A junior police officer tells in the movie to the police commissioner: “He is the force that sustains the entire gang. He is the Bheeema, who holds the entire weight on his shoulders”.
The words perfectly fit the role of Vikram in comparison with the movie Bheema is concerned. In other words, he is not only the Bheemaa IN the movie. He is the Bheemaa OF the movie. He has carried the movie on his strong and able shoulders just as the legendary Bheemaa carried his brothers and mother through the dangerous jungles.
True. Bheemaa has excellent music and outstanding camera work. Lingusamy has come out with a script that deals with the subject with sincerity. Ramakrishnan has penned some sharp and sensible dialogues. Kanal Kannan has stunningly choreographed the stunts. Trisha adds marvel to the fare, while Prakash Raj delivers a powerful performance.
However, it is Vikram, who is the lifeline of the movie. Lingusamy once said that he has shaped the story keeping Vikram in his mind. Vikram has more than lived up to his expectations.
Vikram personifies the essence of the legendary character Bheemaa, who dares to take on anybody, come what may. Bheema is fearless. You look at Vikram’s eyes in the film and you can make out what is fearlessness. Legendary Bheemaa relishes strong opponents. You can see the same feeling perfectly reflected in Vikram’s body language when he gets ready to face a horde of thugs in the market all alone.
If Vikram breaths fire in stunt scenes, he enlivens the proceedings when he shows adulation towards Chinna. He mesmerizes the audience when he exudes the feeling of love.
He hits like a thunder in the market. He plays like a kid with kids in the next scene. He innocently smiles at Prakash Raj like a small boy looking at his mentor with adulation. He challenges the commissioner in the party with care free attitude. Later he his face melts like a piece of ice kept under the sun when he looks at a flower. Everything is done with composure. You cannot imagine many actors fitting so perfectly in all these scenes.
There will be many who would appreciate Vikram for his portrayal of a mentally affected person in ‘Sethu’. His portrayal of a visually impaired in ‘Kasi’, his handling of a graveyard caretaker with animal instincts in ‘Pithamagan’, and his unbelievable depiction of multiple personality in Anniyan had many takers and admirers. But Vikram’s dimensions do not confined to these roles alone. He has much more to be adored.
Very few would have appreciated his portrayal of a collage student with astounding reality in ‘Sethu’ and smart rendering of a youth aspiring to become a police officer in Dil. He also excelled when it came to enthrall the audiences with commercial cocktail in Gemini. The ease with which he brought out the image of a Police officer with gray shades in ‘Samy’ was a rare treat on screen.
The fact is that Vikram works hard for each of his film irrespective of which genre it belongs to. He gives his 100 per cent in whatever role he plays. He transforms himself as the character he gets. It is this involvement that made him the Bheema of Lingusamy.
When Lingu briefed him about the character, Vikram required a few days of time. When he came back, he stunned the director with his appearance. He transformed himself as the character. The make up, the body language, the expressions… Lingusamy was taken aback. “How is your Sekar?” asked Vikram to his director, who was awestruck by the involvement of the man. Vikram loves to experiment. He loves challenges.
Everyone knows that Vikram is a fine actor, who could handle any kind of roles. But the handsome actor with lot of talent and hunger for success got a real break after a painful and long struggle. Everyone recognized him when ‘Sethu’ came in 1999. But he made his debutant as early as in 1990 (En Kadhal Kanmani). He did not have a godfather to back him. To make things worse, he met with a serious accident, which forced him to rest in the bed for almost three years.
But when he was offered a chance, he grabbed it and porved the world who he was. The success of Sethu was followed by the successes of Dhill, (2001), Gemini (2002), Dhool, and Saamy (both in 2003). The film prompted director Shankar to notice the potential in him. He booked him for his mega project Anniyan.
Vikram, one of the rare actors, who could hold the movie with his performance, has won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his outstanding performance in Pithamagan in 2003. He has also won the 52nd Filmfare South Award for Best Actor for his good performance in Anniyan, 2005.
These awards are just a few indications of the heights Vikram, the outstanding actor is about to reach.
Very few actors would have maintained their charm even if they do not have any releases for a couple of years. Vikram has proved that he is one such actor. Bheemaa came after 26 months of his previous release (Majaa in 2005 November). When Bheemaa was delayed due to financial troubles, Vikram showed his commitment and loyalty towards the project he had taken up. He had actually owned up the project and hence decided to fore go many offers that could have fetched him more fame and crores of money.
It is the commitment and rare talent that make Vikram stand out. When such an actor throws his weight behind a project like Bheemaa, there will be little doubt about the success of the venture. The results driving from various centers prove this point beyond doubt.
Director Dharani has completed his telugu film ‘Bangaram’ with Pawan Kalyan as lead. He is back to Kodambakkam and now he is all set to start his new project.
