Premam -  An Elixir called 'Love'

Bharath Vijayakumar

George, Mary, Malar, Celine, Koya and Shambu. Names that probably stuck on to you if you had watched this year's Malayalam blockbuster Premam. Released more than 6 months back (May 29th 2015  to be precise) Premam has developed a fan following that is quite astonishing. Apart from Kerala the film has attained a cult status among Tamil movie buffs.The film's run continues in Chennai (with subtitles) for over 170 days, even after it's original Bluray and DVD/CD have been released. This is remarkable by any stretch of imagination. The fact that the film's theme is universal and something that anyone could relate to is a reason, there can be no denying that the film never looks alien to a regular Tamil cinema viewer.

Alphonse Putharen the man behind Premam is probably at the fulcrum of this amalgamation of the cinematic taste of the two states. His first film Neram was a bilingual in Malayalam and Tamil. But his connection with Tamil cinema actually goes deeper. Alphonse was part of the brigade of short film makers who first shot into limelight through the television show Naalaya Iyakkunar and who have now made heads turn in Tamil Cinema in the last two years. He was the editor in some of these films and has collaborated with Karthik Subburaj a few times.

Premam is a film that richly entertains you the first time and just keeps growing on you with every subsequent viewing. Autograph and Attakathi to an extent are Tamil films that explored the phases of love in a man's life. Premam does the same too. But the three films are drastically different from each other. While Autograph was more emotional, Attakathi sought to look at the lighter side of unrequited love. Premam walks the middle line and wildly celebrates  love. It has the defining emotional movements. There is the pain of unrequited love. There is the pain when a relationship does not end in marriage. But there is not a single bit of negativity. Rajesh Murugesan's score plays a huge part in this. You have George weeping on screen but the music does not let you to be crestfallen. It gives you this peculiar warmth where you seem to enjoy the momentary pain!!! It is amazing that for a film titled Premam and that has love in almost every frame George never says the customary 'I Love You' to any of the three girls.

The metaphorical representation of the butterfly is tastefully done. A single butterfly is shown during George's one side tryst with Mary. Two butterflies are shown exactly when Malar lets her first shy grin at George.The butterflies part ways when fate blows a cruel blow on George and Malar. There is nothing in any frame that seems to be just for the sake of it. You really cannot call any actor as an extra in Premam. The end credits that acknowledges almost everyone who comes on screen(some of them with absolutely no dialogues) shows how much thought Alphonse has given to each and every character that adorn Premam. There are so many moments in the film filled with subtle and delightful humour. Jojo sarcastically asks a fellow mate at the cafe what kind of Christian he is and the innocent reply heard from the background is 'RC'. And chance is most of you who saw the film might not have even caught this joke.And the maker is in really no mood to tell you 'hey here is a joke!'. There is not an extra second given for the emphasis on the joke. This is exactly where Premam almost feels life like and the screen in front of you slowly vanishes. Don't miss the friendly banter over a T shirt amidst a much serious discussion.

For a film that is high on entertainment, highly stylized with it's new age type of film-making and with songs being shot like music videos Premam does not rush through at any place. In fact at the end of the episode between George and Malar there is this entire story of theirs shown in the reverse in slow-motion. Poetry and Pop culture can co-exist in a single movie!!!

Premam could very well be in it's last leg of run at the cinemas. Do catch it if you love movies and if you love 'Love'!!!

Premam