Brilliant write up dude. I agreed with most your arguments.I totally enjoyed both versions.
But what i felt truly the movie was to convey is when ragini prays to lord vishnu saying "Avangala en mela priyamaa irukka vidaadhe. kettavangala kettavangalaa kaattu" allow me to see the bad in the bad do not let them be compassionate over me. This scene delivers what is the movie is trying to convey, in any forced or subtle situation the call is yours, you are left to decide. Immediately after that vikram burst in questioning the common perception of the supreme/god.this would definitely strike debate amongst us I think mani had given a different treatment to the narrative and how the story unfolds. Many scenes were treated visually to deliver. Much of the sub-plots were hidden. There were only visible visually The role reversal between good and evil in characters of beera and dev was portrayed well. Veera was shown kidnapping Ragini in broad daylight where the sun hovers over him during the encounter. In contrast Dev meets Cakkarai in a dark rather dense arena witnessed only by the moon, is enough to prove mani's contemplation to portray reverse versions of a hero and anti-hero. Ragini portrayal in white at the climax scene in her quest to justify her chastity ? I guess i have to go watch the movie yet again to further understand the characters. The bgm's were superb. gushing with emotions. Must watch film indeed
