Periyar

Cast :Sathyaraj, Kushboo, Jyothirmayi, Stanley, Manorama, Nizhalgal Ravi, Chandrashekar
Direction :Gnana Rajasekaran
Production:Liberty Creations
Music: Vidhyasagar
Lyrics: Vairamuthu
Cinematography: Thankar Pachan
Costume: Sakuntala Rajashekaran
Editing : B Lenin
Art: JK
Synopsis: This film portrays the whole life of Periyar from his younger days onwards. This film depicts the life time of this great man in two and half hours.It would have been a struggle for the director of this film, Gnanarajasekaran, to portray the important events that make the man, Periyar. An atheist, Periyar has always stood for social development. His visions and actions for development which surpassed social barriers of caste and gender were clearly projected in this film. The film was carefully and beautifully woven with various small incidents of the life of Periyar; though it was felt overdone at times.
Sathyaraj has brought out his best to do justice to this challenging role. This is surely one film which brings out the versatility of this actor. Other characters too were embossed by Jyothirmayi as Nagammai, Kushboo as Maniyamma and Stanley as Anna.
Art direction by JK is another plus point of this film. He might have done a serious and detailed study of the era. His set has reconstructed this bygone era even in details. This has produced a feel of reliving of the past for the viewers. Sakuntala Rajashekaran also has shown justice to the whole picture with costumes also.
Drawbacks included out of place dance sequence and certain technicalities. But Periyar got a warm welcome despite all odds. This came from the part of the Tamil Nadu Government also.