Sethum Aayiram Pon – Netflix – 10/10
(English Translation of The Title: Thousand Gold Coins After Death)
A culture so unknown even to Southies.. A whole village revolving around, after death. Funerals and procedures vary through our myriad cultures but a story that brings us this close to make up and singing for the dead is a first.
Primarily the granddaughter returns to a remote village in Tamil Nadu as her grandmother needs her for some paperwork to transfer property. The youngster is angry, a feeling carried forward since her parents left the village due to a family misunderstanding.
Meera (Niveditha Satish) is a makeup artist for the movies in Chennai while the grandmother, Krishnaveni (Srilekha Rajendran) is an Oppari singer, a traditional Wailer/Mourner for the dead. Kuberan (Avinash Raghudevan) and his savage boys bathe and do the traditional make up for the dead. Amudha (Gabriella Sellus) the apprentice is so refreshing that you forget this is a movie not a real village.
The life lessons about death and celebrating life are deep and profound. Kudos to the director, Anand Ravichandran. The detailing is amazing and feels very real, not at all cinematic. The music is very meaningful in the traditional style hence keep your eyes on the subtitles.
Suggest that you do not watch the movie alone as it can be a little depressive. Company will want to make you laugh out loud at the jokes, sides and nuances throughout the movie.
Watch out for “What the Bug” in the last 20 minutes when the duo return from an evening out.
Available on Netflix India
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The World of Movies Rating 10/10
Movie Title: Sethum Aayiram Pon
Directed and Written by: Anand Ravichandran
Main Cast: Srilekha Rajendran as Krishnaveni, Nivedhithaa Sathish as Meera (Kunjamma)
Year of Release: 2019
Genre: Family, Drama, Comedy
Country of Origin: India (Kollywood)
Languages: Tamil
Running Time: 102 minutes
Production Company: Wishberry Films
Image Source: Screenshots taken from the movie.
Reviewed: Shyamala Nawab