Tamil Film Karnan

[Saustin Grody]

Aftera brief-long pre-production work, the film was launched in January 2020, with the title Karnan. The film is mostly set in the rural Thoothukudi district. Shooting of the film took place, following its launch, and was completed in December 2020; although production was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was theatrically released on 9 April 2021 to critical acclaim. Though the film generated controversies for allegedly being influenced by the 1995 Kodiyankulam caste violence, it became one of the highest grossing Tamil films of 2021, despite its theatrical run abruptly ending due to pandemic restrictions. Publications like The Indian Express named Karnan as one of the best Tamil films of 2021.[2]

In southern Tamil Nadu, two neighbouring villages, Melur and Podiyankulam in Tirunelveli find themselves in constant conflict as the latter is denied a bus stop. Podiyankulam's inhabitants, who belong to the oppressed communities, are forced to use the bus stop in Melur for commuting, which irks the locals who belong to the dominant castes. Despite multiple petitions, Podiyankulam is constantly denied a bus stop thanks to the influence of Melur's local government.

Sometime in the late 1990s, Karnan, who is from Podiyankulam, wins the local deity's sword as part of a competition, which had not been won for years. Weeks later, Karnan participates in an open selection camp for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), where his grandfather, Yaema Raja, is worried that Karnan would lose the opportunity to join government service, if his hot-headedness would involve him in any legal trouble with the Melur villagers and is constantly looking out for him.

Within Podiyankulam, Karnan and Yaeman are considered unruly by many except its chieftain, Duryodhanan, who befriends them both. This does not sit well with Vadamaalaiyan, one of the village's heads, who desires to marry Karnan's sister Padmini, who is far younger than him. Vadamaalaiyan's sister, Draupadhi, who is in love with Karnan, misunderstands the situation during the latter's brawl with her brother and breaks up with him. Karnan loses his younger sister who died in the beginning due to a seizure when she saved the money for Padmini's marriage.

Meanwhile, tensions escalate between Melur and Podiyankulam, as Karnan, along with his friends and Yaema Raja vandalises a bus for not stopping by to help a pregnant lady. The bus owner files a complaint with the police and the district's police Superintendent Kannabiran arrives on the scene. Though the bus owner and Podiyankulam's residents settle the issue amicably, the incident bruises Kannabiran's ego, who feels that the villagers must always be shown their place. He asks Podiyankulam's village heads to come and sign at the area police station, only to brutally assault them for an hour and lock them up overnight. He insults them verbally and orders local police to file unrelated cases against them.

The next day, early morning, Karnan and others arrive at the station and enquire about the elders. The police feign ignorance and send them out. The helper boy in the tea shop outside tells Karnan about the incidents of the previous night, and Karnan storms into the station. The guys fight off the police, find the elders on the rooftop under the burning sun, and take them home using a confiscated tractor. Podiyankulam barricades itself and prepares for a police attack to face the consequences of Karnan's actions.

However, the District Collector warns Kannabiran to avoid casualties at all costs. Draupadhi and Vadamaalaiyan settle their issues with Karnan, and Yaema Raja works on providing security to the villagers. However, Karnan receives his appointment letter from the CRPF. He refuses to leave, but is forced to leave by Yaema Raja and the villagers, to have a better future. Minutes after Karnan leaves, the police brutally attack the village. To save his community, Yaema Raja kills himself by self-immolation, and Karnan is forced to return with the local deity's sword in hand. He and Kannabiran face each other, and he traps him using the sword. He takes him hostage inside a hut, ending the clash. Karnan orders the police to bring in the MP, MLA and all important officers within an hour. Inside the hut, Kannabiran and Karnan fight, ending with Karnan overpowering Kannabiran for good.

Kannabiran again exalts his caste pride and predicts that Karnan's village will be soon destroyed due to his actions. Enraged, Karnan kills Kannabiran, and is arrested. Ten years later, Karnan is released. The village Podiyankulam has gotten a bus stop, many of the village youths are now educated, but most of the older village heads succumbed to medical issues caused by the aftermath of the police brutality. Padmini is married and the village's community hall has a picture of Yaema Raja painted on a huge wall. The villagers begin to celebrate Karnan's return.

