Have you ever hit upon a Tamil Short Film that has given you a ghostly feeling of eeriness? Chillingly cold low goosebumps and a question mark in your heads? And that is exactly what Piravi (a Tamil Short Film) brings to the table and oh boy, does it hit a hard punch with its short runtime.
Piravi has a very basic premise, a very disturbing premise in fact: a police officer, played with burning intensity by Arun Kumar, meets a mysterious child on his path.
The child, played with eerie innocence by the incredibly gifted Kavi Mahizhini, goes without a trace leaving the policeman and the audience trying to understand the unexplainable.
The way Kavi Mahizhini performs is phenomenal. This is all the more haunting and fascinating that at such a young age she is able to represent something mysterious and vulnerable.
Arun Kumar, the befuddled policeman, is the pillar of a film who portrays a man who becomes more and more uneasy. As the office boy, Siva Sarav also does not perform an unmarked job in enhancing the suspense as they build up tension.
The strong point of the movie is that it generates a sense of intense, suspenseful funk. The production and cinematography are absolutely brilliant as they make use of visual storytelling to enhance the uneasy atmosphere of the film. Each frame is well-designed and makes the viewer deep-rooted in the puzzle.
But there are drawbacks in Piravi as well. The audience is satisfied with its shortness, which, though it helps a lot in achieving the level of intensity, also leaves the audience unsatisfied. The story is interesting but to a certain extent ambiguous and needs to be followed attentively or more than once to be really understood. It can be frustrating to some viewers because a solution is wanted.
Irrespective of these few failures, Piravi is an interesting short film and one that will live long after the end credits. He says it is a testament to the effectiveness of visual story-telling and how gifted performers such as those in the movie managed to make it downright haunting.
What worked
- Exceptional Performances: Kavi Mahizhini, Arun Kumar and Siva Sarav have robust performances.
- Atmospheric Cinematography: The visuals in the movie are dramatic and help to add to the creepy mood in the movie.
- Intriguing Premise: The creepy disappearance of a child is thought-arousing.
What could be improved
- Clarity of Narrative: The story can be somewhat ambiguous, requiring careful interpretation.
- Runtime: The short length may leave some viewers wanting a more developed story.
Where to Watch Piravi
This short film is available on YouTube on the Moonlight Tamil YouTube channel.
The Power of Tamil Short Film
Nevertheless, the artistic possibilities of the genre of short films in Tamil are proved by the existence of the movie like the “Piravi”. It demonstrates how filmmakers can move people with the help of their storytelling skills and paint pictures that connect people on an emotional level.
These elements along with their effective performance and provocative noncommittal, make the film an interesting addition to the ever-growing list of influential and Independent Tamil short films.
Final Thoughts
Piravi is definitely a Tamil Short Film that must be watched by lovers of atmospheric thrillers who are not afraid of embracing some ambiguity. It is evidence of how great the short film narrative can be and an exhibition of the very strong talents of the cast and crew members.
When you are seeking a movie that will make you wonder or dwell on its enigmas, then definitely take your time in watching Piravi.
