Parari

“Parari" is a Tamil drama film written and directed by Ezhil Periyavedi and produced by Harishankar under Kala Films Private Limited in 2024. Sangeetha, Guru Rajendran, Samrat Suresh, and Harishankar play main roles in it and depict caste prejudice, linguistic prejudice, and social problems.

In Rajapalayam village, "Maran," a lower-caste individual, is discriminated against every day. He secretly loves Devaki, a higher-caste woman, but their love is not possible because of deep-rooted prejudices. Caste strife in their village is heightened by a contested mountaintop (Kottaangal Paarai), which determines access to water. The dominant caste denies water supply to Maran's group, aggravating tensions.

In search of a more prosperous life, Maran and his community migrate to Karnataka to work in a fruit juice factory, where they are subjected to another form of discrimination; linguistic discrimination. The Tamil employees are not accepted and are victimized by the Kannada-speaking locals with increasing hostility. Tensions grow when the dispute over the Cauvery waters fuels the fire, providing an additional layer of tension.

Amidst all this upheaval, there is a love story between “Sakthi”, a Tamil male, and “Thara”, a Kannada female, but it is kept in the background and contributes little to the plot. Violence follows immediately, with both linguistic and caste problems driving the characters to extremes. The plant owner is on the side of the Tamil workers but has little actual power to do anything.

Director Ezhil Periyavedi strives to emphasise serious social issues, but the movie falters with too many conflicts concurrently. The underlying message of equality and harmony gets lost in violence and mayhem, and it becomes difficult to concentrate on the intent of the movie. Songs break the continuity, and the story lacks a strong conclusion.

Despite its flaws, “Parari” brings attention to ongoing social struggles but leaves viewers wondering; are audiences ready for yet another caste-based film?