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

[Arvind Srinivasan]

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.

Ya that's the beauty of art. It's open to speculation and interpretation. The very fact that so many perspectives arise for a single film talks about the movies depth. This is the one quality that I look in films and I most cases am never disappointed with Kamal's films. Even duds like MMA had a good amount of depth with respect to each of the characters. Coming to this film, I absolutely agree with what you say. I did go a little overboard with the analysis. Perks of having watched it thrice I guess. But the product is so intriguing and knowing Kamal, I found it hard to stop over-analysing the film.