thalapathi) that there is no cheap fan service and yet the theatre erupts when this man fights back. The bus scene right before the interval was a knockout. Can’t wait to watch it again. The film delivers both as a piece of entertainment and as a wail against oppression.
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H. Prasanna
April 12, 2021
“favorite, favorite, favorite scene” in the video gets translated to “And my favourite scene in the film is…” in the written review.
For me, the video review trumps the written review, here. I agree there is a lot to unfold and the written review gives a leeway for the theses. But, having spoken at length about how reviewers do not get enough time and the same-day review has become the norm, the early emotional reactions to the movie really implode the analysis and beget a new form of criticism. I feel it works spectacularly, specifically, for big productions like these. We build up to a movie with promotions, video songs, and interviews, and the audience are fed so much bottled energy going into the movie. It serves us well to unleash the emotions, saving the hard analysis for later.
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H. Prasanna
April 12, 2021
I get that the written review is really a transcript, and the video review comes from the written down notes. But, still, the video packs a punch.
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Ram
May 16, 2021
Karnan IMHO is the most socially relevant movie in Tamil that I’ve seen in ages. The last movies that gave me such a big reality jolt were Gandhi and Mahanadhi, and thats saying something. Or maybe its recency bias. I’ll know in a few weeks.
– A whole village has been cut off from the world. The residents are repressed people with no access to civilization, jobs, education etc. Makes a strong case for government social progress programs such as reservation. But what if the people who its meant to reach are not even aware of it, and are denied all access to be aware of, prepare towards and apply for these programs? Police and military jobs are the only options known here – and thats for the young males. The women are even worse off. The elders are ready to die if that makes lives of their kids better. Their government access is limited to making petitions for the most basic of human rights – specifically a bus stop in their village here.
– A clear digression here – but the above plot line reminded me of Shymalan’s The Village, where a village is cut off from civilization as well. The similarity ends there.
– The build up in the frustrations and violence is gradual but inevitable, ending in a no-holds barred climax. The body count may be less compared to similar movies, but the impact is enormous. How do you break down and eventually destroy the lives and homes of the already most poor people you could imagine? Well, this movie shows how
– The story is completely based on actual events. We’ve heard of these stories on page 4-5 of our English mainstream papers. Too small and too rural to make it to the main pages. This movie brings those stories to the fore like never before – what differentiates here is the authenticity of the movie’s execution. The screenplay is organic. The environment is lived in. The art and cinematography are realistic and “ethaartham” and cannot afford to be flashy. There’s not one thing that stands out like a sore thumb. Well, except one. The one wildly creative flourish is the imagery of the girl as goddess (reminded me of similar scenes in Hey Ram and Kadhal Konden) and will stay in the mind for years
– The acting is top class. Easily Dhanush’s best role till date. He’s completely at ease through the movie. Lal is phenomenal. The support cast is brilliant.
How does this compare to other movies that have attempted to tackle the Dalit narrative?
– Pa Ranjith movies get the initial context right, but then digress into needless plot territory. Madras was his best effort till date – mostly staying on course. But even that is nowhere near the impact that this movie has.
– Vetrimaaran’s Asuran is closer to the story told here – but there were some cinematic / dramatic flourishes there which made that movie more fantastical (the pig chase, the son getting killed) and less rooted in reality. Also ironically, Dhanush there didn’t look at ease in the old man’s role
– Bala re-introduced movies on poor people (after similar attempts by Bharathiraja and others in the 80s). However, in retrospect (or maybe I missed it then) his movies come across as poverty exploitation. Bala also peppers his screenplay with random jumps for effect. There are no such gimmicks here.
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karthik299
May 16, 2021
Good movie with great performance by Dhanush, however, didn’t anybody find his screaming reminiscent of his Pudhupettai performance? Those screams weren’t quite impressive for me.
P.S.: Show me a movie where Dhanush/Karthi single-handedly beat up a hundred goons and I would still believe it, and only these both can do that.
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ravenus1
May 19, 2021
My brief take on Karnan:
A mass movie in the truest sense, in that a mass of people rise up in rebellion against their oppressors. It tries a little too hard for symbolism (butterflies, pigs, dogs, a donkey and even a baby are pressed into this service). Also, that nightclub style ‘wake up’ number seemed a trifle bizarre in the setting.
But applause for the very organic way it builds up what could have been a boilerplate action drama. Like Robin Dharmaraj’s Chakra (1981), it takes care to give identity and personality to the oppressed class, and they’re not generic “gaonwalas-under-the-establishment’s-boot”. I liked this a good deal better than Asuran and think Dhanush is going to hands-down take the Angry Young Man trophy for this year.
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