During World War II, Japan, as part of the Axis powers, launched aerial bombing attacks on British-ruled areas of Colombo, Vizag, and Kakkinandhiyavada. This created a sense of unease, as the Madras province was under constant threat of attack. Fearing for their lives, approximately 70% of the population fled Madras. As a result, normal life was severely disrupted, and essential activities like medical and judicial services were forced to happen in open grounds and camps, which operated only once a week. On October 11, 1943, Japanese warplanes finally bombed the Madras presidency in a nighttime raid.
Chapter - 1: Buckingham Veeranum Paradesiyin Peranum (transl.Buckingham Soldier and grandson of a wanderer) The next day after the bombing, in the middle of Bay of Bengal, a standstill boat is shown with Kumaran and Irwin Thomas attacking ruthlessly. The sound of a bullet is heard and the screen cuts black
Chapter - 2: Adimai Mandugalum Japan Gundugalum (transl.Slaves dumb and Japanese bomb) Kumaran, a fisherman from Kasimedu and his grandmother Muthumaari meet his sister, Alamu, and her fiancé, Rangan, at the Santhome shore to discuss their upcoming wedding, planned for the day after tomorrow. Kumaran secretly informs Alamu that their arrested younger brother, Chokkalingam "Chokku", will attend the wedding. Unbeknownst to Rangan's family, Chokku is in detention. Meanwhile, at the medical camp, Raja, a writer from Palakkad; Lal, a money-lender native of Rajasthan; Narayanan, a Brahmin, with his daughter Lakshmi; and Vijaya, a pregnant Telugu woman with her son Magesh are present.
It is shown that British officers are in search for a suspect named Subbaiyah, while Muthaiyya, a retired librarian from Presidency College who hails from Theni, is at the civilian court camp. Kumaran tries to release his younger brother, falsely accused of attacking a British police officer, with a recommendation letter. However, the British officer refuses to release him, slapping Kumaran and warning him that his brother will be jailed for at least three years. Just then, eight Japanese warplanes appear above the camp, and an evacuation order is issued due to nearby bombings. In the chaos, Kumaran, his brother, and his grandmother plan to escape by boat to the ocean. Narayanan, Lal, Vijaya, and others follow them to the boat. As they set off, a fellow accused attacks Chokku, preventing him from escaping with Kumaran. Unaware of this, Kumaran sets off in the boat. Back on shore, police capture Chokku and order him to be tortured. Muthumaari orders him to turn the boat back to sea, and despite police shooting from the shore, they successfully escape and head towards the middle of the sea. The police shout, identifying a terrorist in the boat, but they proceed forward.
Chapter - 3: Irandu Thuduppum yegapatta Kaduppum (transl.2 Oars to travel and a lot of brawl and quarrel) Kumaran rows the boat, announcing they need to cover 12 miles to evade police patrol. The group introduces themselves, and an hour passes. Suddenly, Narayanan becomes frightened upon seeing a rat and asks Kumaran to throw it into the sea. However, Kumaran refuses, leading to an argument about Brahminism. Muthaiyya intervenes, using his scientific knowledge to emphasize that the land is equal for all. As hunger sets in, Muthumaari suggests drying the Malabar kingfish. Raja offers to row the boat, and while doing so, secretly hides a knife under a bag, which he had been concealing in his waist. Meanwhile, Kumaran's recommendation letter falls out, and Muthaiyya reads it. Due to the wind, the letter slips into the sea, and without hesitation, Kumaran jumps into the ocean to retrieve it. Unfortunately, the letter disappears beneath the waves.
Chapter - 4: Mannavan Vanthaanadi Madhi kettu Ninnaanadi (transl.The king arrived, dear and stood sense deprived here) Raja notices the boat is tilting to one side, and Kumaran explains it's an old Kerala canoe designed for 6-7 passengers. They adjust their weight by shifting seats, and Kumaran resumes rowing. As trade winds increase, Narayanan's dhoti is used as a makeshift sailcloth to harness the wind. Meanwhile, Lal creates a small weapon from copper wires and hides it. Later, they find cans and safety tubes, suspecting a capsized British patrol boat.
A British officer, Irwin Thomas, boards the boat, and Kumaran protests due to overcrowding. However, Irwin reveals he understands and speaks Tamil, holding Kumaran at gunpoint and ordering him to row silently. He warns of Japanese submarines seizing British patrol boats and shooting anyone spotted. Irwin suggests reaching the high seas, while boasting about the "white man's burden" of civilizing India. Lal finds a floating radio box and pretends to repair it, while Vijaya secretly scratches the boat to create a hole. Soon, they hear an engine sound, and Irwin instructs Kumaran to turn left. Raja reveals his true identity as Raja Mohammed, associated with the Muslim League, sparking an argument with Narayanan. Irwin tries to exploit their religious differences, but Muthaiyya blames the British Crown for the tensions. Irwin predicts the Indian subcontinent's bifurcation, but Muthaiyya and Raja affirm their commitment to religious harmony. Four hours later, they hear another engine sound, and Irwin spots an approaching Japanese vessel 1.5 km away. He waves the Imperial Japanese Navy flag, using landing signal officer signals, and the Japanese vessel changes course, assuming their boat is Japanese.
