Rated 8.5 on IMDB, “Visaranai” (Interrogation) is one of those undiscovered gems in Netflix that needs more attention. The 2015 Tamil-language crime thriller is based on the novel “Lock Up” by M. Chandrakumar and adapted for the screen by multiple award-winning writer/director Vetrimaaran. The film itself is a winner of the coveted National Film Awards among other national and international accolades it has collected so far.
Based on M. Chandrakumar’s real life experiences as a migrant worker being wrongly detained and violently interrogated for a crime he had not been involved in, Visaranai chronicles the story of four Tamil laborers—Pandi (Dinesh Ravi), Murugan (Aadukalam Murugadoss), Afzal (Silambarasan Rathnasamy), and Kumar (Pradheesh Raj)—who work in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. The migrant workers are so poverty stricken that they sleep in a nearby public park.
Despite the hardships, all is well for them until one night they are captured at random by the police. Trying to solve a high profile robbery, the police round up these Tamil-speaking laborers so that they can pin them as criminals and close the case. When they do not accept the charges, they are physically and mentally tortured for a confession.
The innocent group of scared young men finally yields to the vicious beatings and agrees to confess. But when they’re taken to court, they complain to the judge about the police misbehavior. In a Telugu-speaking court, they have a hard time convincing the judge, when police inspector Muthuvel (Samuthirakani) from Tamil Nadu steps in to translate for them. Muthuvel, who is in Andhra Pradesh for a case, manages to convince the judge and helps them walk free.
If you think we have already spoilt the film for you, the narration till now is actually a build-up to the story full of police brutality, treachery, power struggle, and the sacrifice of innocent lives to fulfill the ambitious of those in power. Not having read the actual book yet, this screen adaptation by Vetrimaaran is superbly adjusted to make it relatable to the audiences of developing South Asian countries.
Visaranai exposes the flaws in policing and their potential impact on the judicial system. The migrant workers from Tamil Nadu, who do not speak fluent Telugu, are metaphorically voiceless when attacked by a corrupt system. And as the film progresses, it also shows how members of the same system are then themselves victimized by those more powerful than them. The vicious circle of power struggle and chess-like pawn sacrifice is what Visaranai revolves around.
As writer and director, Vetrimaaran’s work in the film is exceptional. Not only is the screenplay tight and engaging, the film feels much shorter than its 1h 57mins length because of creative visual storytelling. Using actors who mostly play side roles in bigger-budget and stereotypical Tamil/Telugu films, Vetrimaaran has packaged real-life story into a reality-based film that is more than just entertainment. The movie not only entertains, it makes people think and be aware of the darker side of law-enforcement. Also, it asks people to be skeptical of media reports put out by powerful forces.
The actors have also contributed in giving life to the screenplay. With none of the actors identified for ‘iconic’ roles and appearances, they settle down perfectly within the storyline. Samuthirakani, one of the most experienced and versatile actors in the cast, stands out in his role as Muthuvel, a police inspector, who by turn becomes the savior, perpetrator, and victim within the film’s span.
Who should watch it?
Visaranai is the kind of South India movie that Bollywood will probably remake in years to come. But as Bollywood is known to distort things with its glitz and glamor, it’s best you watch this Tamil version, albeit with subtitles. Visaranai is an important film for serious movie buffs as well as casual audiences.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Crime/Drama
Actors: Samuthirakani, Dinesh Ravi, Pradheesh Raj
Director: Vetrimaaran
Run time: 1hr 57mins
