Spoilers ahead…
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With Vaazhl, Arun Prabhu Purushothaman has managed to do something that very few filmmakers have: his second film is actually better than his first. Whether you like it in its entirety or not, there’s so much happening and also so much in terms of what’s untold. While Aruvi is talky, Vaazhl is more visual even when there’s high drama. There’s so much control over the medium that it’s stunning to watch at every point.
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Posted in: Cinema: Tamil, Television / Online
Baradwaj Rangan 
H. Prasanna
July 16, 2021
This spoiler filled, video essay format complete with asides (APP and Karu Pazhinappan) really works! I think for these types of movies, Vaazhl and Malik, where it is really rewarding to be analytical watcher/movie buff, it kind of naturally flows into this kind of review.
Aside: I like how you repeat “such a trip to be on” after saying that the director repeating things that are obvious are not a deal breaker.
Great job at Film Companion! I really hope others, Vishal Menon and Co, also find the confidence in their voice in these types of reviews.
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Berlin
July 16, 2021
A burnt out light (Prakash in the beginning) undertakes a journey (Yatraa) and finds itself rejuvenated and burning brighter than ever (Prakash in the climax).
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chvs Chaitanya
July 18, 2021
I felt like this film was in a hurry to tell the ‘life philosophy’ without waiting to let the viewer feel for the characters…for example, during the first half Prakash feels irritated by yatra and in second half tha same praksah searches for yatra, this change in feeling should have atleast two three scenes showing the improvement in the bonding between yatra and prakash, all we got was some travel videos and drone shots(so many un necessary drone shots)….
The decision to include a lady charlie type of bolivia girl character also didn’t connect with me
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Mahesh
July 18, 2021
Awful awful film
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Thupparivaalan
September 3, 2021
The best surrealist director in India? The way the narrative transcends from the dots to something larger than life is remarkable. There is a cosmic sort of collective energy that sweeps the hero in his journey in 2nd half. Loved the psychedelic stretch in the middle that has a murugan song rendered by a Bolivian tourist. The film isn’t without it’s flaws but the highs are really high. Wonder why it isn’t being talked about much. Tamil cinema as of late has had lots of gems.
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Thupparivaalan
December 13, 2021
I keep coming back to this film time and time again. I can see some of it’s flaws like the annoying girlfriend, etc but most of the film works at a level rarely seen in Tamil cinema. The flashback Pura story is genius, the way it’s shot and narrated. The music is simple and otherworldly. The Bolivian retreat in udankudai is marvelous, and yeah the philosophy is fantastic too. That surrealist dream bit when Prakash thinks of all the things that have gone wrong so far where we see neeya naaana debate, that’s genius too. So much good moments of bravura filmmaking. Can’t wait for his next film.
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