Latest news with #ParamasivanFathima
New Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Vemal Interview: Paramasivan Fathima spreads the message of harmony
Paramasivan Fathima has been creating ripples ever since it hit the screens on Friday. The controversy began right from the time the teaser was released, and a few controversial dialogues and scenes were billed to have the potential to disturb the communal fabric of Tamil Nadu. The film's director Esakki Karvannan and actor Vemal argue that those claims are far from the truth, and Paramasivan Fathima aims to sow seeds of harmony and not discord. "Paramasivan Fathima is a feel-good film that has more to offer than two warring villages. There is a story with a noble message, and it marries elements such as romance, sentiment, and even horror. I can guarantee that this will not just be a bland message-heavy film that sermonises," says Vemal. Agreeing to this assessment, Esakki adds that he is a filmmaker who believes it is important to use filmmaking tools to convey a message rather than just being preachy. "I believe that people dislike ones who give advice. Paramasivan Fathima only suggests people live a certain way to lead cordial lives. There won't be an in-your-face messaging." Barring some big-scale violence such as the Kovai riots and Kanniyakumari Mandaikaadu riots, Tamil Nadu has fared relatively better on the communal front. Esakki is confident that the film will still resonate with people. "As you mentioned, there have been only a few communal riots in our State. But do you think people don't carry communal sentiments in them? By communal sentiments, I do not mean professing a particular faith. It is being too obsessed with one's faith to the point of harming others solely because they belong to another faith. The only difference, back in the day, people used to wield arms, physically attack, and commit arson, but today people spew venom on social media. They wish for too many bad things to happen to others. If they had the power to do such things, they would. Now that they cannot execute such things, they view social media platforms as an outlet to express their perverse intentions. I view evil thoughts as much of a problem as evil deeds. So though there aren't ostensible communal tensions prevailing in Tamil Nadu, Paramasivan Fathima has an important and noble purpose to serve," he explains.
New Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Paramasivan Fathima Movie Review: This predictable film is ideologically inept and clumsily crafted
Generally, filmmakers find it easy to dish out social issues if their films are set in a fictional world. This helps you stay away from offending any powerful person, organisation or community. It also creates a space for uninhibited discussions. But filmmaker Esakki Karvannan is disingenuous with things he presents as issues and lacks honesty in exploring them fully. Paramasivan Fathima introduces the fictional world of Subramaniyapuram and the towns split from it, namely Yokobpuram (predominantly Christian) and Sultanpettai (predominantly Muslim). The film begins with the narration that the rampant conversions are the reason for the split, and prospective grooms from both these towns die a day before their D-day. In parallel, we get glimpses of Paramasivan (Vemal) and Fathima/Tamilselvi (Chayadevi), teasing us with what could have happened to them even though the familiar stench of honour killing is discernible from a mile away. However, the film chooses to take a tiring 140 minutes to uninspiringly tell us the relation between the deaths and conversions. Putting itself on a high pedestal, the film claims to impart some noble message, but is off the target right from the beginning. It reeks of contrivance, especially with no villager in this film having anything to do except be bothered by religion. It could be said that communal flare-ups in Tamil Nadu are few and far in between when compared to cases of caste discrimination. However, the absence of an engaging fictional story cannot be blamed on the social fabric of the state. The film should have ideally explored how bigotry comes in the way of religious harmony in the 21st century rather than creating a fictional world filled with people, who seem to be straight out of the Middle Ages. The film also trivialises hunger and unemployment through Hindu characters coercing others in their community to not convert for "food and jobs" as though they aren't important enough for sustenance. The question is, what kind of pride should one take in a religion where one follower does not take care of another? Why will anyone not be grateful to someone from some other faith, who has taken it upon themselves to provide sustenance to live a dignified life? Also, it is important to note that the act of service done with an ulterior motive of converting more people to their religion cannot be brought under the umbrella term of 'service.' It is but a transactional relationship. Can an apathetic person judge when someone from his 'brethren' converts to another religion after receiving certain favours from them? No. Some scenes and dialogues reflect the 'rice-bag convert' condescension in social media, but this anger would have been better justified if it was targeted at those depriving the starving people of their 'rice bag'. 20th-century American psychologist Abraham Maslow would have created a five-tier needs hierarchy that treats physiological and safety needs as having paramount importance for a bare minimum decent life. Food and material requirements aren't nothing. I am duty-bound to remind such self-righteous people that the miracle stories of Lord Krishna filling his impoverished friend Kuselan's house with riches just for a morsel of puffed rice and Lord Jesus multiplying five bread loaves and two fishes to feed 5000 people are being taught to their respective followers even to this day to praise God's glory, generosity and magnanimity.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Paramasivan Fathima Movie Review: Not all spirits are worth summoning
Paramasivan Fathima Movie Synopsis Two feuding villages, one Hindu and one Christian, face a series of murders that lead to the revelation of spirits seeking justice for past religious conflicts. Paramasivan Fathima Movie Review: Written By: Abhinav Subramanian Just when you thought Kollywood had exhausted its quota of caste-and-religion films, along comes Paramasivan Fathima to prove there's always room for one more. Set in feuding villages of Subramaniapuram (Hindu) and Yokopuram (Christian), the film opens with wedding night murders that have both communities pointing fingers. Director Esakki Karvannan (who also plays the police lead) handles religious themes with heavy-handed obviousness, reducing believers to caricatures who might as well be living in medieval times rather than modern first half establishes the murders with attempted comic sequences that fall flat. A man is lured to his death by following a singer he's attracted to into the forest - hardly the stuff of suspense. The police investigation aims for laughs that never land, making the whole enterprise feel tonally inevitable flashback reveals childhood sweethearts Paramasivan (Vimal) and Fathima ( Chaya Devi ) separated by religious conversion, Fathima's father's death and his dying wish to be buried as a Hindu, and the resulting burial ground disputes. Both Paramasivan and Fathima are murdered, and their grievances manifest as vengeful spirits. The film drags you through 140 minutes of village squabbling only to resolve everything with supernatural intervention - it's like watching grown adults argue over whose imaginary friend is and Chaya Devi do what they can with roles that require them to be both earthly teachers and ethereal avengers. MS Bhaskar's Father character is a collection of tired pastor clichés. The visuals are serviceable, though the sound design assaults you with unnecessary Fathima is the kind of film that thinks adding ghosts to rural conflicts automatically makes them interesting. It doesn't.
