Under these circumstances, Yogi Babu unexpectedly becomes a millionaire through a lottery ticket. Although his life changes after becoming wealthy, the discrimination faced by his community remains unchanged.
Realising that the money has brought him an identity and respect in society, he wishes to secure the same dignity for his community members. An opportunity arises through which he may be able to bring about this change.
Whether Yogi Babu succeeds in using this opportunity to transform the lives of his people forms the heart of ‘Singaram’.
Yogi Babu, who plays the lead role, delivers a refreshing performance by moving away from his usual body-shaming comedy and immersing himself in the character.
He entertains audiences with his trademark timing and humorous dialogues at certain moments. At the same time, his controlled performance in emotional scenes deserves appreciation.
Actors including Vela Ramamoorthy, M.S. Bhaskar, Maria Vincent, Aarthi Ganesh, Manobala, Kalki, Marimuthu, Padava Gopi, Sendrayan, T.S.R., Deepa Shankar, Sabitha Rai, Java Sundaresan and K.M. Ganeshkar are well suited to their respective roles.
Cinematographer Prasanna S. Kumar focuses more on capturing the emotions of the characters and conveying them effectively to the audience rather than simply creating visually grand sequences.
The songs composed by Sam C.S. complement the storyline and help communicate the emotions behind the narrative. The background score is subtle and adds strength to the scenes without overpowering them.
Lawrence Kishore’s editing ensures that the film progresses smoothly without unnecessary lags.
Director K.V. Kathirvelu, who has written and directed the film based on a real-life incident, deserves appreciation for powerfully portraying the pain experienced by people affected by caste and social discrimination.
Set against the backdrop of the 1990s, the film explores the discrimination and hardships faced by the Kuravar community during that period.
The director also highlights the social identity and recognition that the community gained through the previous DMK government’s initiatives, along with the progress made by its younger generations.
Through powerful storytelling and emotional sequences, K.V. Kathirvelu effectively captures the struggles of a community that has faced continuous social exclusion.
The director strongly emphasises that education and government employment are essential for the progress of a community. At the same time, he highlights the importance of political power and representation in bringing about lasting social change.
‘Singaram’ is a socially relevant film that gives voice to a marginalised community and highlights the pain of discrimination, the importance of social identity and the struggle for dignity.
Yogi Babu delivers a performance that goes beyond comedy, while director K.V. Kathirvelu deserves credit for handling a sensitive subject with responsibility and conviction.
Overall, ‘Singaram’ is a meaningful and thought-provoking film that uses cinema as a powerful medium to highlight social injustice and the importance of equality.
