‘Paradesi,’ inspired by the novel ‘Red Tea’ by Paul Harris Daniel, opens with life in Salur village in 1939. As the camera pans, it takes you to a new morning with women drawing kolams and children running around while the cooking fires slowly warm up. You are introduced to Rasa, (Atharvaa) whose job is akin to that of a town crier. This time, he announces an upcoming wedding.
Angamma (Vedhika) a vivacious young woman enjoys playing practical jokes on the innocent Rasa. Inevitably the two fall in love but Angamma’s mother refuses to give her daughter in marriage to a jobless Rasa.
Rasa goes out in search of work and a chance encounter with a supervisor of a tea-estate, brings work not only for him but for the villagers too. Lured by the supervisor’s promise of food, shelter, a warm blanket and money for work on tea estates, the villagers set off on an arduous journey on foot. Arriving at the estate 48 days later, a different reality meets them.
From living under pitiable conditions and working like an animal, to watching their women being exploited by the English owners, Rasa and his people understand the grim truth, a tad too late.
This story of bonded labour is a sad reminder of history’s forgotten chapters and as the scenes roll on, you watch their helplessness and pain. You wait eagerly like the villagers for their pay day, (with dreams of purchasing gifts for folks at home), only to be told rudely that their salary has been adjusted towards their maintenance on the estate and that they get nothing, but to return to work. The vicious circle continues.
There is an authentic feel about this narrative as director Bala takes you there spot on. For me it was while watching through a binoculars the lives of Rasa and his people, following them at every step, feeling their anguish and their little joys, yet bottling up the anger within, impotent.
Tears well up as you watch a distraught Rasa telling his Angamma, while clasping his little son, ‘Naraka kuzhile vandhu vizhunduttai,’ (you have fallen into hell’s trap).
The characters are well-developed and come to the fore, rendering the actors invisible. Each and every one delivers a brilliant performance. Atharvaa in the skin of rustic Rasa, Vedhika, (the glamorous heroine of the other films) as the unglamorous Angamma and Dhansika as the bold Margatham with a little daughter, whose husband has left her, excel. Newcomer Jerry as the supervisor impresses. Not to forget the actor who plays Rasa’s grandmother. The film stays with you long after it is over.
G.V. Prakash’s music complements Bala’s story while Chezhiyan’s camera work is bound to earn plaudits.
This strong brew is a must watch for lovers of serious cinema.
