Thangalaan
Written by Saadburhan
‘Thangalaan’ is based on the real-life story of tribal people who lived at the KGF during the British excavation of mines in order to find gold.
“Thangalaan” is a Tamil-language film directed by Pa. Ranjith, known for his previous works like Kabali and Kaala. The film stars Karthi in the lead role, with an ensemble cast including Parvathy Thiruvothu, an actress acclaimed for her performances in films like Take Off and Bangalore Days.
Thangalaan – Trailer (Hindi) Credit Source: Youtube.com/Times Music
PLOT:
In 1850 CE, in the village of Veppur, North Arcot, Thangalaan resides with his wife, Gangamma, and their children. As the village chief and a landowner, Thangalaan is respected and prosperous, unlike most villagers who are bonded laborers working the zamindar’s land. Each night, Thangalaan entertains his children with stories, one of which is a chilling tale about Aarathi, a woman from the Nagar tribe. Aarathi is believed to be a sorceress and protector of the land, residing deep in the forests. Thangalaan recounts the story of his great-grandfather, Kaadaiyan, a member of a tribe skilled in extracting gold from the Ponnar river sand. When a king discovered the gold veins in the mountain, he sought Kaadaiyan’s expertise. Aarathi had set up mystical obstacles, including snakes, to protect the land. Kaadaiyan initially refused but was promised the land his forefathers had lost. He agreed, but the king found the retrieved gold to be fake, attributing it to Aarathi’s sorcery. Enraged, the king beheaded a Buddha statue, mistaking it for a sorcerer. A fierce battle ensued between Aarathi and Kaadaiyan’s men, resulting in Aarathi being fatally wounded. Her blood flowed over the land, transforming the sand into gold. Gangamma interrupts Thangalaan’s storytelling as the children fall asleep.
Soon after, the zamindar’s men set fire to Thangalaan’s farm produce, leading to his inability to pay taxes. Consequently, Thangalaan’s land is seized, and he and his family are forced into debt bondage. Meanwhile, British officer Lord Clement arrives in Veppur, seeking gold and aware of the villagers’ ancestral expertise in locating it. Despite the villagers’ fear of Aarathi, Thangalaan, his son Asokan, Varadhan, Gengupattar (a devout follower of Ramanuja), and a few others set off northwest on a quest. Thangalaan starts hallucinating Aarathi’s presence, warning him away from the forest, but he persists, overcoming challenges such as a river, black panther, sandstorm, and snakes. Upon reaching a trench caused by lightning, Asokan discovers the beheaded Buddha statue. Aarathi appears, frightening him from underwater. Undeterred, they search for the remaining statue parts with gold traces at the bottom. During the extraction, lightning strikes Clement’s son. Clement vows to find the gold ore at any cost, thanks Thangalaan, and gifts him his son’s clothes. Clement also offers daily wages, and Thangalaan returns to the village, boasting of better pay and respect. He gifts the village women blouses, encouraging them to join the gold mining effort.
The entire village, including the women, ventures into the barren forest but finds only iron and silver ores. Thangalaan remains resolute, despite Asokan being possessed by Aarathi and warning the group to abandon their work. Thangalaan, driven by a dream, finds a rock matching one from his vision and insists on digging nearby lode deposits. He is attacked by snakes, which fatally bite his younger daughter. Aarathi intervenes, preventing Thangalaan from saving her. Despite the lack of food and amenities, Clement continues the work, and they discover a deep, abandoned mine. Thangalaan recognizes the place from his dream and finds streaks of gold. Chaos ensues, and the British claim the gold as their own, leading to a fight in which Arasani is shot. However, the gold turns out to be mere clay due to Aarathi’s sorcery. Their settlements are destroyed by fire, but they are given hope to continue mining. The starving population spots a buffalo, which Thangalaan, reminiscing about Aarathi, kills, and they all consume. Later, he motivates the group to dig deeper, where Aarathi, in her present birth, appears with her men, attacking them ruthlessly. Aarathi subdues Thangalaan and uses her sorcery to reveal his past lives.
Thangalaan recalls his past as Arasan “Aaran”, a tribal king in the 5th century BCE. Alongside Aarathi, he protected the land’s resources, mainly gold. Aarathi safeguarded the land while Aaran fought trespassers but was defeated. In subsequent births as Adhi Muni, Kaadaiyan, and Naga Muni, he faced discrimination and oppression, forced into labor and gold extraction. Thangalaan pleads with Aarathi, acknowledging their duty to protect the land while also prioritizing the community’s welfare. Dying, Aarathi grants Thangalaan permission to retrieve the gold, but only for the community’s benefit.
Enraged by Clement’s attack on Aarathi, which fatally slit her abdomen, Thangalaan kills Clement and the other officers, declaring that the land and its resources belong to them, not to be exploited by foreigners. Determined, Thangalaan ventures deep into the mine and finally discovers an abundance of native gold, bringing joy and prosperity to the village.
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