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        Cinematographer-director Thangar Bachan's films are quite typical of him. Invariably, the movies are loud and clear much like his outspoken ways.

        After striking the right chord in Azhagi and Chidambarathil Appasamy, he is ready for the release of his next directorial venture Pallikoodam. As the title suggests, the movie is about the sweet memoirs of the director's school days.

        The film is based on the novel Kalavaadiya Paguthigal (Stolen Moments) written by Thangar himself. Set against the backdrop of a school in a remote Tamil village, the movie has Narain, Sneha, Thangar and Shreya Reddy in the cast. Music is by Bharadwaj. Says Thangar, 'My Pallikoodam was completed a few months ago. Since we could not get enough theatres, the release had to be shelved.' Thangar hoped that the journey down the memory lane for audience would transport them back to their school days.

        'The unit has rallied behind me and so were the artistes.' A proud moment for Thangar was when Pallikoodam managed to compete with over 2011 films in Cannes Film Festival this year and emerged one of the top 50 films. Unfortunately, it could not make it to the final list. 'However, I consider it a privilege that my movie had made it to the last round of Cannes.

        It has emboldened me to screen in various international film festivals this year.' Thangar is currently directing Sathyaraj and Archana for an untitled film based on his novel Onbathu Rupai Nottu. 'Almost 60 per cent of the film has been shot and we would complete the shooting in the next couple of weeks,' he added. Pallikoodam depicts the importance of the knowledge gained in the school for five individuals.

        While Narain plays the role of a district collector, the support has Sneha (school teacher), Seeman (film-maker), Shreya (midwife in the village) and Thangar (farmer). The happenings pertain to four different periods - 1978, '83, '91 and 2004.

        Among other highlights is the use of four different types of instruments by Bharadwaj to give the conviction for songs during the various phases. Editing is said to be an high point of the movie.

        Touching on the subject, Thangar says that a school lays the foundation for any individual. In his view, many films have been made based on teenage romance in school, but no one has attempted the theme, which he has dealt with. The film will make the educationists sit up and think, adds Thangar. The movie is produced by Vishwas Sundar.