Amazon Prime Video’s Raame Aandalum Raavane Aandalum, the directorial debut of Arisil Moorthy, better known as RaRa in short, addresses the problems faced by the common man in our country. Based in a small town in Tamil Nadu named Poocheri, the story is about a couple Kunnimuthu (Mithun Manickam), Veerayi (Ramya Pandian), and their two kids (read: bulls), Vellaiyyan and Karuppan. The opening scene of RaRa shows Kunnimuthu waiting at the police station to file a missing complaint about his bulls.
The constable who has assumed that Kunnimuthu is filing an FIR for his kids drives him away when he figures out they are bulls but ironically assigns two constables to look for MLA’s missing dog in a jiffy. That is when you realize RaRa is much more than just a simple story.
Amazon Prime’s Raame Aandalum Raavane Aandalum Review does not contain spoilers
The title Raame Aandalum Raavane Aandalum is the opening phrase of a super hit Rajinikanth song from Mullum Malarum. The full verse is “Raman aandalum ravanan aandalum enaku oru kavalai ila” (Whether Rama rules or Ravana, I don’t care). In Mullum Malarum, the song is a proclamation of Kaali’s bravado and morality. But here, it’s a cry for help from the common, impoverished man — no matter who rules us, our situations are not going to change. Power and money are two things that rule the world. Isn’t it?
Raame Aandalum Raavane Aandalum Review: They Are Not Just Bulls
The first half of the satirical drama entirely focuses on the importance of the bulls in both Kunnimuthu and Veerayi’s lives. Both Vellaiyyan and Karuppan stepped into the couple’s home and hearts as a wedding gift from Veerayi’s father. In several instances, it can be sensed that both Kunnimuthu and Veerayi are attached to them as if they are their own kids.
In one of the scenes, Kunnimuthu pushed a man away because he was trying to pierce his cattle’s ears. On the other hand, when Veerayi is asked by a neighbour about being a mother after marriage she happily mentions that the bulls are no less than kids for them and they don’t need anybody else.
Despite portraying Kunnimuthu and Veerayi as affectionate bull parents, it is nowhere mentioned what the couple does for a living. How do they manage to take care of themselves as well as their bulls?
We as an audience do not know much about Kunnimuthu or Veerayi individually except the short wedding sequence that takes place in the flashback. While focussing on their bulls wholeheartedly, the love and affection a couple would have for each other cannot be found.
Also Read: Netflix’s Ganglands Review: Drugs, Rivalries and Deaths
The Other side of the story
After the simplistic story of a common man’s woes, the movie takes a political turn in the second half when Kunnimuthu and Veerayi find out that their bulls were abducted by a politician for his benefit. The couple then realizes that the battle was much more complicated than they had assumed.
A well-meaning journalist, Narmada (Vani Bhojan) enters the scene here who points out the lack of development in the small village trying to help the couple as well. RARA aspires to make a plea for our impoverished rural population. “Saami kooda osarathula poi okandhuda poyachu angerunthu namma kashta kandukida naal aachu,” it says. (Even the Almighty has found a high throne for him. He doesn’t hear our pleas from there.) But do its people care?
While Narmada is voicing out the concerns for the people of Poocheri it can be seen that people are not concerned about the issues they are facing.
Raame Aandalum Raavane Aandalum or RaRa Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, I would say that RaRa intends to voice out and create an impact but proves to be a light-hearted one-time watch instead.
Raame Aandalum Raavane Aandalum is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Also Read: The Morning Show Season 2 Episode 2 Review: Teases Big Drama