First, I will note that this movie is way atypical for an Indian movie: 1h30 long (instead of 2h30); no songs; no glamorous encounters that are Fate's will to unite 2 persons; no super Tamil hero;...
This is a movie with hidden political plots.
While no places nor important characters are named, one can find out the utmost realistic background of this movie.
The terror techniques are those of the LTTE: cyanide capsules for not being taken alive, suicide bombers (LTTE invented the explosive belts. Other terrorist groups then reused it), children warriors.
I did not understand that this movie is related to the assassination of Rajiv Ghandi, but after reading such comments, I must agree (the fact that Malli uses a boat to get to her mission location is a clue that it is to happen in India; Tamil Nadu, from the language spoken by the peasants).
When I read some commentators comparing this movie to 9/11, I feel they are wrong: the LTTE terrorism is not about a godly will, but about "freeing" Tamil people living in Sri Lanka.
Other commentators asked why there are some black screens when Malli is thinking hard. Here is my answer: It is related to Vasu's comments about the seed that need to go into the darkness of the earth to evolve from tiny seed to a big tree. It is a rebirth of Malli. This fact is also shown with Malli sleeping more and more in foetal position as the assassination day approaches.
To be understood fully, this movie requires some background about LTTE, Sri Lanka, Cinghalese VS Tamil situation...
While this movie is not in my top ten, it remains a good one. Santosh Sivan proves here courage with a politically engaged movie that is surely unpleasant to (some? many?) Tamil people. Even in the title of the movie being "The terrorist" (instead of something like "the Martyr", "the Hero" and so forth...)
This is a movie with hidden political plots.
While no places nor important characters are named, one can find out the utmost realistic background of this movie.
The terror techniques are those of the LTTE: cyanide capsules for not being taken alive, suicide bombers (LTTE invented the explosive belts. Other terrorist groups then reused it), children warriors.
I did not understand that this movie is related to the assassination of Rajiv Ghandi, but after reading such comments, I must agree (the fact that Malli uses a boat to get to her mission location is a clue that it is to happen in India; Tamil Nadu, from the language spoken by the peasants).
When I read some commentators comparing this movie to 9/11, I feel they are wrong: the LTTE terrorism is not about a godly will, but about "freeing" Tamil people living in Sri Lanka.
Other commentators asked why there are some black screens when Malli is thinking hard. Here is my answer: It is related to Vasu's comments about the seed that need to go into the darkness of the earth to evolve from tiny seed to a big tree. It is a rebirth of Malli. This fact is also shown with Malli sleeping more and more in foetal position as the assassination day approaches.
To be understood fully, this movie requires some background about LTTE, Sri Lanka, Cinghalese VS Tamil situation...
While this movie is not in my top ten, it remains a good one. Santosh Sivan proves here courage with a politically engaged movie that is surely unpleasant to (some? many?) Tamil people. Even in the title of the movie being "The terrorist" (instead of something like "the Martyr", "the Hero" and so forth...)