Writer: Ramesh

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Watch this if you liked: “Jai Hind”, “Braveheart”

This is director S.P. Jananathan's third film after critical acclaimed efforts such as "E" and "Iyarkai". In "Peraanmai", we are given something quite different from regular Tamil cinema themes. This time the filmmaker presents us with the issues faced by the forest tribes in India.

Dhuruvan (Jayam Ravi) is a Forest Guard from a tribal family who is in charge of training National Cadet Corporation students. His superior Ganapathi Ram (Ponvannan) often insults him as he comes from a lower caste tribal group. Dhuruvan is assigned to take five arrogant college girls (Tanshika, Maha, Liyasri, Saranya and Vasundhara) on a jungle trekking trip as part of their assignment. At first the girls hate Dhuruvan and looks down on him but soon grow to respect him out of his experience and skill. While trekking, Dhuruvan and the girls come across 16 foreign terrorists lead by Anderson (Roland Kickenger), who plans to foil the Indian Space Research Organisation's bid to launch a satellite into orbit. The rest of the film deals with how Dhuruvan and his girls work to together to halt the terrorist mission.

Jayam Ravi looks impressive as a masculine, daredevil forest guard. His bold semi-nude appearances in the opening scenes are something to be appreciated. All five girls play their part equally well especially Vasundhara and Tanshika. Ponvannan as a greedy officer fits his role well while Hollywood actor Roland Kickenger doesn't give any facial expression besides showing his bare body. Vidyasagar's music is just below average and none of the songs are attractive. Some of the scenes have dialogues which are too sensitive and are muted by the censor board to avoid any racial issues. The camerawork on the combat scenes in the forest are done in a very stylish way.

On the downside, there are some illogical scenes, like how the girls dance and have a great time in the forest even though they are lost and in danger. There is also this part when a terrorist tries running away from these girls even though he is holding a machine gun.

However, credit should be given to the director for choosing the forest as a location, as it forms a central theme for the story and brings out a strong social message without resorting to the routine formula like romance and comedy. "Peraanmai" is brave attempt by S.P. Jananathan who combines patriotism with edge-of-your-seat narration.

Cinema Online, 20 October 2009