This is an excellent movie that showcases one of the ancient dance forms of India, Bharatnatyam. The story revolves around a great, multi-skilled dancer (Kamal Hasan) whose life has seen many so many personal tragedies that he has become an incorrigible alcoholic. A tough critic, he earns the enemity of many and the grudging respect of a few with his ruthless critique of other dance exponents who don't quite get their steps right. Through a twist of fate, he ends up teaching his skills to the daughter of the girl he loved, but lost, in his younger years. In the end, even as his disciple performs her maiden exposition ("arangetram" in Tamil) in public, he is dying, coughing up blood. As he witnesses his disciple present a flawless exposition, he is also deeply satisfied that finally he had seen his skills passed on to someone who would illumine the ancient tradition more than he ever could. He could never achieve respect for the treasures he possessed, but realizes that he has lived his dream through his unlikely disciple, and fulfilled his life's mission moments before his death. His dying declaration is "art never dies."
The first thing that strikes you about the film is the sheer intensity of performance by the main protagonist, played by Kamal Hasan. He is a trained dancer, and his fluid, graceful Bharatnaytam is a pleasure to watch. Years younger than his age on the screen, Kamal has delivered a stunning performance as an old diseased man whose mastery over dance still lingers in the winter of his life.
The music pieces include a mix of Indian classical and modern with a sombre and brooding tone. The devotionals accompanying the dance pieces are still evergreen favorites in Southern India. The movie is still remembered as a fine example of an Indian classical dance form. Kamal's performance had been critically acclaimed then and respected even today.
A movie worth watching for anybody interested in Indian dance and music forms and how sublime they can be, even in a movie format.
The first thing that strikes you about the film is the sheer intensity of performance by the main protagonist, played by Kamal Hasan. He is a trained dancer, and his fluid, graceful Bharatnaytam is a pleasure to watch. Years younger than his age on the screen, Kamal has delivered a stunning performance as an old diseased man whose mastery over dance still lingers in the winter of his life.
The music pieces include a mix of Indian classical and modern with a sombre and brooding tone. The devotionals accompanying the dance pieces are still evergreen favorites in Southern India. The movie is still remembered as a fine example of an Indian classical dance form. Kamal's performance had been critically acclaimed then and respected even today.
A movie worth watching for anybody interested in Indian dance and music forms and how sublime they can be, even in a movie format.