ANBALIPPU review

Master director A.C.Thirulokachander, who delighted cinema audiences with hit films like Anbe Vaa, Athey Kanngall and Babu was the first director to bring together on screen Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan and Makkall Kalainyar Jaishankar. Titled Anbalippu, this film also stars B.Saroja Devi, M.N.Nambiar, Nagesh, Pandaribhai, V.K.Ramasamy and Senthaamarai.

Sivaji Ganesan plays the rural youngster Velu – well liked and greatly respected, despite being a poor, lowly labourer. He, however, owns his own piece of land and he works hard to earn a living off this land. His childhood friend was Raja – played by Makkall Kalainyar Jaishanker. Contrary to what Velu initially expects, everyone leads him to believe that Raja, having been educated overseas, will no longer see Velu as his friend. When Raja does return to the village, he proves everyone wrong and it seems that the Golden period has commenced for Velu.

Raja, however, has devised a complex plan to transform his little village first to a major town and then a city by building a mill and then following this with other related industries. This is where things begin to go wrong for the friends. Velu is a passionate farmer who regards the soil as his mother and father. One can imagine his reaction then when Raja tells him that he requires Raja’s land to build the mill. Velu finds it difficult to accept that good arable land should be wasted on industry at a time when India should have been looking to increase food production. Raja takes this refusal personally and the two friends now find themselves adversaries.

Events take a turn for the worse when the new arrival in the village, Vasudevan – played by M.N.Nambiar – decides to frame Velu for a crime he did not commit. Circumstances then threaten to destroy what was left of the friendship forever – or can matters still be rectified? If so, how? To find out, watch A.C.Thirulokachander’s classic movie, Anbalippu.

Anbalippu has some unforgettable acting performances. Sivaji Ganesan is simply fabulous in a kind of performance he seems to reserve for A.C.Thirulokachander. His portrayal of the principled youngster Velu underscores his immense talent and why he was then known as the undisputed Acting Hero as opposed to MGR who was seen as the Action hero. Jaishankar is in one of his best performances in a role that seems to bask in the golden light of Nadigar Thilagam. B.Saroja Devi is in a memorable role. Nagesh and V.K.Ramasamy provide the comedy track albeit at the expense of the main story. M.N.Nambiar plays his role with the usual venom while Pandaribhai and Senthaamarai are the best of the others.

Music in Anbalippu has been scored by Mellisai Mannar M.S.Visvanathan who has done a commendable job with the film’s background score. Visvanathan’s performance with the soundtrack is less impressive. None of the songs are very memorable. All the songs have been penned by Kaviyarasu Kannadassan. Dance choreographer A.K.Chopra does a good job with the film’s dances. Art director A.Balu does nothing out of the ordinary.

Stunt directors A.Venkatesan and Saminathan are very impressive especially in the fight sequence in the fire. Cinematographer Thambu handles his portfolio adequately.

Produced by J.Gandhiraj, Anbalippu has story and direction by A.C.Thirulokachander and scripting  by Aaroor Dhaas. Dhaas handles the dramatic scenes exceptionally well and much of the film’s dramatic highpoints can be attributed to Dhaas’s scriptwriting skills. The movie is a fabulous classic with a credible story and believable acting.