Bharati
Acting: The Marathi actor Saayaaji Shindey's unmatching performance has shown before our eyes the very image of 'Maha Kavi' Bharathi as if the latter has come alive once again! That acting genius, right from the scene in which he comes out of Ganga after bath, gradually gets registered in the audiences' minds and finally his stature grows up to Himalayan heights on our mind's screen! As if he's actually born for the sole purpose of acting in Gandhiji's role, how sharp his looks appeare to be!; what an inspiring talk is his!; and how majestically he does walk......! The way in which he moves away after blessing the great Gandhiji himself !; the manliness that's in him as he walks on the street putting his arm around his wife's neck!; his selfless magnanimity that melts his heart for the sake of the sufferings of the poor of Fiji islands while his own family gets strangled at the feet of unmercible famine; his threatening to even the Goddess by saying that he might himself turn into an atheist, his childish heart that revels in joy as it sees the shawl....his stately repentance for his own misdeed.....how many sides of his personality thus get highlighted in his acting! Devayani also has lived upto the high-calibre acting ability of Shindey by giving out an equally great level of performance.
The selection of T.P.Gajendran for the role of Kuvalai Kannan is an apt one. Ettayapuram king Amarasigamani and 'Mama' Sreekanth both have acted well.
Our comment: The events that happened in Bharathi's life are as unlimited as the ocean. From among them the particular aspect of how Bharathi braved the burning situation of personal poverty by facing it's challenges as a undisputed king of the world of poetry is beautifully narrated in this film. What has been told in this by director Gnanasekaran has been narrated in an excellent manner. He has won a diamond crown for his career through this film. Through his melodious, musical scores, music director Ilayaraja has given his heart-felt respect to Bharathi, the poetic genius. The cameraman Thangarbachchaan has brought before our eyes the very period of Bharathi's life.
The background music of the film and the tunes created for the songs of Bharathi have proved to be the tall tower of this millennium year!
