Kabaddi as Liberation

It is heart-wrenching to know how these sportspersons, and their talent, hard work, and success is under-valued. We need films like Bison that create an incisive rupture in our minds, so that we can come together, unite, and rise against social and political injustice.

By R Kalpana in Bangalore

Yet another signature film by Mari Selvaraj and another landmark film for Thamizh (Tamil) cinema. Inspired from the travails of the real story of Manathi Ganesan, national kabaddi player, who won the gold medal for India at  the Japan Olympics, this film brings to life the horrifying events in a player’s hard and heady journey to success.

Mari Selvaraj (MS) and Pa.Ranjith, who have coproduced this film, are ideologically grounded in their approach and craft. Story, direction and screenplay, all from MS, brings to the audience their filmmaking purpose and what they want to accomplish for society. There is a purpose in the story-telling.

Bison Kaalamadan is a purposeful film inviting and igniting people to wake up and fight to remove the entrenched fences that are laid by social structural injustice and socially-embedded community  and caste conflicts The struggles have a legacy, and a vain trajectory of the perceptual insider and outsider conflict.

In this film Vanathi Kittan and his family live an ordinary existence; the story tells about how he overcomes all forms of injustice and obstacles to move towards his passion and goal. He wants to become a successful kabaddi player.

MS does not leave any stone unturned to capture every detail of the context in which Vanathi Kittan and his family rise against the socio-political conflicts that engulf them on every step as they strive to achieve their dreams.

This is a film that does not believe in saying anything in silence, nor use any metaphor or symbolism to communicate the purpose. This director is direct and loud, and does not hesitate to tell the truth and expose the malice inherent in our society.

Kabaddi in the year 1993 and 1994 was almost an underdog sport and getting national recognition is not valued even today -- when we compare this to cash-rich, commercialized cricket.

It is indeed heart-wrenching to know how these sportspersons and their talent, hard work, and success is under-valued. We need films like Bison that create an incisive rupture in our minds, so that we can come together, unite, and rise against social and political injustice.

Many of those who are passionate about the game disappear because of nepotism or some other socially-constructed obstacles that challenge their ambition and journey. The role of Vanathi Kittan performed by Dhruv Vikram brings him to a mega canvas with a character of substance and integrity.  A character he carries on his shoulder with courage and responsibility, maturity and dignity. 

Pasupathi as the father of Kittan deserves accolades for his authentic portrayal of a father's fears, pain, suffering and pride; he does not know how to provide a safe space for his son to realise his dreams. MS gives ample freedom and screen space to Pasupathi to perform so as to actually bring out the stark social truth that has been so damaging for the communities in a certain geography -- the surrounding  areas of Tirunelveli  and  Tuticorin.  An award-winning performance by Pasupathi, who, with his powerfully emotive performance, shines all through.

The women too have power and agency in the film. The elder sister has immense influence as she backs her brother’s decision to pursue his dream. She encourages him and pushes her father to come out of his social anxieties and fears to stand up for his son.

The childhood lady love who is elder to Kittan vocally perseveres to fight for her love, and finally wins in her efforts. In Tamil Nadu, we can clearly see how women do not play second fiddle to men, but they choose to walk along with dignity, carve their own identity and social space, and draw their own roadmaps and strategies that are meaningful and fulfilling.

Arivu and MS have created the lyrics with a certain raw rootedness that gives authenticity to the narration. The lyrics and the story reach a higher level of ingenuity by the musical collaboration with Naveen Prasanna who has infused energy and velocity into the film.

Every breakthrough and every grief has been defined by the volatile musical tracks. This kind-of a film needs to be built on folklores that emotionally engages the audience and portrays the genuine complexities of our social structures.

May the tribe of MS and his genre of filmmaking continue to thrive in the Indian film landscape; they are indeed agents of change urging a sense of urgency and authenticity in our minds, and thereby encouraging us to raise our voices to fight for inclusion and equity so as to usher in a progressive social order.

Images: Screenshots courtesy R Kalpana.