‘Pon Magal Vandhal’ a story with an important message
While parents teach their daughters how she should behave, dress and whom to befriend, they ought to also teach their sons how to treat women and to respect them,’ says lawyer Venba in this courtroom drama
By Mythily Ramachandran
A tranquil misty
morning’s beauty is shattered by gun shots and a child’s cries, ‘Amma Amma.’ News reported on television
talks about the arrest of Jyoti-a psycho killer who has been abducting little
girls in Lovedale, Ooty. The next breaking news is about Jyoti’s death in a
police encounter and recovery of dead bodies of children in the yard around her
house. According to media reports Jyoti was a wanted criminal from Jaipur. This
case of 2004 thus solved is closed.
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| Jyotika plays a lawyer Venba |
Cut to the
present- fifteen years later. We meet Pethuraj (actor director K. Bhagyaraj)
better known as Petition Pethuraj for his many petitions against small crimes
filed in court. He lives with his daughter Venba (Jyotika).
When Pethuraj
files a petition reopening the case of Jyoti who he believes has been wrongly
implicated by the police, it is Venba who takes up the suit-her first case as a
lawyer. But then, she earns the wrath of the local community for pleading the
case of an inhuman killer.
Why does Venba
take on this case? Who is Jyoti?
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| The team-Pandiarajan, K. Bhagyaraj, Pratap Pothen, director J J Fredrick, Jyotika and Parthiban |
Debutant director J.J.Fredrick’s ‘Pon Magal Vandhal’ is a court-room drama that spills skeletons out of the closet while unearthing the truth about Jyoti. Child sexual abuse being the plot point here, the film closes with Venba saying-‘While parents teach their daughters how she should behave, dress and whom to befriend, they ought to also teach their sons how to treat women and to respect them.’ According to National Crime records India ranks seven and Tamil Nadu occupies the third place with respect to child sexual abuse.
The producers actors Surya and Jyotika deserves a pat for taking on this subject along with the director who instead
of a formula story around a star preferred the less beaten track. Fredrick makes a
good start. Of late portraying north Indians as criminals has become the norm
in Tamil and Malayalam cinema. I liked that point made here and rebuking us for
making presumptions about north Indians. But, the story required better writing.
‘Pon Magal
Vandhal’ is more of an investigative thriller and less of a court room drama.
There are some unwarranted scenes supposed to evoke laughter and characters
having little to contribute. Jyotika playing a dual role is not a good idea either.
Jyotika who has
been selective about roles in her second innings is earnest and sincere in
championing the cause. She has dubbed for herself in Tamil-which is not her
mother-tongue. She is in fine form as Venba.
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| Director Fredrick with actor Thiagarajan on the sets |
Parthiban plays lawyer Rajarathinam countering Venba in court. He is in his usual element delivering lines with a play on words.
And, yes like Venba says-‘Let’s teach our sons a couple of things too.'
