NOOB FILM REVIEW - சட்ட Satte

SYNOPSIS

Aiyavu (Lingeshvaran Maniam) and Mani (Kuben Mahadevan) woke up late one day having a big question they need to answer on what had happened the night before. The last thing they remember was starting on a drinking session and now they realized that the pistol that they were supposed to have is now gone. Together they pick up all the pieces and try to find the gun which holds the key to the bigger picture.

REVIEW

The movie anchored me to my seat from the first scene of Aiyavu waking up and looking for something around his bedroom. No words spoken, no music, no sound. Just plain and pure camera and emotion of the actor at play. It drives me in the scenario of myself everytime waking up looking for my phone.

But then he found his phone and called Mani. So I know its not a phone. Aiyavu got more panicked and look twice or thrice everywhere. Then I knew it must've been a gun. And I was right. (maybe the obvious pistol's silhouette on the movie poster got in me subliminally and I thought I was the smart one haha)

Then it goes to flashback mode to reveal bit by bit of what happened prior to the day to trace back slowly where and what actually happened to the pistol.

Aiyavu and Mani is with a crime-gang in Bentong and in rivalry with another gang over a development project. Each claim they have ownership.

Aiyavu and Mani told the rival gang boys that this can be discussed and they don't want to fight. Both side is ok with it but the rival gang head is not happy. So a meeting is held and Aiyavu called in their gang head, Veera Anna (Senthil Kumaran Muniandy) to settle the matter. The rival gang lost the dispute but turn back and gave the stare to Veera. Veera senses the intent but unsure of what's going to happen.

And on one night, the rival gang send a group of mobs to drop the first blood by murdering the guy handling the project site. The mobs are of young teenagers on bikes.

The fight is not shown but the camera stayed outside the crime scene, blocked by the van and the bikes. After it's over, and the rival gang left, the camera moves in showing the dead guy's body.

SPOILER TERRITORY

The whole gang is a part of a bigger smuggling syndicate ran by Periya Anna (Haridhass S) who Veera reporting to. At one point the cops are getting in their activity and Periya senses there is a mole within them. He spotted them and shot them dead on the spot. To cover his crime, Periya asked Veera to keep the pistol to himself. Then Veera gave it to Aiyavu and Mani.

Aiyavu and Mani then got too excited and got drunk with the pistol in their possession. They then woke up the next morning losing it and that is where it is picked up at the start of the movie.

They are now in deep fear and shit just got real. Losing the pistol means losing the key evidence that can link their big boss Periya and nail the rest of their syndicate's fate. They looked everywhere and asked everyone yet they cannot say anything about a pistol, which make things trickier. And then people around are talking about two men attempted a robbery in one of the grocery shop in ski-masks. Aiyavu and Mani thought it was them after they got super drunk. But it was revealed that it was (Mani's younger brother?) stole the gun from them and did it with his friend.

THE RING OF POWER

Similar to the One Ring in LOTR, the pistol in Satte holds the same aura. From the beginning of the movie, Aiyavu yearns for power and adores Veera. Veera obeys the boss Periya and rumour grew of him owning a pistol which imposes fear throughout the gang. Aiyavu has been fantasizing of owning one too and to be feared like Periya. But he is too driven by his desire for power.

It is shown on how he deals with little conflict with unnecessary force in an attempt to show power and claim dominance. He brutally punched a young boy and slap a young lady without question. And how he reacted the first time he got hold of the pistol. Myyyy.....Precioussssss..............

Aiyavu said "I feel extraordinary bravery holding this in my hands".

Compared to the boss Periya, who knows how to handle power and how to act after he killed the moles. He probably earned the pistol through trials and tribulations compared to Aiyavu who just want it out of lust and thirst of power. Hit the panic button when he lost it. Similar to Gollum. Plus the stake of losing the gang.

And that iconic camera shot taken from Taxi Driver 1979 of Aiyavu pointing the pistol in front of a mirror, also the parallel ending of the same scene of his younger brother been revealed having the pistol in the end.