Sarvam Thaala Mayam - the beat of a different drum

Sarvam Thaala Mayam

(The Rhythm is All)

Tamil, 2018

Director - Rajiv Menon

Stars - G V Prakash Kumar, Nedumudi Venu, Aparna Balamurali, Vineeth, Kumaravel

Mohan's Measure ✳ ✳ ✳

Chennai's highly competitive and distinctively elitist classical music industry is carefully but consciously critiqued in Sarvam Thaala Mayan.

Mr. Prakash gives a fine performance as a low-caste mrudhangam maker who develops an ear for the world of classical music. Playing against him, Mr. Venu is highly notable as the Conservative Brahmin teacher who struggles between a passion for tradition and the rapid progress of what has become a media driven, multimillion dollar industry. 

The eccentricities associated with Brahmin control of the music world is presented, but without words. It is suggested, with legitimacy, as creating a tug of war between the traditionalists and the avant garde, both sides lost to the soulful inspiration music should bring.

It is a powerful message; but the support actors, many of them actual singers, fail to provide weight enough to keep such a message convincing.

What we are left with is a predictable coming-of-age hero film. It is nonetheless, however, worth the watch.