Thangalaan

Written by Saad

‘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 film helmed by director Pa. Ranjith, recognized for his earlier projects such as Kabali and Kaala. The movie features Karthi in the principal role, supported by a talented cast that includes Parvathy Thiruvothu, who has received praise for her roles in films like Take Off and Bangalore Days.

Thangalaan – Trailer (Hindi) Credit Source: Youtube.com/Times Music

PLOT:

In the year 1850 CE, Thangalaan lives with his wife, Gangamma, and their children in the village of Veppur, North Arcot. As the village chief and a landowner, Thangalaan is held in high regard and enjoys prosperity, in contrast to most villagers who are bound laborers toiling on the zamindar’s property. Each evening, Thangalaan captivates his children with tales, one of which narrates a haunting story about Aarathi, a woman from the Nagar tribe. Aarathi is thought to be a sorceress and guardian of the land, dwelling deep within the forests. Thangalaan shares the tale of his great-grandfather, Kaadaiyan, who belonged to a tribe adept at extracting gold from the sands of the Ponnar river. When a king discovered the gold veins in the mountains, he sought Kaadaiyan’s knowledge. Aarathi erected mystical barriers, including snakes, to safeguard the land. Kaadaiyan initially declined but was tempted with the promise of reclaiming the land lost by his ancestors. He eventually consented, but the king found the gold they retrieved to be counterfeit, blaming it on Aarathi’s magic. Furious, the king beheaded a statue of Buddha, believing it to be a sorcerer. A violent confrontation broke out between Aarathi and Kaadaiyan’s men, leading to Aarathi sustaining fatal injuries. Her blood flowed across the land, transforming the sand into gold. Gangamma interrupts Thangalaan’s narration as the children drift off to sleep.

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 whole village, including the women, enters the desolate forest but discovers only iron and silver ores. Thangalaan stays determined, even though Asokan, under Aarathi’s influence, warns everyone to give up their efforts. Driven by a dream, Thangalaan locates a rock that matches one from his vision and insists on excavating the nearby deposits. He is attacked by snakes, which fatally wound his younger daughter. Aarathi steps in, stopping Thangalaan from trying to save her. Despite the absence of food and resources, Clement perseveres in their efforts, leading them to uncover a deep, abandoned mine. Thangalaan recognizes it from his dream and finds traces of gold. Chaos erupts, and the British seize the gold for themselves, resulting in a confrontation where Arasani is shot. Yet, the gold is revealed to be mere clay due to Aarathi’s sorcery. Their homes are ravaged by fire, but they are given a glimmer of hope to continue mining. The starving villagers spot a buffalo, and Thangalaan, recalling Aarathi, kills it, allowing everyone to feast. In time, he motivates the group to delve deeper, at which point Aarathi, in her present form, arrives with her warriors, fiercely attacking them. Aarathi defeats Thangalaan and uses her magic to reveal his former life.

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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