Deepavali Movie Review: A Simple Village Tale of Love, Hope, and Harmony
A film titled ‘Kida’ was made in Tamil. This movie, produced by Sravanthi Ravikishore and directed by Ra. Venkat, was released in theaters on November 11, 2023.
It won several awards at international film festivals. From August 29th, the movie has been made available on ETV Win under the title ‘Deepavali.’ Let’s see how the movie, with music by Theesan, fares.
The story is set in a remote village adjacent to a forest. An elderly couple, Chellayya and Chinnamma, live there in a small hut.
They have a grandson, Ganesh (played by Deepan), who lost his parents in an accident. The couple loves him dearly. They also have a goat named ‘Karrodu,’ which Ganesh is very attached to.
Chellayya owns five cents of land on the forest’s edge, a hut, and a goat—his only possessions. Due to old age and failing health, he struggles to make a living.
With Diwali just three days away, Ganesh persistently asks his grandfather to buy him new clothes.
Chellayya decides to sell the goat secretly to buy Ganesh new clothes, but he hesitates because of his grandson’s deep attachment to the goat.
In the same village, Vel Saami (played by Kali Venkat) works at a mutton shop. He often comes to work late due to his drinking habit, leading the shop owner’s son to reprimand and fire him.
Vel Saami then challenges the owner, declaring that he will open his own shop on Diwali. He begins searching for a goat to fulfill his plan.
Vel Saami’s son drives an auto-rickshaw and is in love with his cousin, Jyothi. However, due to a lack of communication between their families, the couple fears that the elders might not approve of their marriage.
They decide to elope on Diwali. Meanwhile, a gang specializing in petty thefts also enters the scene, planning to steal goats from the village during the festival.
As the Diwali festival approaches, one person plans to sell the goat, another aims to buy it, a couple prepares to elope, and a gang plots to steal goats.
What happens next? Will the grandfather fulfill his wish? Will Ganesh’s desire for new clothes come true? Will the couple’s love succeed? Will Vel Saami’s plan work out? These questions form the crux of the story.
The film revolves around these four narratives: a grandfather who wants to sell a goat to buy new clothes for his grandson on Diwali; a determined man who wants to open a mutton shop on the same day; a couple planning to elope on Diwali, fearing their love won’t be accepted; and a gang that sees Diwali as the perfect opportunity for theft.
In essence, this is a small film without any big stars. The poster highlights a small boy, an elderly man, and a goat, which may not attract many viewers at first glance.
However, once you delve into the story, it captivates you deeply. The characters and the narrative are profoundly engaging.
The lives of several characters revolve around the Diwali festival, and they hope for happiness and fulfillment during this time.
The story, centered around Diwali, weaves the main characters together in a very natural way, making it feel like a tale from our own village. The rural setting adds a pleasant aroma to the story.
The director skillfully brings out the naturalness of the main characters and beautifully captures subtle emotions.
Jayaprakash’s cinematography enhances the film by showcasing the rural landscape wonderfully, adding to the story’s charm.
Theesan’s background score perfectly complements the narrative, and Anand Jerald’s editing ensures the film is tight and without unnecessary scenes.
This story, set in a rural backdrop, beautifully portrays the lives, relationships, loves, and connections of the village people, including their bonds with animals.
It delivers the message that life is happier when people help and support each other and that true celebrations come from living together harmoniously.
This is a film that can be enjoyed with the whole family.
Also Read: Sarangadhariya Movie Review