Kamali from Nadukkaveri - my cup runneth over

Kamili from Nadukkaveri

2021, Tamil

Director - Rajasekhar Doraiswamy

Stars - Anandi, Rahul Suresh Saraf, Pratap Pothen

Mohan's Measure ⭐⭐⭐

The South Tamil Nadu region has come to light in the movies of late.  Picturesque and sometimes rugged, the hills and valleys of certain areas of Theni and Thanjavur play host to some of the most hospitable people on earth.  

This forms the backdrop of this charming coming of age tale.  Ms. Anandi brings a childlike wonder combined with a woman's sense of self-confidence to the character of Kamali.  The story is a "Cinderella-like" fairytale of a woman who succeeds in the hallowed halls of IIT Madras for a very innocent but beautiful reason, the first feelings of love found in a high school crush. 

The magic in this offers a good old-fashioned sense American optimism, grounded in the sentiments of village life in Tamil Nadu.  Mr. Pothen does a decent job playing an retired college professor who serves as the guru and "fairy godfather" to the young Kamali, transforming her from love-sick bobbysoxer to responsible young adult.   His avuncular sensibility far exceeds other actors in this role, and the bond feels genuine and believable.

I wish I could say that for the rest of the crew.  There is plasticity to the actors, a preppie demeanor which makes the movie feel dated.  As such, the world of IIT is not the chaos that it is today, but instead hearkens to a golden age, when conservative parents could truly feel comfortable sending their kids to college.  A fairytale, indeed, anymore!