Fixing a problem
In India, ‘fixers’ can do anything for you, from preparing a fake bank statement to furnishing a doctor’s letter certifying an illness one never had. In director Ashwath Marimuthu’s Dragon, the hero D Raghavan (Pradeep Ranganathan) walks into the offices of a fixer. After his college girlfriend of several years dumps him, Raghavan, who never passed an exam in his four-year engineering program, decides to prove a point to his ex.
In the hands of another filmmaker, this premise may have turned into a full-blown expose of the devious dealer business. But director Ashwath Marimuthu tells a different tale in which the protagonist plays the messenger. Dragon may be rough around the edges – not every reel is watchable – but its filmmaker drives home a powerful message seldom seen in commercial movies.
College students pay heed
That film is a warning to students about the pitfalls of wrong choices. Raghavan starts out a bright student who tops his class and joins a prestigious engineering institution to study Computer Science. When his adolescent high-school crush fails, D. Raghavan becomes the “Dragon” and lives up to that moniker in every sense of the word. He flunks his exams, insults his instructors, and creates a ruckus on campus almost every day. His notoriety continues to grow even after after his years in college.
The film’s real message begins when Raghavan meets the fixer. Dragon isn’t a thriller, but what happens next is best experienced without spoilers.
Raghavan’s wrongdoings fade away as he becomes successful, albeit using shortcuts. But a reminder arrives in the form of a character from his past at a thrilling moment in the film. This character is akin to the Hindu deity Chitragupta, who is believed to keep a record of one’s karma. Raghavan has two options – make amends for his wrongdoings in one go or face the consequences.
The film shifts to another gear and becomes a “thriller” that imparts an unforgettable lesson at the end. Director Ashwath Marimuthu’s message is that life doesn’t just give you a second chance; instead, there are numerous chances – a third and then a fourth. Dragon‘s message is that “it’s never too late to fix your life, just that it becomes more and more difficult the later you realize”.
A bold approach
In an industry where actors and their characters are “worshipped” it is heartening to see director Ashwath Marimuthu conceive a frighteningly real character for his film’s leading actor. Despite his misdemeanors, we wish Raghavan well, but we recognize why karma comes calling. In an age where movie characters like Ranvijay Singh in Animal commit terrible crimes that are justified in the most implausible manner, Dragon stands out with its compelling message.
The movie isn’t without missteps. I wish its female leads female had a better arc. rather than being just eye-candy or meek, fault forgiver. Its songs and fight scenes took the film off message for a bit; and discussing Python code in a high-rise space does not necessarily create an authentic technology setting.
Solid supporting cast
The film hit the right notes by perfectly casting Indumathi Manigandan and George Maryan as Mrs. and Mr. Dhanapal, Raghavan’s forgiving parents. I teared up whenever Raghavan’s father was onscreen; the scene at the end, when he finds a silver lining despite his son’s crushing downfall, is the most gut-wrenching reminder of parents’ infinite love for their kids.
The film’s best character is played by Mysskin in the role of AGS Engineering College’s principal, in a once-in-a-lifetime role for the director-turned-actor. He appears at the start of the movie, warning students about the one person they shouldn’t emulate and is quickly forgotten as the film progresses, but reappears later in the plot in what is a memorable return.
Movies often show how making amends for karma is easy; bad actions can be undone with unrelated good deeds. But Dragon tells us we are wrong. The road to redemption is always available but it’s long and lonely, even for a beloved hero.
No Paywalls, No Algorithms — How do we do it?
We know you get a lot of requests for support from us and you deserve an explanation for why we do this.
Good journalism costs real money because it takes talented people. Technology helps a little bit (and costs a lot), but there is no substitute for real reporting skills.
So, how do we pay for our journalism? Not too long ago, advertising helped sustain newsrooms. Today, Less than 20% of our income comes from advertisements.
We depend on readers like you to keep us going.
In a world full of digital noise, we stay focused on building community through stories for the Indian diaspora.
Will you help us?