Hats off to director GNR Kumaravelan as Haridas emerges as the finest example of a film which defies conventions. It avoids the usual Tamil film masalas like songs, vulgarity and cheap comedy. The film takes us on an insightful journey into childhood with the backdrop of police, encounter killing and anti-socials.
It's taut, twisty and absolutely thrilling. The tight screenplay keeps the storyline moving along with some fine performances of its lead actors. Sivadas ( Kishore) is tough-talking encounter specialist in the police department. He is sharp and is the team leader who is loved by his subordinates. He has a mission to pin down Aadhi (Pradeep Rawat) a gangster and mercinary and is hot on his trail.
But life changes for the tough cop when he brings his only son Hari (Pritviraj Das) to Chennai from his village, where he was brought up by his grandmother. The young boy is autistic and now Siva has to take care of the boy and help him overcome his disability. He consults a doctor Ravi (Yugi Sethu) and admits Hari in a normal school where Amudhavalli (Sneha) is a trained teacher for special children.
The narrative picks up and builds to a superb climax, as Hari's autism puts an incredible burden on Siva but he manages to do his duty as a father and a responsible police officer. The good thing about the film is that it is deeply emotional without being manipulative or preachy. It' is moving and magical, in a quiet heartfelt way. The film is likely to alter your view of autistic children because it paints their behavior and tells us how such kids can transform themselves and be successful in life.
One of the major highlights of the film is the performance of Kishore as Sivadas. As the tough cop on duty and the patient father he delivers a mature and sensitive performance, adding those little touches that makes the difference. Sneha is extremely natural as Amudhavalli teacher, while and the young boy has given a committed performance. Parotta Suri as driver Kandaswamy and little known actors in supporting roles are all good.
Ratnavelu's camera is top notch while Raja Muhammed editing is crisp. Thumbs up for Vijay Antony's songs and background score. On the whole, Haridas makes for absolutely compelling viewing. It tugs at your heartstrings, and urges you to introspect and makes you look at children with disability differently. Go for it!
Verdict: Don't Miss it
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First things first, the director ought to be patted on his back for taking such a sensible subject and delivering it in a convincing manner. The director has been aided in his vision majorly by cinematographer Rathnavelu. Each frame is picture-perfect, has a specific color template and has been well-planned and executed. Good work by the 'Enthiran' cinematographer. Vijay Antony's involved background score lifts the emotional scenes but tends to become loud at times too. Among the songs, the 'Police Gaana' provides some light-hearted solace while the other tracks go along with the movie as montages.
Among the performers, it is Sneha who turns out on top with Kishore coming a close second. Sneha's role is among the most dignified in recent times and the actress has put her heart and soul into the role. Her character's motherly intentions will surely leave a lump in your throat. Kishore scores heavily in the heart-wrenching scene in the rain with his son. The actor's physique and manly charm gel with his police garb.
The kid, Prithviraj, who is being introduced to films, is a Coimbatore based boy and is really genuine in his reactions and gestures. You would root for him, all the way. Audiences always have a soft corner for underdogs and Haridas is no exception. His transformation has been shown in a very gradual and realistic manner. The director has shown where the kid's interest lies in a metaphoric manner with support characters like Yuhi Sethu and Raj Kapoor playing their own crucial roles in the boy's transformation.
Parotta Suri's antics and attempts at romance, though half-funny and sticking out from the main track, fits into the scheme of things well-enough towards the end. That said, we also tend to feel that the director could have eschewed the comedy portions. Though the scenes dedicated to the police work have also been seriously handled, it takes the focus away from the central plot. Still, one may excuse the director's shifts in focus and the over- dramatization at instances, as the movie provides plenty of uplifting and heart-warming moments.
Source : Behindwoods
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