The dividing line -- Naadodigal
ARRESTING TURN OF EVENTS: Naadodigal
Naadodigal
Genre: Drama
Director: Samudirakani
Cast: Sasikumar, Vijay, Bharani, Ananya, Abhinaya
Storyline: Friends help lovers unite but that isn’t all …
Bottomline: Friendship, and interestingly more …
He may have slipped in his first attempt as writer-director on the big screen, but you saw him rise next as a natural actor in ‘Subramaniapuram.’ Back to direction once again, he gains lost ground with Global Infotainment’s ‘Naadodigal’ (U). The man is Samudirakani.
The narration of ‘Naadodigal’ opens with the tale of Karuna, Chandran and Paandi, a close-knit group of three young men, who give up nearly everything in life to unite Karuna’s schoolmate Saravanan and his sweetheart Prabha in marriage. Their two families are vehemently opposed to the match. To Chandran and Paandi, Saravanan is just their friend’s friend. As you recline in your seat assuming that it’s going to be another stagy story of friendship, Samudirakani makes you sit up bolt upright! The strength of ‘Naadodigal’ is its second half.
It should be a hat-trick for Sasikumar — all the three films he has been involved in have made a mark. As hero Karuna his actions reveal vitality and dignity. The marring factor is his diction. You have to work on it Sasi!
Unbelievable but true — the lead pair has no duets! A perfect foil for the reticent Sasi is his fiancée Nallamma (Ananya). The debutante’s bubbly portrayal should take her places.
Apt choices
It’s tough to believe that the other new face, Abhinaya, is challenged! Her lip sync and reactions are too perfect for a girl who is said to have problems in speaking and hearing. Tall, fair, homely and good-looking, she does a neat job as the sister of Karuna. Paired with her is Vijay (Chandran in the film) whom you’ve seen in ‘Chennai – 600028.’ ‘Naadodigal’ is Vijay’s second film and he proves an apt choice. Much care has gone into the casting — be it Bharani (Paandi of the trio), L. Raja who dons the role of Sasi’s father or the other main characters, most of them suit the role. You do have exceptions — the actor who plays Nallamma’s mother, for instance.
Composer Sundar C. Babu returns to make waves. If ‘Sambo…’ in Shanker Mahadevan’s voice is fiery, the Hariharan piece ‘Ulagil …’ is a soft, melodic refrain.
Samudirakani has already proved that he’s a writer of substance. ‘Naadodigal’ is a reiteration.
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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