Beginning review: A creative split-screen experience of two different kinds

With Beginning, director Jagan Vijaya seems to have attempted what nobody else in Asia has ever attempted before — a split-screen movie!

So, what is a split-screen movie? It is a film that has two stories narrated simultaneously on a single screen.

On the left side of the screen is a story that revolves around a single mother (Rohini) who has an intellectually-challenged son (Vinod Kishan), whom she locks up every day at home before heading to work.

The youngster might not have a brain that befits his age, but he certainly has his heart in the right place. He is caring, considerate, and intent on extending a helping hand to those in need.

The split-story

On the right side of the screen is another story in which a young woman (Gouri), who works in the IT industry, is kidnapped by a gang of three men.

She is locked in the residence of one of the kidnappers, who happens to be a mobile shop mechanic. As a result, she finds a lot of broken phones inside the room in which she is being held prisoner.

As luck would have it, she even manages to make one old phone work. However, her luck is limited. The old broken phone has only certain numbers working.

However, she manages to make a call for help but then, the call goes to the intellectually challenged man in a locked-up room!

Initially, it is kind of difficult to focus on both stories simultaneously. However, after a point, both stories get connected and it is then that one actually experiences the true joy of watching a split-screen film!

Asia’s first split screen movie #பிகினிங்#Beginning

Releasing worldwide from today pic.twitter.com/1mpdVQnlyo

— Thirrupathi Brothers (@ThirrupathiBros) January 26, 2023

Powerful performances

Beginning has two powerful performers playing the lead. Both Vinod Kishen, who plays the intellectually challenged son, and Gouri Kishen, who plays the kidnapped IT professional, come up with scintillating performances to make the film a highly enjoyable viewing experience.

Vinod Kishen in particular is simply outstanding, showing that he belongs in a completely different league altogether.

What makes his performance exceptional is the fact that he has to not just act like an intellectually challenged person but also deliver dialogues in which words have to be repeated in a particular fashion. Vinod plays the part with such ease that it makes you wonder if he has played such a part before.

Gouri too delivers a neat and commendable performance. But then, her performance is overshadowed by Vinod Kishen’s.

Rohini, who plays Vinod Kishen’s mother, and Laguparan, who plays Gouri’s boyfriend, too come up with convincing performances.

Technically sound

KS Sundaramurthy’s background score is apt and impressive. His work needs special mention as scoring music that is common to two sets of visuals being screened simultaneously is not easy. To his credit, he does an exceptional job.

Cinematographer Sundaramurthy’s visuals are just what director Jagan Vijaya needed to narrate the gripping story of Beginning.

Both director Jagan Vijaya and editor CS Prem Kumar must be commended for the manner in which they have packaged the film.

Jagan Vijaya, in particular, cleverly tries to keep developments in one story slow while there is intense action in the other. He smartly uses conversations happening over WhatsApp as visuals in one story, while he narrates the developments in the other story through dialogues and music.

It is no easy task, but he seems to have done justice to both stories until the time they come together as one plot.

Verdict

In all, Beginning is an innovative attempt that works, not only because of its lead actors but also because of some clever thinking by the director and editor. A welcome change indeed!