~r

You’re right – I can’t think of a great village film in Hindi in recent times. Virasat probably came close, and that too was a remake (of Thevar Magan).

There isn’t much by way of groundbreaking village cinema coming out these days in Tamil either. There is the occasional Pithamagan or Paruthiveeran — a different kind of film to be sure, but thankfully just as fascinating. Then again, the proportion of crap to good cinema was probably just as high back then — we just pick the good ones in retrospect.

In some ways, what Bharathiraja brought to the table was a view of the village as a world of its own, with its (sometimes strange) beliefs and customs. Some of it still exists — I remember watching the female infanticide portrayed in Karuthamma with a sort of horrified fascination. While he used these customs sometimes as a plot device (notably in Kizhakke Pogum Rayil), it was clear that he took it all quite seriously, and that honesty somehow shone through. Later movies mostly took the formula, but shortchanged the sincerity.

Somehow I don’t think Bharathiraja was as successful in making an urban film. Sigappu Rojakkal was more of a notable exception. Movies like Tick tick tick or the later Captain Magal turned out to fall woefully short of the mark.

~r

People like Sarath Kumar have made a career out of the “Mora Pillai” idea but there is surely is a lot more to films set in rural Tamizh Nadu. I particularly recall being impressed with Bharathiraja after watching Vedam Pudidu, Kizhake Pogum Rail, Alaigal Oyivadhulai and Seegapu Rojakal. The last one being significantly different in story telling and execution compared to the other ones.

On a slightly different note, I am unable to recollect many Hindi films post 1990 set in rural India. Lagaan and Jodha Akbar being period films are not exactly in this category and neither is Swades.

Lovely post Ramsu. Keep going.