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Director: Thangar Bachan
Cast: Partibhan, Devayani, Nandita Das, Sayaji Shinde, Arvind Bachan.
 Moving away from the path of crass commercial films, is a film with a lot of sensibility and sensitivity. Cinematographer Thangar Bachan’s debut directorial effort ‘Azhagy’ is a film that would move you to tears, and touch a chord in your heart. Illaiyaraja’s musical score, the lighting and framing sets the mood for the scenes, the camera never dominating, like it is with quite a few cinematographers turned directors films.
The director should further be commended for a perfect selection of his cast. Particularly the artistes who play the childhood and the
 teenage years of Partibhan and Nandita. Fitting in perfectly with her role and the ambience is Nandita, re-establishing her credentials as one of the finest and sensitive actresses of Indian cinema. Projecting well the trauma of a woman battered by life, thrown into the streets to fend for herself and her son, basking in the care and affection shown to her by the doctor and his wife, the former an admirer of her growing-up years in the village.
Partibhan brings in maturity and sensitivity in his role, conveying through his subtle looks the sympathy and deep bonding he feels for the ‘Azhagy’ whose silent admirer he was, but a man who knows his responsibilities towards his family. Devayani plays well the wife who does not suspect her husband’s fidelity, but nevertheless cannot hide her jealousy and irritation by the close bonding shared by her husband and his childhood companion.
 There have been compromises. Like the clichéd antics of the village school-master Murthy, the raunchy dance number, and the scene where Nandita fantasises about Partibhan making advances towards her. But these are minor and forgettable. For ‘Azhagy’ is a must-see film and with sensitive directors like Bachan entering the fray, there is still hope for Tamil cinema.
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Malini Mannath
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