Poovarasam PeePee - Understated But Overwhelming !!!

Bharath Vijayakumar

Films featuring kids almost always revolve around their world and more often than not start and end as a film for children. Debutant Halitha Shameem's Poovarasam Peepee deviates from this pattern and provides a fare that is engrossing in so many ways.

Plot:

The film follows the lives of three boys who are on the verge of adolescence and their coming of age during the summer vacation. Amidst the bond they share with each other and their innocent crushes the film showcases how they bring to justice a few notorious people after witnessing a shocking deed of theirs.

Cast:

The three kids are really good. Often in these type of films, the kids in their anxiety to do well give you the impression that they are enacting something for the camera. But here the kids look their part and it is as if a candid camera follows their regular activities. Though some of their activities do seem a little mature for their age it all looks quite natural on screen. And this is no mean feat considering that the three of them are in almost every frame from start to finish.

Crew:

The music of Aruldev and cinematography of Manoj Paramahamsa greatly elevate our experience in the auditorium. The visuals are pleasant and down to earth at the same time. The songs never hinder the flow and the lyrics are in sync with the plot and the narrative.

Halitha Shameem:

This is a great debut by Halitha Shameem. There are so many subtle references that catch your eye. The scene where one of the boys experiences his first wet dream/nocturnal emission is so candidly narrated with a nice touch of humour. You can relate to many things shown on screen. The act of pretending to write notes in the classroom, the use of chalk to brighten the canvas shoes, the teenager who fears getting into a soup after a CD that makes biology more interesting gets stuck  in his player are few scenes that could bring back fond memories for the adults. The animation sequence that narrates how a riot originates from a harmless act of a third person is nicely done with obvious references to the current happenings in society. Though these nice touches deviate from the main plot, at no point we lose focus of the central story of the film. And this central focus is not something we could even think of in a film whose leading stars are tiny tots. Kudos to Halitha Shameem for pulling it off. She has made a breezy little film that actually touches so many aspects of the society including the responsibility with which media should operate. The slight grudge you might have against the film is that some of the actions of the kids does seem a tad too bold and implausible. But the understated manner in which the movie is carried forward without much fuss submerges this factor.

Bottomline:

In the starting credits the makers have thanked the audience for coming to watch this film. When the curtain rolls we disagree to this as it is the audience who should be thanking the team for this film. Poovarasam Peepee makes an overwhelming sound in an understated manner.

Verdict

Rating: 3.5/5

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