Veyil is a story about a young boy who had an obsession with local theater. He adored movies, and snuck away from school often to watch them at the theater near his home. The boy is Murugesan, who is the narrator of the film. Murugesan is much older now, but he reminisces on his clustered childhood that he spent with his father, a butcher, and his three siblings. Murugesan shows much affection and attention to his younger brother, until one day he is caught in the act of leaving school. Murugesan is found out by his father, while he was watching a film at the theater when he was supposed to be in school. His father severely punishes him, and Murugesan runs away, stealing family valuables on his way out of his father’s home.
Veyil, directed by Vasanthabalan details how Murugesan moves on, spending the money recklessly and ultimately waking to find that the remaining money he had was stolen from him. A local theater projectionist finds homeless Murugesan and takes him in. Murugesan’s child- and early adulthood is played out, before returning to the narrator. The rest of the film takes place in Murugesan’s present, as he returns home after the twenty year anniversary of him running away from his father and family. With love and sadness revolving around the little brother that he abandoned, Murugesan continues his life story in an attempt to make reparations for the past.
The Tamil movie has been celebrated at numerous film festivals, and likewise has earned many awards for its compelling and fascinating story. In 2006 Veyil won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. Similarly, it won two Filmfare awards. One for Best Tamil Film and one for Best Tamil Director. Veyil won Best Film by the MGR Sivaji Academic Awards, as well as numerous awards for Best Other Language Film.
The Tamil movie is celebrated for its stark drama and compelling story, as you follow Murugesan through his petulant youth through his maturing adulthood. He grows and recognizes his mistakes, and yet life continues to be filled with hardship for the adult Murugesan. Love is also a key element in this film, as it details Murugesan’s depression in his adolescence, as the love of his life dies. Similarly he is confronted with a lovestruck woman later in the film, and his young brother deals with his own lover. The love of family is also strongly detailed, as Murugesan expresses sadness at his inability to be there for his younger brother, and his failure to be a good role model for the boy.
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