A scene by Gautham Menon – ‘What is it like without her?’

Music plays a great part in Gautham Menon movies which with the stylish narration and nice actors, gives the film a classic feel. His taste of camera movements, framing, lighting and music is marvelous. There is a beauty in his romantic scenes, and song lyrics. Like: ‘Megham Megham… thooram pogattum, Pogum podhe thooral podattum’.

This is a small, beautiful, heart-touching portion from a superb movie by Gautham Menon – Vettaiyadu Vilayadu.

‘I was married. She passed away. She was just 28. It’s been 8 years’
‘I am really sorry. What was her name?’
‘Kayalvizhi’

There is no sweeping soundtrack here — quiet performance from two actors.

‘I met her at a marriage. I proposed to her immediately’

Cut to ‘Flash Back’ – A drastic change in the tone and the camera movement – happy mood – ‘his first meeting with Kayalvizhi’ – in flashback, camera moves, zooms in and out frequently, unlike the main scene.

‘I love you’

Soon, the pleasant flash back ends – Cuts back to Kamal Haasan

‘Kayal was five months pregnant when she died’ – It’s flawless; emotion, every part of this part works perfectly.

‘What’s it like without her?’

Cut to Kamal Haasan (OS) – bgm starts a split second later – so powerful, that it brings something invisible on screen, plus the actor brings the complete range of emotions and displays the depth of pain he is carrying, with no words.

Cut to Kamal Haasan

‘I shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry’
‘It’s Ok… Yes. I miss her. It’s been eight years. Mom, dad, work, sister… they keep me going…’

After a moment of silence he continues

‘Time heals everything’ (The music changes here – Special applause to Harris Jayaraj)

He turns to Jyothika

‘Go to sleep. Happily. Don’t worry about anything too much. Everything will be ok in the morning. That’s what I tell myself daily’

Even though he smiles, and says many things in contra this whole portion perfectly shows the weight of the horrific event of his loss on his soul.