'Pariyerum Perumal' Review: A powerful film on social injustice and identity

There is no single frame that lies out of context, as even the tea cups in the backdrop of a scene tells us the dominance of one community over another.‘Caste and religion are against humanity’ - is displayed on the big screen like a statutory warning against smoking and consuming liquor, even before the credits begin. 

Pariyan (Kathir) belongs to a small group, from a village near Tirunelveli, who make their living by sending dogs for hunting. Karuppi, the dog he owns, becomes a victim of social injustice that prevails within his locality for years and gets killed in the very first scene. With ambitions to save his group from inequality and injustice, Pariyan decides to pursue higher studies and joins a law college in Tirunelveli.  His poor English skills, helps him to buy the affection of his classmate, Jo alias Jyothilakshmi (Anandhi), an upper caste girl. But when her family discovers that Jo is madly in love with him, they insult and trouble Pariyan in all possible ways. Can he stand against the injustice meted out to him? Or lose his life like his dog ‘Karuppi’? 

While the plot of the film has nothing new to offer, the screenplay and the agony that each and every character goes through makes the audience to root for them. We think we know what the outcome of a scene would be, but director Mari Selvaraj constantly surprises us with how the scene is executed. There is a shocking pre-interval sequence, where one of the family members of Jo, insults Pariyan by urinating on him. Just when we think that things are getting overboard, Mari Selvaraj hits us hard with reality and his writing is so water-tight that every occurrence in the screenplay looks natural.   

Though Pariyan’s dog Karuppi is killed in the first scene, we feel the presence of it throughout the film. The constant comparison between the life of the protagonist and his dog is just breath-taking and leaves you wanting for more such shots. In many scenes, Mari Selvaraj effectively portrays how most of the honour killing cases are being reported either as suicides or accidents.  While we have said enough about the screenplay, the cinematography and the music are top notch. 

Santhosh’s background score plays a huge role in giving a different colour to the film. It elevates your emotions and helps better to connect with the characters on screen. 

Keep the best for the last, Kathir’s performance as an underdog, who is ambitious, strong yet innocent is so realistic and one of the best till date. He is an irresistible, likable mixture of fiery and vulnerable.  And the heroine of the film, Anandhi, adds that much-needed charm on screen. Her performance as a vibrant girl who doesn’t even realise about the existence of evils in the society is just brilliant. Overall, Pariyerum Perumal is a powerful film that stands against social injustice and shouts at the face of the evils.

Directed by Mari Selvaraj 

Music Director Santhosh Narayanan

Cast: Kathir, Anandhi, Yogi Babu, Lijesh 

Synopsis: An oppressed class boy, Pariyan, joins law college in an aspiration to bring justice to his small group back home. Will he become a successful graduate or falls prey to honour killing?

Rating: 4/5