Though more than a decade has passed since the release of Dhavamai Dhavamirunthu, the impact of Cheran's directorial mark continues to linger within the realms of my soul. I'm sure many of you will be able to relate to this melancholic feeling as Cheran probes into the sacrifices of a middle-class father striving to provide for his family - through all odds. The beauty of this film remains that it resonated with men primarily, as fathers and sons. More so when sons finally become fathers themselves. Fathers and sons share a unique relationship dynamics, emotions and sentiments - which was beautifully enacted by the sequential screenplay, evolving phases of characters and the duo's bonding moments. The movie opens with a monologue by Ramalingam (a role essayed by Cheran himself) on his thoughts about fathers and how instrumental they are in shaping the lives of their children. The depth and haunt in his voice still echoes within me. The anxiety in his eyes are stored fresh in my memory. His restlessness and fear is quickly transferred to us as audience. This opening monologue drowned many of us into the memories of our fathers. And so begins the journey down this heart-warming family saga.
The monochromatic visuals especially reflected the escalating emotions as his father Muthaiah (played by Rajkiran) battles for his life in the hospital. The sombre mood lingers in the present. The use of black and white visual images is pure brilliance, because there were no room for other distractions, but the emotions that we connect with the journey of Ramalingam and Muthaiah. Along with him, we reminisce our personal experiences with our own fathers - self-reflecting on the bond we share. There rises the most important burning question - how well do we know about what our fathers have had to endure to make us who we are today? Are we appreciating and giving them the due credit? Or are we simply playing oblivious to it? A father cannot bear us biologically. But for an entire lifetime, he bears us in his thoughts, efforts and dreams.
Dhavamai Dhavamirunthu is an emotionally stirring cinema as we reflect on behind-the-scenes of a father's struggle in equal parenting, being financially sufficient while co-currently staying beneficial and relevant to his family. It is a penetrating, aesthetical, and soul-searching depiction of a father-son relationship, familial bond and further layered by many other life value messages for the entire society.
We as a community highly value the sacrifices of a mother, but so often forget to celebrate fathers. Dhavamai Dhavamirunthu, is a rare gem of Indian cinema that taught us to love, understand, and value even 'imperfect' fathers. Sometimes, we lay such great expectations on fathers and have a preconceived notion of what depicts a "perfect" father. We are quick to judge and define them as "imperfect" fathers. After watching Dhavamai Dhavamirunthu, I came to realise that there's really no "perfect" fathers. Only "imperfect" ones who's constantly trying through their every strand to fit into that perfect image we have built for them. It is under the light of our understanding and appreciation that they become "perfect" fathers. Either way, fathers will always be the role-model that we reflect upon to learn, unlearn and relearn. No denying that they are instrumental to who we become later in life.
Dhavamai Dhavamirunthu also illustrated how fathers, who are just ordinary men become heroes for the endless love they share for their child(ren). By social norm, fathers are said to be a child's first hero. To live up to that societal expectation, it is a daily struggle for fathers. One such father was Muthaiah - as he grappled each day to provide the best for his family financially, emotionally and physically despite the challenging circumstances. If we were to list the most entrancing father roles depicted in Indian cinema, Muthaiah would definitely be one on that list. Rajkiran contributed a top notch performance in flawlessly emoting the sentiments of a father in this gripping tale about that important man in our lives. This movie celebrated fatherhood by showcasing a father's responsibilities, convictions, toils and most importantly tears. Cheran's Dhavamai Dhavamirunthu was an opportunity to become aware of the unsaid and unseen side of a father's heart. And tweak our expectations of this relationship from the lenses of a father. Many monumental scenes were placed in the movie to establish the father-son bond.
Ramalingam's monologue appears at many instances, as a constant reminder that he is narrating his story to us while awaiting anxiously by the hospital bed for Muthaiah to gain consciousness. There we witness an iconic scene, where he gently feels the scars on the sole of his father's feet - that summarises the sacrifices of a father. The struggle of a rural middle class father who works as a printer - scarred from cycling for hours to get to work and school, while tagging his two sons on the cycle and pressing the pedals of the traditional printing machines. Not like the electronically operated ones we see today. Both Rajkiran and Cheran was that convincing as traditional printers, and that's excruciating hard work in reality. There's an immediate feel of appreciation for those in this line of profession. Festive seasons and special occasions meant working overtime or overnight to be able to meet end needs. The character's occupation becomes a character on its own and provides a dimension to the story. But the director doesn't stop there. There's many other values to learn from this movie.
- Preserve Familial Bonds -
Family is an integral part of our lives and they are instrumental in shaping our believes, values, opinions, and how we view this world. No matter what, family always sticks together. As different individuals with varied opinions and expectations, we are prone to disagreements. But nothing goes unsolved if we sit down to proactively discuss, resolve amicably and learn to forgive and forget. Cheran re-emphasised that the upbringing of children under the care and love of their grandparents is primal. He also recognises the importance for the next generation to learn about and from their ancestors. Because that too is part of our identity of who we are and where we have come from. These quality and values are important to stay grounded.
There's a famous notion that says we all make choices, not mistakes. And every choice, has consequences - both good and bad. The true vindication lies in owning up to your choices and taking measures to rectify the bad ones. Our choices are our responsibility. Moreover, sometimes in life, we got to learn to count our blessings in adversities - because life is a combination of both.
Youngsters can be experimental in their emotions, desires and love can drive us to do wonders. However, the after-effects can be detrimental. But I loved how Cheran envisioned that Ramalingam and Vasanthi (played by Padmapriya) - though young and lost about the wrong turn in a moment of passion, took responsibility and worked their way to rectify it. Slipped along was the subtle reminder on the repercussions of premarital sex - including unplanned pregnancies. This episode is instrumental in helping youngsters to take a step back and ponder on the pain they can cause to their parents with their life choices. Cheran would have also beautifully set a narrative sidetrack of how youngsters can go down the wrong path
- Keep Marital Bond Sacred -
The bind of marriage is a special one - built on mutual respect, transparency, partnership and love. Children learn not from what we tell them, but from what we show them. So, parents should first set an example. The love and respect Muthaiah showers on his wife, is subconsciously reflected in Ramalingam. It was heart-warming to watch that despite everything, they both cherished the pregnancy period and how Ramalingam took care of Vasanthi post-delivery. They both were each other's pillar of strength and sailed together through every wave that came their way. Their love stood strong through the test of time and challenges.
- Handle Your Finances With Care -
Speaking of debt culture (from loans to credit cards) - it is sometimes inevitably for the modern, convenient and updated lives we want to live in. However, it's crucial to stay guarded as unplanned finances have destroyed families. The golden rule of Muthaiah's financial advise to Ramalingam was to live within means according to our income - rather than living a lifestyle that this society expects us to fit ourselves into, to reach a particular social status. With a planned budget, we will acquire a more disciplined and responsible attitude towards our finances. It's only human to want everything that we desire but its important to identify if this required and financially possible. Especially when Muthaiah himself has suffered the brunt of a debt-filled life.
It is Cheran's forte as a award winning director - to be able to hold the audiences glued to the screen for 3.5 hours. The content is so engrossing that you will be swept away by time and emotions in the journey of Dhavamai Dhavamirunthu. Many of us would have remembered going home with a conviction in our hearts about the bond we share with our fathers. And we still do every time we watch it.
As Dhavamai Dhavamirunthu will soon celebrate its 15-year anniversary, a big kudos to cast and crew who gifted us this priceless cinema. May fathers be celebrated everyday for who they are and everything they do.
