Who is Raavan?

She is smooth stream but he is a staunch stone.

She is an affectionate rose but he is a rough thorn.

She is softening lyrics but he is stiffening saga.

As they meet soft gets scratched while rough melts morsel.

Finally for her to recognize the real culprit behind him, her civilized world.

Maniratnam’s much awaited flick “Raavan” begins with violent kidnapping as to avenge Dev (a Police Officer) the oppressed Beera (a criminal) kidnaps his wife Ragini. He had planned to kill Ragini within 14 hours of kidnap but even after 14 days of kidnap he had not killed Ragini! As he had got interested, attracted and fell in love. So he returns Ragini to Dev saying, “For her I can kill you and for her I can spare you.” The initial planned violent victory (an eye for eye and teeth for teeth) ends up being contented in a gracious act. The burning flames of vengeance seem to have been extinguished by the power of love.

The movie reveals failure of so called civilized world to comprehend the fragrance, freshness and vitality of love. The movie exhibits worldly inhuman triumph over humanity along with moral humanity triumph over inhumanity. While the civilized prefers the barbarian ways the uncivilized acts out in civilized ways. Means are more valuable to uncivilized while result is much more valuable to civilized. And the movie climax inquires “Who is Raavan?”

May I stretch a bit inquiring “can civilization alone renew the inner animal of man?"