'Papanasam' review: A gritty remake that is equally as strong as the original

Film: Papanasam.

Cast: Kamal Haasan, Gautami, Niveda Thomas, Esther Anil, M. S. Bhaskar, Kalabhavan Mani, Asha Sarath, Anant Mahadevan.

Director: Jeethu Joseph.

Rating: 4/5

From the Vibhuti on the forehead to the Cuticura Talcum Powder on the chest, Kamal Haasan as Suyambulingam makes his character based on Mohanlal’s in 'Drishyam' his own.

Kamal Haasan is this out of the world Superman when he’s in front of the camera. Give him any character and within a minute he transforms into that character. There’s no denying that there’s earnestness in Jeethu Joseph’s story. But having watched a version of the movie I was apprehensive about 'Papanasam's' capability to convince me afresh. However it’s a joy to discover what the team has done here. They have proved that even after watching several versions of the story, you’ll still be able to relish this drama till the last minute.

More importantly, the success of this story isn’t in the revelation of the steps taken by Suyambulingam, but in the journey of an uneducated man who draws inspiration from movies to keep his family safe from the hands of the predators. Any amount of mental agony serves no purpose in the time of distress. Only a clean mind can come up with solutions. This is where Joseph’s wonderful character excels. Even though there’s a mountain of fear within, Suyambulingam has to remain as calm as a seat at night to achieve what he intends.

And, by Jove, 'Papanasam' is layered with terrific performances. The casting is almost perfect. Kalabhavan Mani as a rogue policeman and Anant Mahadevan as the father of the missing man deserve a round of applause. The hiccups are purely associated with the mother and the younger daughter. While Gautami looks physically weak, her on-screen daughter Esther Anil seems to be out of her comfort zone. She’s sometimes plain and sometimes nervous. One thing’s clear though, she’ll definitely learn the tricks of the trade along the way. Also, an error could have been avoided if the team had done some googling about 2014’s releases. Lingusamy’s 'Anjaan' was released on August 15th. But Suyambulingam’s family insists that they watched the movie on August 3rd. The police too nod in agreement. Shame! Shame! For a movie of this stature, this is an unforgivable blemish.

The beauty of Joseph’s story is cocooned in universal truth and hence will stand the test of time. Man is selfish. He’s willing to go to any length to protect those he loves. If the price to pay for love is heavy, his determination to shoulder the angst is heavier.

'Papanasam' isn’t merely a remake… it’s a story of human survival. Works well in any language; anytime.