One Line Review of Pannaiyarum Padminiyum: A movie that revolves around a car and a few characters in a village that is shot in an absolutely beautiful way!

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YouTube Trailer Pannaiyarum Padminiyum

Starring: Vijay Sethupathi, Jayaprakash, Tulasi, Aishwarya Rajesh

Directed By: S. U. Arun Kumar

Release Date: 7th February 2014

What is it about?

The movie focuses on a man, Pannaiyar, and his relation with a Car – a vintage FIAT Padmini car.

“Expanding his much-loved short film into a full-length feature, Arunkumar shows that he is a capable storyteller. He takes his time spinning his yarn but there is an assuredness in the telling that keeps you hooked”

~ The Times Of India

My rating for Pannaiyarum Padminiyum is 8.5/10

Summary

Pannaiyar is a kind-hearted landlord of a village and is responsible for introducing various innovations to his people such as the radio, television, and even toilets. He happens to see his friend Shanmugham’s vintage Fiat Padmini car and immediately starts to grow a great affection for it. As time goes by, Pannaiyar happens to be in the possession of the car for a short period as Shanmugham will be away from the village to visit his daughter. A delighted Pannaiyar feels so good seeing the car in his courtyard but in an emergency, he realizes that he doesn’t know how to drive it.

It was then he calls Murugesan, a villager who is the only guy around who knows driving. From then on, Murugesan becomes an integral part of Pannaiyar’s family itself being their driver and they start using the car for everything including helping the villagers in various ways. As time goes by, Chellama expresses her wish to travel in the car while Pannaiyar drives it. From then starts the tries of Pannaiyar to learn driving to impress his wife out of love with the help of Murugesan.

The rest of the story is about the conflicts faced by Pannaiyar on knowing that he must return the car someday, his tries in learning driving to impress Chellamma, and in parallel, Murugesan’s love story with a girl named Malarvizhi.

Review

Pannaiyarum Padminiyum is proof that our country still produces such soulful stories. Arun Kumar’s storytelling is so beautiful and perfectly paced that you will never feel like skipping any portion of the movie. Rating the actors will be the toughest task because everyone has delivered their best. While Jayaprakash and Parvati lived on the screen being the lovely couple Pannaiyar and Chellamma, Vijay Sethupathi brought complete justification to his role of being the faithful and good-hearted Murugesan. Arun has succeeded in recreating the vintage vibes of a village and Justin’s music elevates the movie to a higher level.

Verdict

Pannaiyarum Padminiyum is a must-watch for everyone. It will take the audience on a beautiful ride just like the onscreen Padmini along with letting them travel with Pannaiyar and his village.

Conclusion

Highly recommended. One of the movies where everyone including the story is at its best.