A movie on Lankan Tamil travails that speaks about the plight of refugees is Sivappu. Though it sounds like a communist title, it is an emotional tale that chronicles the sufferings of the refugees who leave their homeland to go to greener pastures for a better living. Filmmaker Sathya Siva who made Kazhugu before has taken on a tough storyline with enough elements to engage audience. He is ably guided by Rajkiran and Rupa Manjeri in the cast. Also the music of Rahunanthan and camera by National award winning Madhu Ambat add strnegth to it. The movie boldly says about the sad plight of refugee camps. Sathya Siva has chosen a construction site as the backdrop of the movie. A group of 80 Lankan refugees led by Poo Ramu flee a refugee camp to go to Australia. They come across Konar (Rajkiran), a mason with a construction site of a local MP. He supports the cause of Lankan Tamils. A soft-hearted individual, he hires takes them as workers in his site and promises to help them leave safely without getting the attention of police to Australia. What next is rest of the story ?. Romance blossoms between Naveen Chandra, a supervisor in the site and Lankan girl Rupa Manjeri. There begins a series of events which eventually ends in an emotional note. Rupa Manjeri and Rajkiran are the stalk and cheese of the movie. They have done their best. Naveen Chandra plays the lead role. There is Thambi Ramiah tries to tickle the funny bone. Raghunanthan’s songs are okay while Madhu Ambat’s camera is at its best capturing emotions well. All said, Sivappu is a colourful tale of sorrow. It recirds the anger, agony and frustration of Lankan Tamils in a engrossing manner. Sivappu – Sorrow, survival
