Soaring High.

2010's Thenmerkku Paruvakaatru was a surprise sleeper hit, that put director Seenu Ramaswamy on cloud nine, fetching National Awards to its lead actress Saranya Ponvannan, lyricist Vairamuthu, and the director himself (for Best Feature Film in Tamil). And now he returns, on a more grand scale with Neerparavai, produced by Red Giant Movies, starring Vishnu, Sunaina, Saranya Ponvannan, Samudhirakani and several others.

An aged woman, lives on the shores of a coastal village all alone, waiting for her husband, who left to the sea 25 years ago. Her son tries to convince her to come to the city with him, but she refuses, citing that her husband will definitely return. He and his wife notice her strange ritual of praying at her backyard in the night, with a funeral song, and they decide to find out what lies under. And to his extreme shock, it is the body of his father. Who is this woman, and why has she kept her husband's death a secret for so long? That is what Neerparavai is about.

Performances, performances, too many good performers nowadays. Vishnu sinks his teeth into his meaty role, but the winner of the day are the women. Sunaina, as the younger heroine, Nandita Das as her elder version, and Saranya Ponvannan as the caring mother of the hero are simply wonderful. Sunaina, finally gets a worthy role, while actresses like Nandita Das, and Sarnaya, well, they've proved their calibre times enough. Poo Ram as the father, is quite moving with his silent performance. Azhagam Perumal as the Bishop of the village church, Vadivukkarasi (back on the big screen after quite sometime, I guess), as the illict arrack seller, Samudhirakani, as the boat-builer, Arul Dass, as 'Siluvai', are all commendable. 'Black' Pandi, and Thambi Ramiah, play character roles, and fuel the comedy quotient of the film.

N.R.Raghunathan, whose work was appreciated in Thenmerkku Paruvakaatru, repeats a similar finish with this one as well. His background score, neat. Since the legendary Vairamuthu, struck gold last time with the same team, listeners are piqued to pay keen notice to the lyrics, and as usual, he doesn't fail you. Balasubramaniem, brings some interesting angles forth, and his work along with Mu.Kasi Vishwanathan's editing gives a very classic feel to the film.

Seenu Ramaswamy weaves out a poetic story, one of love, rehabilitation, and determination, with political injections here and there, which takes up centrestage at the climax. Nevertheless, it is a film, based on a rather unusual backdrop, and while it sounds like a cliched storyline, the movie has spice enough to have you sit through it. Good job.

Aditya Baskaran