Very rarely does one come across a film sans comedy or other commercial elements. Here's an exception. With just half a dozen characters and the action largely confined to a bungalow, Kesav Productions' Edhuvum Nadakkum , directed by K. Maheswaran and R. Rozario, is a bold attempt at providing some edge-of-the-seat moments. Naga (Karthik Kumar), a wannabe actor, is the caretaker of a bungalow owned by Ramalingam (Ramalingam). Ramalingam's granddaughter Pooja (Aparna Nair) comes from Singapore to visit her grandfather without informing him. When she arrives, Ramalingam is away and expected to return only the following day. Meanwhile, Naga who whets his appetite for acting by taking part in the local koothu performances, is denied permission to go on stage by the head of the performing group mainly because of his nagging wife Swarna (Suma) — she does not like him acting in plays. What happens when a disappointed Naga comes back home deepens the suspense.
If only the directors had packed the screenplay with interesting incidents, the digital film running for less than 100 minutes would have been engrossing. Also the camera zooming in on the façade of the bungalow and the passing clouds in the sky every now and then is distracting. If it is meant to have a frightening impact on viewers, it only has the opposite effect.
Karthik Kumar, an experienced theatre artiste, is good in parts. Aparna Nair emotes well. Ramalingam is apt in the role of the grandfather and the same can be said about ‘Stunt' Murali who comes in the end as a police officer. Though Suma as Naga's wife appears on screen as a corpse for a few seconds, she's heard more on the phone, which creates the necessary impact on viewers.
Cameraman Bernard S. David seems to have followed the directors' instructions. Raj has scored the music which is, at times, loud. The only song in the film, ‘Rajadhi Raja', written by J. Ramesh and sung by Manikkavinayagam, hardly makes an impact. In this type of film, an editor's role is crucial; here Peterbabiya's work leaves much to be desired. The dialogue by K. Maheswaran, who has also written the story and screenplay, passes muster.
