Films that Made Me - Nelson Venkatesan: Paruthiveeran is a masterclass in filmmaking

Pithamagan (2003)

I remember catching the FDFS of Pithamagan at a time when I was getting serious about making films. Promotional materials like a special show on TV and the unique posters for the film got me curious about it. Of course, names like Vikram, Suriya, Bala and Ilaiyaraaja added to the expectations. I am a huge fan of both Sethu (1999) and Nanda (2001), but Pithamagan was a completely different experience. I remember reading a review praising Bala for walking the thin line between commercial and arthouse cinema. That, I believe, is the film's specialty. Sure, it was inspiring on an artistic level but was equally entertaining, be it the humour, the action sequences or the fine detailing in scenes. I find its balance miraculous. The music, the performances, and the climactic fight… they are all brilliant. Revisiting the film now, I can articulate my thoughts on the film with cinematic jargon, but back then, there were just two words to describe a movie: nice and entertaining. And Pithamagan offered everything for a regular moviegoer hailing from Pudhupettai.

Paruthiveeran (2007)

By now, I knew cinema was my calling, and once again, it was an FDFS screening at Albert Cinemas. I believe it is one of the most immaculate, wholesome and satisfying films ever made in Tamil. Pithamagan oda vazhithadathula vanthu, innoru uccham thottam padam, Paruthiveeran. Its art form is pure but there is enough entertainment too. Moreover, it was quite novel in many ways; the characters, the milieu, and the precision of the nativity. All the scenes were fresh, be it the portrayal of healing a snakebite, the scene where Muthazhagi tells she is hungry or the idea of the thief yearning to be imprisoned in Delhi jail, they are all fascinating. It is a masterclass in filmmaking. And of course, Karthi sir is brilliant in it, and it is unbelievable a debutant pulled off the role.

Babel (2006)

I surrendered myself to the vision and the diversified narrative of Alejandro González Iñárritu while watching Babel. The story, spanning various geographies like the Middle East, Japan, and America is held together by some core emotions. It is a film about multiple families, with both the parents and children being placed in extraordinary circumstances. I understand this facet now, but back then, I was purely marvelling at the narrative connecting the lives of people from different continents. Over the years, it has become one of my favourite films to rewatch. And if you look at my debut, Oru Naal Koothu, which follows three different characters and maps their journey, you can see the inspiration of Babel in its foundation.

Terminal (2004)

I would love to be a director like Steven Spielberg; not for the grandness of his films but the versatility of his filmography. I wonder how it is possible for a filmmaker to direct both Indiana Jones and Munich, make Jurrasic Park and shift to Schindler’s List. And then, he makes something like Terminal. The idea of a person getting stuck in a place–an airport—and spinning a feature-length narrative around it with a handful of characters is an awe-inspiring feat. I was blown away. It has great humour but equally intense emotions. Almost every character has an arc and, of course, the way Tom Hanks pitched his character was wonderful. It is a film filled with heartwarming moments and the climax moved me profoundly. I still find it fascinating that Steven Spielberg directed it. I watched it countless times and it never bored me. This is a quality of a classic.

Her (2013)

Her is quite close to my heart. The story is just about a man and it is driven by the voice of a woman whom we never see. The film portrays complex emotions and relationships beautifully. When this man starts developing a romantic relationship with the AI of his smartphone, we get sucked into these conversations. Now tell me what more can you expect from a writer? To convince the viewer to invest their emotions into something that can appear trivial is no mean feat. Every time I watch it, it holds my attention like it is my first viewing.