Aarathu Sinam - crosses to bear

Aarathu Sinam 

(Unending Anger)

2016, Tamil

Director - Arivazhagu

Stars - Arulnithi, Aishwarya Rajesh, Aishwarya Datta, Radha Ravi, Charlie 

Mohan's Measure ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

The official remake of Jeethu Joseph's Memories, Aarathu Sinam closely follows the noir thriller in weaving a complex psychological police drama.

Mr. Arulnithi does a fine job in playing Aravind, the Tamil counterpart to Sam Alex, the character made famous by Prithviraj.   He is understated, at times even cathartic to the suffering of the world around him.  He needs to awaken to a higher truth, and for that he needs someone to believe that he can.

That person is Radha Ravi, playing the philosophical and compassionate Joint Commissioner.  The legendary actor plays the character with ease, holding a father-figure role with poise and sophistication.

It is unfortunate that neither female lead are given enough screen time to bring in their own acting skills.  We have seen both Ms. Rajesh and Ms. Datta hold their own in dramatic film, and it shows even in the small amount of time they appear onscreen.

If there is a strain, its in understanding the context.  Memories is set in Kerala, where the prevalence of  Catholicism makes it easier for an audience to understand its existentialist underpinnings.  Aarathu Sinam is set in Madurai, where Tamil Hinduism expresses itself in its temples and traditions.  To make a Hindu hero quote from Biblical passages takes some work and one can sense the strain.  The scriptwriter fails to take note of the fact that the Bible is not one book, but several.  In quoting the chapter, the hero never quotes the book.

But, who am I to pontificate? I can only recommend you see this very nicely crafted film.