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Kasturiman
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'Kasturiman' Worth a watch

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

Kasturiman is the Tamil remake of the Malayalam original directed by Mollywood’s top script-writer Lohitadas. The film, a big hit, put heroine Meera Jasmine firmly on the path to fame.

The just-released Tamil version, directed again by Lohitadas himself, remains close to the Malayalam version in treatment and narrative style. It also marks Lohitadas’s directorial debut in Tamil cinema.

The film stands apart from the run-of-the-mill Tamil movies thriving on the trite masala entertainer formula. Kasturiman has no pretensions to being an art movie. Still, it comes across as a realistic flick within the parameters of commercial cinema.

The protagonist Uma (Meera Jasmine) is a chirpy college girl who radiates cheer and warmth. She is a bundle of mischief too, deriving pleasure from pulling fast ones on her friends. She has also given the impression of belonging to a rich family.

The ‘antics’ of Uma, however, leave our hero Arunachalam (Prasanna) cold. A senior student of the college – and a brilliant one at that – Arunachalam is a no-nonsense type who is keen on keeping the focus on studies alone.

It does not take much time for him to realise that appearances are deceptive. That is in Uma’s case. The stark reality is that Uma actually is anything but rich. If anything, she has to do odd jobs to look after the poor family besides finding money for her studies.

Slowly, Arunachalam finds himself drawn to Uma, and starts looking to her for advice, guidance and also for financial help. Thanks to Uma’s help, he passes the civil services examination and becomes a collector.

So far so good. But the plot takes an unfortunate twist. And our hero finds it difficult to reciprocate the love and affection Uma showers on him at a crucial time in his life. They drift apart. The remainder of the film deals with their reunion.

Apart from his surefootedness as director, Lohitadas has succeeded in choosing the right cast.

Of course, Meera does a fabulous job as the college girl who plays the Good Samaritan. That she is a consummate artist she had proved in the Malayalam version of Kasturiman.

The surprise in the package is Prasanna who plays hero Arunachalam. The actor is at his restrained best, caught between the love for Uma and his filial duties.

Others like Haneefa, Sarathbabu, the garrulous mother of the baddie (Leela does a fine take) policeman Shammi and Vinodhini (who plays Meera’s sister) acquit themselves well.

Ilayaraja’s music is mellifluous. Kitcha and Vaithi crank an efficient camera.

The only drawback is the rather predictable climax of the movie.

On the whole, Kasturiman is a good film with a charm that used to be the hallmark of Tamil movies made in the 1980s.

Worth watching.

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