Chapter - 5: Vazhiyariyaa Puraavum vanthu serntha Suraavum (transl.Dove that lost its way' Shark that swam into play') Magesh names the rat "Pechi," while Irwin compares the dirty rat to Kumaran, insulting him as an illiterate and poor man who should obey the British without questioning. Kumaran questions the notion of equality, and Muthaiyya explains the prevailing caste system. After five hours, the group is relieved to have reached 2 km beyond the sea limit and decides to stay still for the next 2-3 hours. Lakshmi sings a song to pass the time. Suddenly, a call from the control room announces that the Japanese bombings are just a rumor and everything is normal in Madras. However, they also warn that a terrorist is hidden among the group, and Irwin begins to suspect everyone on the boat. Muthaiyya reveals himself as a CID officer, not a librarian, and takes charge of finding the terrorist. But due to the boat's overload, a hole forms, and water starts seeping in. Kumaran insists that the last person to board, Irwin, should jump off, but Irwin physically fights Kumaran and pulls out his pistol, pointing it at him. Fortunately, the bullet misses Kumaran and creates another hole in the boat. Kumaran firmly states that at least three people must jump off to avoid overload. Just then, they spot a huge shark approaching.
Chapter - 6: Maranjathu Karuvadu Minjunathu Thiruvodu (transl.Dried fish in vain Only Skulls remain) Seven hours later, the boat is unable to move due to the holes. To reduce the load, they throw away unwanted items, but Muthaiyya refuses to discard the oxygen cylinder. Irwin reveals his gun is a Webley revolver, ineffective against sharks. Kumaran warns that standing still will only prolong their survival to 6 hours to 5 days, but they're running out of water and food. The shark, having detected human presence, will continue to circle its prey. Muthaiyya vows to identify the terrorist and throw them off, while the others must decide who will jump next. Muthaiyya begins interrogating Raja when the radio suddenly works, playing MK Thiyagaraja Bhagavathar's song. The shark appears but moves away when the song ends. Kumaran predicts an approaching storm. As hunger sets in, except for Narayanan and Lakshmi, the others consume dried fish. Ten hours later, water starts seeping in again, and a meteorological alert announces an upcoming cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. Kumaran jumps into the water to tie the boat from both sides, but his feet get entangled in the rope. Fortunately, he's rescued successfully.
Chapter - 7: Asaraadha Eliyum Theeradha Pazhiyum (transl.A mouse unruffled A blame unsolved) Muthaiyya resumes his interrogation, asking each person to share their reason for wanting to stay alive and then decide on humanitarian grounds. Everyone pleads their case, except Irwin. Kumaran and Narayanan argue over who is the true "son of the soil". Kumaran claims Narayanan's community has enjoyed government perks, while he and his grandmother have no sentimental reason to live and refuses to jump off. As night falls, Muthaiyya suspects Vijaya, who reveals her son is from her first marriage, and her second marriage was for his medical expenses. Sixteen hours later, Lal performs a puppetry show depicting British looting, enraging Irwin, who slaps him, losing a rotten tooth. The night passes, and the radio announces the cyclone's movement towards the east. Muthumaari prepares a spear to kill the shark, while Vijaya volunteers to jump off, requesting others to care for her son's eye surgery. Kumaran stops her. The rain-bearing clouds disappear, and Kumaran predicts the boat will drift southward. He fetches tubers to eat, causing dizziness and sleep in those who consume them, except Kumaran and Lakshmi, who bond, and she gifts him an embroidered kerchief. Twenty Eight hours later, a brawl between Kumaran and Raja results in the death of the pet mouse, Pechi, delighting Irwin and Narayanan. Raja, overcome with guilt and grief, prays for forgiveness and says that controlling anger is the greatest bravery.
Chapter - 8: Madham pidicha Yaanai Alariyathu Senai (transl.Elephant Enraged Army helter-skelter ran scared) Irwin lures Lal with a commercial space offer in George Town in exchange for a favor. Kumaran gives the remaining water to thirsty Magesh. They discover two newborn mouse pups, Pechi's offspring. Water rushes in more forcefully, and the shark returns closer. Magesh hands Irwin's revolver to Muthaiyya, who shoots Irwin in the leg and reveals himself as the terrorist the British government is searching for. He's affiliated with the Indian National Army and is the chief commander of the spy team. Muthaiyya authorizes everyone on the boat, changes into his uniform, and chokes Irwin using varmakalai. He opens the oxygen cylinder, containing a Japanese war bomb, SD 50, smuggled to India to blast Madras harbor. Muthaiyya advises each person on the boat, criticizing their behaviors and actions. He ties Irwin's legs and plans to throw him into the ocean, along with two others name written, but Irwin manipulates Kumaran and Raja against Muthaiyya and stabs him.
