by Clarke Fountain
synopsis
This lavishly produced Indian gangster film in some ways resembles the American classic The Godfather. It follows the career of orphaned strongman hero Velu (Kamal Hasan) who gains a reputation as a Robin-Hood like figure in his poor Bombay neighborhood. Later he becomes a ruthless, powerful gangster. Although he lives to be an old man he does not escape the effects of the violence he has spread throughout his life. This film is unusual in that it is was filmed in one of the less commonly used official languages of India, Tamil.
