Yennai Arindhaal (2015)
Streaming on: Voot, Hotstar, and Mx Player
If there was ever a poll made to pick an anthem defining father-daughter relationships, the song ‘Unnakena Vennum Sollu’ from Yennai Arindhaal would be a frontrunner. Trust Gautham Menon to imbue what is essentially a big star-led vehicle, with a degree of pathos, and sensitivity that enriches the overall quality of the film.
On the surface, Yennai Arindhaal plays out as a traditional cop vs gangster story with police officer Sathyadev (Ajith) being the embodiment of good, and Victor (Arun Vijay in a career-defining performance), the embodiment of evil. The story revolves around organ donation, and there is an element of revenge that propels the narrative. Yet, dig a little deeper, and one can argue that beneath all the “hero-hoot” moments, Yennai Arindhaal is a film about the relationship between a father and his daughter, with the father doing everything he can to foster the role of a single parent despite having no biological connections with his daughter. The scenes between Ajith and Baby Anika are very much the soul of the film. Ajith excellently portrays the conundrum of Sathyadev who is caught between fulfilling the responsibilities of a father and carrying out duties as a cop.