Mani Ratnam's CCV; is the film inspired by Vali-Sugreevan legend?

'Naan rajavaa thaan varuvaraen.. rajavaa vandhaa..rajavukku noor dostu', that's what Ethi (the youngest of the three sons of Senapathi, the ageing don) shouts out during a football game by the beach on a rainy, sunny day. Roughly, 'I'll make an entry as the king'. It is from the trailer (2:46 secs) of Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, Mani Ratnam's latest film planned for this September release.

Among the many trailer reviews in social media, one that is gaining circulation is an article that proposes that the movie could be based on the legendary Tamil writer, Kalki's magnum opus - Ponniyin Selvan. The novel, a historical fiction, that ran as a series over many years in a Tamil weekly, is easily the most popular of all novels in the language. And there have been attempts by many a filmmaker to translate the magical spell in those pages onto the silver screen. But almost all of them have failed. Mainly weighed down by the sheer canvas of the story, the tens of towering characters and the multitude of sub-plots that transport you back in time to the Chola era. The novel is about the power struggle that happens towards the end of Sundara Chola's (Paranthaka Chola II) reign. 

Like any other theory, the one propounded in the article that is doing the rounds in social media is built on many 'ifs' and 'buts'. But, accommodating a comparable level of tolerance, I strongly feel more than to the story of Ponniyin Selvan, CCV is closer to the Vali-Sugreevan chapters of Ramayanam. 

Senapathi is a mafia don, and he controls the city, basically a concrete jungle as presented in the opening shots of the trailer. Vali-Sugreevan story is set in Kishkindha, a jungle. A jungle represents a place that gets filled with mayhem when there is no power centre,an authority  a king. In the underbelly of the city, which is very much a jungle, a mafia don is akin to a king. While in most versions of Ramamyanam, the story starts with Vali as the king of Kishkindha, in CCV there seems to be a slight tweaking of the story as it starts with an earlier generation. The power struggle among the princes is a standard template, and CCV may have adapted it, slightly deviating from the Vali-Sugreevan myth. 

Vali, the elder of the two brothers, is invincible; Even the Gods cannot kill him in a true fight. The reason for his invincibility is a very simple and elegant one. (I don't want to get into that.) In CCV, the eldest of the three sons, Vardan (played by Aravindswami), is shown as a real strong man. He is ready to take over from his father, and he asserts his power with a sense of arrogance and invincibility. No one can harm him - just like Vali.

In CCV, two younger brothers (Thyagu and Ethi) vie for their father's position in their own ways. (As against the two siblings of Ramayanam, here in CCV we have three siblings, may be just to pep up things!) Thyagu does it subtly in the trailer, by sitting on periyavar's sofa (the seat of power) when no one seems to be around. But Ethi is a brat, and he shouts out those lines during the football by the beach. But how much ever Sugreevan may wish, Vali cannot be defeated by anyone, easily. So here enters someone who can help the younger brother in finishing off the elder. He is Lord Rama. In CCV, it is Rasool. This guy is someone whom Vardan apparently trusts. But the trailer seems to show that Rasool betrays Vardan. Just like Rama killed Vali, hiding behind the woods and shooting an arrow into Vali's heart.  Rama was the ideal person, and Vali could not have imagined even in his wildest dreams that one day Rama would kill him in such a lowly manner. Total betrayal. Sugreevan takes Rama's support to kill Vali: Ethi too seems to connive with Rasool eliminate Vardan. 

Vali is generally accused of retaining Sugreevanan's wife with him in the palace while chasing out Sugreevanan into the woods. At times, the act is also used to justify Rama's killing of Vali. In the sense that he has done an immoral act and he had to be punished. Here too, Vardan seems to have an extra marital affair; an immoral act. 

But obviously, which one of the brothers ascends the throne is not revealed in the trailer. There is a strong possibility that none of the siblings succeed and Rasool, being inspired by Rama - the hero, cleans up the jungle. Jai Sri Ram!

Or for all that you know, CCV may be another fresh variant of The Godfather in which Michael and Sonny fight each other for the empire. 

(Btw, hope you have noted another fundamental similarity: VAli - VArdan, RAma - RAsool ;)

#Chekka Chivantha Vaanam #Mani Ratnam #Ponniyin Selvan