Tea shops are not just meant for refreshment and relaxation. They are also the breeding grounds of life-long friendships and even long lasting relationships for some people, especially those belonging to middle class in small towns. Noted Stunt Master Dhilip Subbarayan’s maiden production venture 'Anajala' is about one such tea shop, which is the second home a group of men in that locality. The film stars Pasupathy, Vemal, Nanditha and many other actors and directed by debutante Thangam Saravanan. Let's see how the film has satisfied the audience.
Muthirulandi (Pasupathy) is the owner of a 100 year old tea stall named 'Anjala' in Sozhavandhan. This tea shop is the first identity for that place and that locality had developed around that shop only. The shop is like another home for many youngsters who are waiting for an opportunity to get settled in life Gavaskar (Vemal) is one among them. A few old men and middle aged men also frequent the shop and are its patrons.
The National Highways department’s project to widen the road, comes as a death bell for the shop leading to a legal tussle between the Government and Muthirulandi and other shop owners of that locality. Added to this, Anjala shop faces a few other problems that threaten its survival.
What happens to Anjala tea shop and its kind hearted owner forms the rest.
The film starts with the centenary celebrations of the tea shop and that’s the smartness of the director in establishing that the shop is not just a location but a central character in the film. The characters and their closeness to Muthirulandi and the tea shop without having any blood relationship are established .
Then the first half moves to a beautiful well written and impressively shot flash back which establishes the antique value of the tea shop and also how the locality developed around the tea shop in chronological order. The flash back that coves a period of over 60-70 neatly incorporates the British rule, tendency against caste differences that started budding in those days and other thinks within the framework of the story. This sequence is so good that it makes has forget or at least forgive the other flaws in the first half.
The second half gathers momentum as the crisis deepens and the relationships take a beating due to external circumstances. The emotional sagas thankfully do not get melodramatic anywhere and we could easily relate with the characters. However nothing lasts long as things get an easy solution adding up to the feel good factor. In the last 15-20 minutes even we start getting anxious about the tea shop and that's the success of good writing.
The climax is highly realistic and positive and that deserves a special mention too.
One of the big plusses of the film is the writing and portrayal of many small supporting characters that leave an impact. Be it the man in his late thirties (Aadukalam Murugadoss) waiting for his soul mate and falls for every girl he passes by, the old man who volunteers to support the tea shop and the heroine's father (R.V.Udhayakumar)..
With these plusses the film has its share of downers too. Despite the presence of a good number of comedy artists the film falls flat in making us laugh. The other additions to entertain are also not so great. With a running time below two hours the film nowhere makes us feel the length but there instances the makes us to check our smart phones. The songs by Gopi Sundar are poorly placed and are functional and follow the template of these films. The feel good factor goes too much beyond a point as everyone turn good and this may not be a good take away for all kind of audiences.
Pasupathy is at his usual best as a man who is kind and friendly to everyone and does not have a family of his own. He has played dual role for the first time in this film and the seasoned actor excels with his performance in the other character too. Vemal manages to make a mark with a role tailor made for him. Nandita Swetha passes muster as a college going town girl.
Aadukalam Murugadoss for the first time appears without a beard and leaves a good impression. R.V.Udhayakumar and other supporting actors look suitable for the roles allotted to them. Subbu Panchu the liquor baron villain and the actor who comes as the problematic inspector fail to make the right impact with the negative characters. Subbu lakes that menacing attitude required for a villain and he may be best suited for a suave and cunning villain character.
Rerecording by Gopi Sundar is apt in most sequences and praiseworthy in emotional scenes, especially the pre climax portion. Ravi Kannan’s camera work and the Editing of Praveen K.L. leave nothing to be complained about in other sequences. In the flash back portions these two technicians have played a brilliant role in bringing life to the vision of the director. Murugan’s art direction deserves praise for the creating a tea shop with antique value with a contemporary look.
In short ‘Anjala’ is a decent film that you can enjoy with you family provided you enter the theaters without big expectations.
Verdict : This Tea shop is worth spending some time and money.