In November 2018, Dhanush announced his upcoming project will be directed by Mari Selvaraj, who also appreciated the director's debut film Pariyerum Perumal for its making and content.[3] Selvaraj too confirmed the news in his tweet,[4] and Kalaipuli S. Thanu backed the project under his production house V Creations,[5] his second consecutive film with Dhanush, after Vetrimaaran's Asuran (2019).[6] Despite its announcement, the project's launch was delayed owing to Dhanush's other commitments. In August 2019, reports stated that the film will be tentatively titled as Karnan, although no official confirmation revealed from the producers.[7]

In September 2019, sources claimed that the film may begin production in December 2019, once Dhanush completes shooting for the Karthik Subbaraj-directorial titled Jagame Thandhiram.[8][a] In September, Dhanush met Mari Selvaraj in London while shooting for D40, in order to finalise the script for the film. After Dhanush was impressed by the narration of the final script,[10] the makers kick-started the pre-production works of the film on 29 September,[11] with Santhosh Narayanan being announced as the composer.[12] On 6 January 2020, the makers officially announced the film's title as Karnan.[13] The film is loosely based on the 1995 Kodiyankulam violence.[14]

In September 2019, Malayalam actress Rajisha Vijayan signed the female lead opposite Dhanush, thus making her debut in Tamil.[15] The following month, veteran actor Lal was also brought on board for the project.[16][17] In December 2019, Natarajan Subramaniam also confirmed his part in the film.[18][19] Tamil comedian and actor Yogi Babu, who appeared in Selavraj's debut film Pariyerum Perumal was roped in for the film's cast, which marked his maiden collaboration with Dhanush.[20][21] During the pooja ceremony of the film, Babu and Vijayan were present in the film's cast, which confirmed their inclusion in the project.[22] In January 2020, a still from the sets featuring Dhanush and Lal, was released with Dhanush essaying the titular character Karnan, whereas the latter's character was revealed as Yemen.[23] Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli and Gouri G. Kishan were roped in as supporting cast.[24][25]

After wrapping the shoot for Karthik Subbaraj's Jagame Thandhiram, Dhanush joined the film's sets in Tirunelveli on 3 January.[26] A launch ceremony for the film was held in a simple manner on 6 January 2020, and principal photography commenced the same day.[13] Mari Selvaraj and art director T. Ramalingam recreated a replica miniature model of a village in the district.[27]

With the shooting being progressed in a brisk pace, Dhaunsh unveiled a still from the film through social media platforms on 28 January.[28] The picture features a silhouette of Dhanush holding a sword in his hand.[29] The still went viral upon release with unique poster designs, with the still making rounds on the internet.[30] On 24 February 2020, Dhanush posted a picture from the sets during the completion of the film's second schedule.[31] The makers completed 90% of the film's portions, before being halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown in India in March 2020.[32] Nine months later, on 25 November 2020, the team resumed film shooting in order to complete few patchwork scenes[33] and was wrapped up on 9 December 2020.[34][35]

In a 2020 Ananda Vikatan interview, director Mari Selvaraj refused the connections of the Kodiyankulam violence with the script.[36] He further added that "This is a work of fiction. It will have some elements of truth. But there is no need for film directors to portray truth. There are newspapers and magazines to inform the masses about the truth. We are reading and listening to a lot of stories. We take inspiration from those stories to create a film."[36]

Director Mari Selvaraj in an interview with a news portal, stated the reason for the film's title as well as Dhanush's character in the film.[37] He explained that "While the Karnan from Mahabharata was the one who gave away all his worldly belongings, Dhanush's Karnan has nothing to offer in the film as he comes from a conservative background. Karnan will also be seen fighting for his rights in the movie."[37]

Jaya Gomathi Mirra, editor and chief film critic working for Cinema Express, reviewing for Karnan stated about the parallel themes involved with Mahabharata and its similarity with the plot and characters,[38] as also film critic Baradwaj Rangan.[39] Along with this, Mirra also reviewed the similarities and the connections with Selvaraj's previous film Pariyerum Perumal; she also reviewed about the political and artistic resonances in world cinema, quoting the likes of Seven Samurai, Bacurau and Les Misrables which also had similarities with the film.[38]

The film's soundtrack is composed by Santhosh Narayanan, in his second collaboration with Mari Selvaraj after Pariyerum Perumal, and fourth collaboration with Dhanush after Kodi, Vada Chennai and Jagame Thandhiram. In November 2019, Santhosh started the music production of the film with some folk artists across Tamil Nadu.[40] The music album which was marketed by Think Music,[41] features seven tracks in total, which includes four songs and three instrumentals; while three of the songs: "Kandaa Vara Sollunga",[42] "Manjanathi Puranam"[43] and "Thattaan Thattaan"[44] were released as singles on 17, 25 February and 3 March 2021, the fourth single "Uttradheenga Yeppov" was released on 7 March,[45] and the audio launch was held on 31 March.[46] The complete album was released via music streaming platforms on 8 April.[47]

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