UlagaNayagan KAMALHAASAN in ||"UthamaVillan"|| Directed by Ramesh Aravind

[kumarsr]

^I beg to differ slightly. Mutharasan is a sort of a symbol to the the standards of tamil cinema today, its over indulgence in bringing out films that look for commercial viability over artistry. Mutharasan's ascension to the throne is through short cuts, making compromises. He hardly has political acumen, qualifications for a good ruler but still makes it through by killing the king. He to a good degree is always surrounded by the crassness of his subjects- the sycophancy and the blaring trumpets and drums just like Manoranjan who's both a victim and a proponent of mediocre film making . The biggest giveaway however is the tiger getting curd rice. Remember Kamal describing Sivaji saying 'Pulikku thayir Saadham koduthu keduthutom" ? Muthurasan (Manoranjan) is the tiger that got used to the thayir saadham, lying in the dumps of his mediocrity and absolutely ignorant of what it requires to be a king . He's a ear short literally and figuratively.

Of course, one can, metaphorically, imagine anything with anything else...including comparing a tiger's condition to Mano etc. But in my view it is a big stretch, an over-interpretation and likely misinterpretation as well. Many a times, it will appear to me that even the makers (in this case KH and RA) may not have thought so much at specific points. Plus, not many, besides Kamal's fans, would remember statements made by Kamal regarding Sivaji in some interview totally outside of the context of the movie. To me that scene was there to supposedly evoke some laughter but failed miserably (one among many in the supposedly comedy film). But, there is joy in interpreting a work in various ways, I understand. But it can't be so abstract that not many would be able to relate to. And certainly, that's not the maker's intention (they, after all, want everyone to come see the movie and relate to it).

The movie is simply about the life of a movie star who faces personal challenges. Since the primary challenge deals with mortality, the star wants to make a movie that outlives his physical being. The movie within a movie, while trying to provide some comic relief is themed to stress this point about mortality. So we have an evil king who wants to live forever (physical) while there is Uttaman who comes as an Artist who lives forever (metaphorically, his Art lives forever). While the king dies, Art/Artist is not vanquished. That is all there is to it!

So the evil king who kills off everyone in his path to the throne and who tries to rape the princess is not a reflection of Mano or his art form or his current status as a sell-out superstar in any way. May be, he was mocking the "talentless lucky star" Just my wild guess. But, frankly, Mano is very likeable from the very first scene and he has not committed anything close to a murder (or shown to remove anyone in his path to super stardom). If anything, he is a bit selfish and not brave enough to stick to the righteous path. That notion (not being brave) is also quickly dispelled by the letter he had written to Yamini and by revealing that his wife is an obsessive freak who would end her life rather than let Mano slip away. Mano is very likeable (he is not arrogant, does not abuse his fans etc. etc.)

On the whole, the physical life has to come to an end for everybody. But "Life is beautiful" (another quote from Kamal in a recent interview when talking about UV). Bitter Chocolate would have been a much more apt title. I can almost bet that the Yamini-Manonmani thread may have been something that had evolved over time and added to the main script.