Shots from the Pyramid DVD of Arangetram.

I own this DVD is one of my fav balachander films ( along with Avargal) - again a poor DVD for a very very good film ( though a tad sentimental ) . I always feel balachander was influenced by the Neo-realist movement and is a true socialist film-maker (an undeniable influence on Kamal Hassan's "thinking" ).

As much as i love his B&W films , the color ones lack that zeal ,except perhaps Varumai Neram Sivammpu - yet to find a more communist film in india !

Balachander did deal with gritty real-life issues in his films, but he also had some unrealistic tendencies. His characters often do that thing where they face the camera and talk to another character, and the dialogue isn't always exactly natural. But he's one of the more interesting Tamil filmmakers. He definitely knew how to use cinematography and editing. Moothaval Nee from Arangetram is brilliantly shot and paced.

BTW, who is the comedian in the last shot? He was also in Nootrukku Nooru as a comical Iyer professor.