Sethu...

Bala's 1999 Tamil film follows Sethu, known at university for fighting. His hardness eases when he falls in love with a quiet young woman; as the relationship begins he is attacked and loses his mental stability. The second half takes place in an institution. The methods applied to Sethu and the condition of those held there are shown directly; the narrative promises no recovery and saves no one. Vikram leads, in a role counted as the turning point of his career. It is Bala's first feature, and the harsh manner that continued in his later work is established here. The close is merciless and was widely discussed. Who it's for: those who follow the harsh strain of Tamil cinema. Who it's not for: viewers for whom violence inside psychiatric institutions would sit heavily; the film shows it at length.