Aalavandhan

Aalavandhan (2001) Directed by Suresh Krisha, written by Kamal Hassan
This blind purchase from a shop in Mumbai turned out to be good one. Interesting story supported by decent visuals, especially in the hallucination scenes. The action was typical South Indian; fun, energetic but not really conscientous. I loved the story of two twins who turned out very different as they aged. After their mother committed suicide due to their father's infidelity, the father married his lover just after three months of their mother's death and this lover was not a nice woman. The father turned to drink and drugs with the encouragement of the new wife who is a woman who only married him to get his money. The boys tried to out her but dad never listened and he was prone to hitting them with his belt. Their maternal uncle wanted to take them and put them in an army boarding school (and the fact that both boys were very eager to go shows how much they suffered in their own home, their only real friend is a mentally challenged guy from one of the tribes that lives nearby) but dad only allowed one to leave. The boys tossed a coin and Vijay went with the uncle, Nandu had to remain at home. Already more affected with the suicide and treated badly by the stepmom he started to lose his mind. After his dad had a heart attack and stepmom refusing to call any medical assistance leaving his dad to die, he killed her. Then put into a mental asylum suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. Vijay on the other hand did well in the army and turned out to an able commando engaged to a news reporter/anchorwoman. When she became pregnant they decided to marry immediately and visit Nandu at the mental hospital to announce the happy news. Nandu is not happy with this development since he hates women and thinks that Teju (the fiancee) will ruin Vijay and he feels that he should protect Vijay by killing Teju. Despite being a freakishly strong and a very smart man, Nandu's threats were not really taken seriously as he is locked up and under guard at the hospital. But he manages to escape with his sole purpose being killing Teju. He goes on a rampage killing people and he takes drugs which messed his mind even more. After his escape Vijay finally awakens to the threat and they decide to leave town and go their childhood home to sell it (it is a lovely home and Teju wonders whether they should keep it but Vijay replies "too many bad memories") Nandu of course is in hot pursuit supported by lucky coincidences that allows him to follow them closely but his attempts to kill Teju fail one after the other. Finally he manages to get close but Teju inadvertendly awakens those bad memories when the only thing she could do to defend herself and her child is a leather belt which she hits Nandu with.
In the end Nandu sort of commits suicide prompted by his hallucinations (finally understanding Teju is not a threat).
This film made an impact on me and made me think about nature vs.nurture. Nandu was the daredevil and the aggressive one of the twins but I wonder whetehr he'd turn out like that if he was the one who went with their uncle...

Meanwhile The Piano Tuner really makes a wonderful read. Good prose Mr.Mason, good prose.