Ratha Saatchi Review: An intense and hard-hitting drama about a rebellious leader backed by some terrific performances

3/5

Story: When Appu, a youngster decides to take on inhumane landlords and uplift bonded labourers, he becomes the most wanted fugitive of the region
Review: Ratha Saatchi director Rafiq Ismail had stated at an event that filmmakers Mani Ratnam and Vetri Maaran wanted to make the film adaptation of the short story Kathaigal from author B Jeyamohan's novel Venkadal and that he was glad that he got the chance. And one must say that the director has indeed cashed in on the opportunity. Ratha Saatchi is a film that makes you uncomfortable and leaves you disturbed, and rightly so!

The plot is set in the 1980s in the rustic rugged terrains of Dharmapuri. The opening scene begins with a young mother being tossed into a scalding hot jaggery mix! Her offence - she fills a few spoonfuls to feed her starved children. We also see another labourer beaten to death mercilessly. No complaints lodged and the deaths are hushed up. The brutal deaths don't leave a deep-rooted distressing impact among the oppressed peasants, too, as it has sort of become a routine for the feudal landowners to do away with them. Needless to say, the labourers have accepted this as their fate!

But when a young educated youth Appu (Kanna Ravi), inspired by the communist movement, approaches the labourers and says that one needs to fight for their rights, and if that doesn't happen, snatch what's rightful of them, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Having come from a bonded labourer's family himself, Appu understands the pain and anguish of being denied one's due and respect. He is a rebellious spirit who wants to uplift people from misery and is ready to create a revolution for the same. He tells the oppressed workers that he has burnt his fear. He goes on to give an analogy of the tusker Vairam, who spends his life being chained, despite the fact that the pachyderm is much mightier than the thin iron chain that it is shackled to.

Appu soon realises that it's going to be a tough road ahead and understands the schisms between communism and naxalism. The police force increase their surveillance after they hear about Naxal insurgency in the region and try their best to prevent any uprising like the Naxalites did in the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh. They scour the area and scout for youngsters, right from those borrowing books on Russian literature and communism to those conducting protests and bring everyone under their radar. Appu soon makes it to the top of the most wanted fugitive list after he blindsides the cops with a chilli powder attack.

On the other hand, the Naxalite groups, too, up their vigil and begin relocating from one place to another and gear up to take on the police forces. The film beautifully captures the hodgepodge of emotions that run between the two groups and how both sides still have some humanity inside them. While its Appu on the Naxalites side, it's Murugesan (Elango Kumaravel) who cannot stand the injustice committed against the oppressed labourers. Towards the end, Narayana (Charles Vinoth), too reveals his emotional side.

When it comes to the acting department, the star cast has put up a compelling performance with Kanna Ravi stealing the show as the rebellious leader Appu. The supporting characters are excellent, too, be it Murugesan (Elango Kumaravel) SP Devasagayam (Kalyan), Narayanan (Charles Vinoth) and Harish (Iqbal).

The cinematography by Jagadeesh Ravi aptly captures the tone of the story and so is Javed Riaz's tunes that complements the uprising on screen. The song, Kaadu, especially resonates with the goings-on on screen. The film might seem like a lag in the middle and poignant scenes like his final meeting with his family do not really stir up the emotions that they are supposed to. But these are only minor glitches in an otherwise well-made film.

Verdict: A hard-hitting drama about a rebellious youngster that makes for a disturbing watch. Go for it.