Magesh throws the revolver into the sea. Lakshmi finds the paper with her name, Magesh's name, and an escape plan aligned with the Hungarian Vetrovox method. Muthaiyya, heavily wounded, is counting his time. Lal accidentally throws the oxygen cylinder into the water, which opens, and everyone panics as the bomb may explode when it touches the seabed. Before dying, Muthaiyya hands over a photograph of him with Subhas Chandra Bose, Rajan, and Senapathy revealing they directed Japan to bomb Madras. They throw Muthaiyya's corpse into the ocean. Thirty Three hours later, Irwin had secretly placed bait to catch fish for food. The shark appears again, and they find a letter from Chokku, warning about Rangan's playboy nature and requesting Kumaran to stop the wedding. Kumaran decides to stop his sister's marriage and asks two people to jump from the boat, as Muthaiyya is already dead.
Chapter - 9: Vettu Onnu Thundu Onbathu (transl.1 Strike of the knife 9 heads in strife) As sunset begins, Irwin self-nurses his wound to remove the bullet. With time running out, a shark nearby, a bomb underwater, and a hole in the boat, Kumaran insists that two people must jump to save the others as he needs to stop his sister's marriage. As per Irwin's plan, they decide to vote on who should be pushed out of the boat. Irwin manipulates the vote to include Kumaran and Muthumaari's names without their knowledge. The votes reveal that Vijaya, Irwin, and Raja each received one vote, while Kumaran received five votes and Muthumaari received four. Irwin decides to kill Kumaran and his grandmother. Forty-two hours later, Lakshmi pleads with her father, Narayanan, that planning to kill Kumaran without his knowledge is dishonest. Narayanan emotionally consoles Lakshmi, saying they have no other option. Lal and Narayanan prepare to kill Kumaran, while Irwin asks Raja to do it, but Raja refuses, recalling Muthaiyya's words that Irwin would turn them against each other. As sunrise begins, Muthumaari suddenly jumps into the water, saying the mother ocean will protect them, and begins to swim. She asks Kumaran to jump, and without hesitation, he follows her into the ocean.
Chapter - 10: Nandhavanthil oru Aandi Kundha Idamillaa Bondi (transl.Tramp in a garden He has no place of his own) 14 days later, the boatmates visit Irwin, who claims that Kumaran and his grandmother were likely eaten by the shark, as there is no news about them. However, a reformed Narayanan is seen allowing his daughter to pursue music, and he has declined the job at Ripon Building. Lal is returning to Rajasthan, Vijaya has arranged for her son's operation in Bombay, and Raja has met his leader in Calcutta. Magesh finds the embroidered kerchief gifted by Lakshmi to Kumaran, revealing that Kumaran is alive and has indeed stopped his sister's marriage. Irwin interrupts, exonerating Kumaran and Chokku from all charges. He asks Kumaran what he wants in return for saving their lives. Kumaran's response is poignant: he asks Irwin to give back his homeland.
In February 2019, it was rumoured that Yogi Babu was replacing Vadivelu in Imsai Arasan 24am Pulikesi.[4][5] In March 2022, it was announced that Chimbu Deven and Yogi Babu are collaborating on a film where Babu plays the role of a fisherman, and they confirmed it is not Imsai Arasan 24am Pulikesi's script.[6] The title look poster and title of the film were unveiled on 15 July 2023.[7][8][9][10][11] This is the second Tamil film, following Andha Naal (1954), to be set against the backdrop of the Japanese bombardment of Chennai on 11 October 1943.[12][13] The script was written by Chimbu Devan during the COVID-19 lockdown, inspired by the Japanese bombing in 1943.[14] The film was shot in the backwaters of Uvari coastal village in Tirunelveli for thirty-three days.[3]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack of the film was composed by Ghibran.[15]
Roopa Radhakrishnan of The Times of India gave it two out of five stars and wrote, "If your only goal in watching a film is to admire its imagery and ambition, then Boat might be an appropriate watch for you. But the film fails to establish itself as anything more than that or as a solid survival drama."[18] Avinash Ramachandran of The Indian Express rated the film two out of five stars and wrote that "Boat is filled with so many holes of ‘what-ifs’ and ‘could-haves’ that it has no way to go except down, and unfortunately, it does leaving no survivors."[19]
Bhuvanesh Chandar of The Hindu wrote, "Boat is excessively dialogue-heavy, made worse by the loud score drowning out any space for silence. Chances are you might remember the deafening experience and caricaturish characters more than all the well-intentioned ideas. Chimbudevan seems to have lost the plot by more than 12 nautical miles."[2] Jayabhuvaneshwari B of The New Indian Express rated the film one-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote that "Boat promises a thrilling voyage but instead finds itself adrift in a sea of cliches. The director, as the captain, steers the vessel towards a rocky shore of heavy-handed social commentary, rather than the open sea of human complexity."[20]
Anusha Sundar of OTTplay gave it two out of five stars and wrote, "Boat feels underwhelming and heavy at the same time, simply because the film appears to be stuck in pretty much the same spot it began. With a multi-character arc and a premise that sounds interesting as a one-liner, Boat becomes too dialogue-heavy and has characters that do not keep you invested in the film."[21] A critic from Maalai Malar rated the film two out of five stars.[22]
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