Soorarai Pottru was a flying success even when it first released on Amazon Prime a few months ago. However, it did not grab the national headlines then, even though it deserved all the accolades due for films in 2020. But now, it’s back in the limelight, for it remains in the quest for the Oscars 2021 race.
The film may not bag the golden statue. It does not matter what matters is that it is a winning film and everyone should watch it. Of course, there are life lessons on how grit and determination can make dreams come through, and reality checks such as failure is a part of most success stories. Success stories themselves do not remain perfect. It is also a story of companionship and confidence in oneself.
A MAN AND HIS DREAM
Suriya’s Soorarai Pottru is a film that, on the surface, is based on a man and his near-impossible dream. The life of Air Deccan’ founder Captain GR Gopinath who made affordable air travel a reality, was captured well in his book Simply Fly. The film brings the book to life in a beautifully shot presentation.
Director Sudha Kongara Prasad should also be recognised as one of the Best Directors of the year. She seems to have visualised each scene in its minutest details and has extracted performances that few can aim too.
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OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES
Bollywood can take notes here on how one character can have multiple moods. Each conveyed by a simple gesture, a subtle change of expression, and the usage of loud histrionics need only be invoked in case of a fire. The actors become the characters.
The performers carry no baggage from previous films done. Certain scenes make you forget the actor you see is a superstar with a range of work in their portfolio. A case in point is the actor Suriya, who plays the lead Nedumaaran Rajangam, affectionately called Maara. The village boy turned airforce officer turned aviation entrepreneur. He plays his part, and the many moods of that part well, ageing gracefully as the story moves on.
The real star of Soorarai Pottru is Aparna Balamurali, who plays Maara’s wife, Bommi. She is no second fiddle but is equal, with her own entrepreneurial dreams of being a successful baker. The actor becomes the character, and Bommi shines bright in every scene she is in or impacts.
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SONG AND DANCE OUT OF PLACE AT TIMES
Some flaws stick out, like unwanted lumps in mashed potatoes. The song and dance sequences often seem out of place and pop up when you would rather have storytelling. The music is excellent, but perhaps it should have remained as a background score enhancing a scene’s emotions rather than distracting from it.
Then there are performances of seasoned actors like Paresh Rawal that are jarring, perhaps because their character is written more like a caricature. The wealthy ruthless businessman who eats his rivals for breakfast that Rawal is supposed to portray comes across as a forced cliche.
Another veteran actor, Urvashi, who plays Maara’s mother, deserves better dialogue and has been under-utilised. The same can be said of Telugu actor Mohan Babu, a tad too dramatic in Maara’s air force senior’s portrayal.
A STORY WELL TOLD
Soorarai Pottru is a story well told and deserves a watch by a wider audience. Perhaps in schools and colleges and in communities of self-employed entrepreneurs of all kinds. It is always good to see a reminder that it is essential to dream big and that each small step towards that big dream makes a difference. Lessons that are easy on the ears, narrated in the dulcet voice of R Madhavan. Even more important, the film is a fantastic reminder that it is ok to fail, rise, and try again.
Streaming on: Amazon Prime
Running Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
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