Almost half an hour into director Pandiraaj’s ‘Thalaivan Thalaivii’, Nithya Menen’s Perarasi receives a phone call from her husband Aagasaveeran (Vijay Sethupathi). Her phone displays his name as ‘Kirukku Payya’, which loosely translates to ‘mad or crazy man’. This name is not just perfect for Aagasveeran, but for every single person in the world of director Pandiraaj’s ‘Thalaivan Thalaivii’.

Set in Madurai, ‘Thalaivan Thalaivii’ begins with Perarasi, along with her parents, performing a tonsuring ritual at a temple for her daughter, but without her husband Aagasaveeran. The couple has been living separately for three months, and we soon learn that Perarasi is seeking a divorce. As their families get involved, and after hundreds of ear-splitting arguments, it becomes clear that Aagasveeran and Perarasi are two crazy, indecisive people who are stuck with each other.

Aagasaveeran and Perarasi get into trouble because their mother and mother-in-law intrude into their lives. Their lives hit a pause because of a massive fight, which snowballs into a full-blown war of sorts. The village heads come together to find a solution to their problems. Whether they reunite or go their separate ways form the story.

Director Pandiraaj’s films have always propagated the importance of oneness, family and ego-less relationships. In his family dramas, familial disputes are often explored, and they’re always high on melodrama. These films end with a family reunion where people let go of their egos and lead a happy life. But ‘Thalaivan Thalaivii’ is a film of extremes. As Yogi Babu says in the end credits, they are not normal people.

All of them, including Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen, get grossly loud. The decibel levels are so high that you might lose your hearing by the time you endure this regressive ordeal. The film is a treasure trove of archaic ideas. From the husband and wife engaging in physical abuse to ridiculing divorce and even the court, ‘Thalaivan Thalaivii’ glorifies it all. Throughout the first half, you see Aagasaveeran and Perarasi yell at each other without making a point.

The pointless yelling meets intermission when you hear that they are heading towards a divorce. This came across as a silver lining, but the happiness is short-lived. Because ‘Thalaivan Thalaivii’ digs a pit so deep that you encounter one regressive idea after another. Aagasaveeran and Perarasi have a love-hate relationship. They are the couple who fight like crazy, but get back with each other like nothing happened. The presence of their daughter does not tie their tongue or their hands. Even a minor problem warrants an extreme reaction from them, and their families are no different.

‘Thalaivan Thalaivii’s’ couple is stuck in a vicious cycle in life. They fight, break up, patch up, they realise their mistakes and commit the same again. Repeat the cycle all over again. And you are stuck in this never-ending loop that glorifies everything wrong in their toxic relationship. You are left feeling for that infant who, with her half-tonsured head, has no choice but to witness the non-stop bickering. Imagine how traumatic her life will be when she grows up.

If you thought that was worse, wait for it! The film’s protagonist says that people opt for divorce to experience freedom and independence. Another protagonist calls divorce just a piece of paper. Recently, Rithanya’s death over dowry harassment brought discussion about the young woman not having support from her parents. A divorce is never a piece of paper. It is a gateway for people who are stuck in unhappy marriages. For men and women. If anything, divorce shouldn’t be ridiculed; the lack of choice should be.

While Nithya Menen and Vijay Sethupathi look the part, it is baffling to see two terrific performers with a considerable fan following glorify such ideas in the garb of upholding culture and family values. In this film, they oversell their performances with their over-the-top performances. ‘Thalaivan Thalaivii’ evokes a few laugh-worthy moments, thanks to Yogi Babu.

Despite its good production values and lovely music by Santhosh Narayanan, ‘Thalaivan Thalaivii is a perfect example of a family entertainer that completely misses the mark on social responsibility.

– Ends

2 out of 5 stars for ‘Thalaivan Thalaivii’.