Pebbles

2021

1h 15m

Drama

List

100%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

80%

Audience Score

Fewer than 50 Ratings

An alcoholic abusive father Ganapathy drags out his young son Velu from school and embarks on a journey to fetch back his wife who had left him after a night of abuse. On reaching the in-laws house, he learns that his wife has already left to return to their home. In his frustration, he gets involved in a brawl with his in-laws earning the further disapproval of his son. The young boy dispels his frustration by tearing up the bus fare into bits. This leaves the duo with no choice, but to walk back home in the scorching summer beaten rural landscapes where the unforgiving barren land and the punishing Sun force them to confront their emotions. Towards the end, the nurturing nature of women assuages the hunger and anger of men. This vicious cycle of love and hate is bound to repeat itself.

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Namrata Joshi

National Herald (India)

Pebbles gives us a bird's eye-view of a parched world that's sublime in its unashamed starkness even as Vinothraj jolts you with the many riches that lurk in his cinematic simplicity and bareness.

Oct 25, 2021

Full Review

Richard Brody

New Yorker

It's among the most memorable endings in recent cinema.

Apr 30, 2021

Full Review

Jay Weissberg

Variety

Boasting an exquisite use of framing and a deeply sympathetic, never cloying child as protagonist, "Pebbles" deserves widespread promotion.

Feb 9, 2021

Full Review

Mythily Ramachandran

Romancing Cinema

Koozhangal’ a Rotterdam Tiger award winner-leaves you stunned with its simple story. Debutant director P S Vinothraj takes viewers on a day's journey in the lives of a father and son, played by newcomers-Karuthadaaiyan and Chella Pandi.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 4, 2023

Full Review

Ishita Sengupta

The Indian Express

Stories about hinterlands are mostly understood through events. In his directorial debut, Vinothraj departs from such episodic linear arrangement by portraying a mundaneness peculiar to life.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 26, 2022

Full Review

Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

A masterpiece of visual storytelling.

Rated: 4.5/5

Dec 9, 2021

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Ethan S

Such a nice work from a debutant director. Must watch, especially for Tamil people. Don't miss this film. Thanks to Rowdy pictures for producing films like this.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/29/23

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P.S. Vinothraj

Director

Chellapandi

Son

Karuththadaiyaan

Father

P.S. Vinothraj

Screenwriter

Nayanthara

Producer

Vignesh Shivan

Producer

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Synopsis

An alcoholic abusive father Ganapathy drags out his young son Velu from school and embarks on a journey to fetch back his wife who had left him after a night of abuse. On reaching the in-laws house, he learns that his wife has already left to return to their home. In his frustration, he gets involved in a brawl with his in-laws earning the further disapproval of his son. The young boy dispels his frustration by tearing up the bus fare into bits. This leaves the duo with no choice, but to walk back home in the scorching summer beaten rural landscapes where the unforgiving barren land and the punishing Sun force them to confront their emotions. Towards the end, the nurturing nature of women assuages the hunger and anger of men. This vicious cycle of love and hate is bound to repeat itself.

Director: P.S. Vinothraj
Screenwriter: P.S. Vinothraj
Production Co: Rowdy Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Tamil
Runtime: 1h 15m