Film- Nirnayam
Director- SS Srisaravana
Cast- Vikram Anand, Regina,Saranya Nag, Baby Vedhika, Harris Moosa, Raghunath, Kumar
The film is the debut production venture of music composer Selvaganesh (of Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu). The plot tracks the emotional journey of a guilt-ridden man, who finds no way out of the tragedy that had shattered his domestic peace and happiness. He had no one to blame for it, as he was mainly responsible for the situations that had led to the tragedy. The knot has the potential, but it seems the director has failed to exploit the same. There is a relevant message the film tries to convey. But it gets lost somewhere in the disoriented narration where focus shifts from one issue to another.
The film opens on a suspense-filled note. It depicts a man on a bike on a deserted highway, with a little girl. We soon learn that he is Mukund, and the girl his daughter Meera. Mukund is travelling from Chitradurga to Chennai with an agenda. The narration cuts frequently to the past, revealing in bits and pieces the circumstances that have brought Mukund to the situation he was in. We get to know of Mukund’s marriage to Jenny, an orphan (Regina), against his parents wishes. Of Mukund’s desire to provide his wife and daughter a luxurious lifestyle leading him to borrow heavily. Neck deep in debt, the finance company goons threatening the family, and his wife berating him for the mess they are in, Mukund tries to find a way out. Live within your means, the director seems to suggest here. The director maintains an element of suspense and mystery for a length of time. And we wonder what the man is running away from, and the reason for his grief -stricken countenance. But, what mars the flow is the leisurely pace of the narration. Vikram Anand as Mukund is just about adequate. Regina in a brief role as Jenny is spirited and plays it just right. Endearing and earning our sympathy is baby Vedhika as Meera.
On his bike journey on the highway, Mukund encounters a few people. Forced to stop at a roadside dhabba when his bike gets stalled, Mukund and his daughter are given refuge by the kind -hearted Simran (Saranya Nag fitting suitably in the role). Mukund gets a job and a place to stay. Mukund learns a few more lessons of life. He realises that there are others in the world, who too have their own tale of woes. and that grief and sorrow are part of life. While Simran has been betrayed by a man she trusted, cop Pandi a frequent visitor at the dhabba (good job by Moosa), and sharing an easy camaraderie with Simran, has a tragic domestic life too. The betrayal of Mukund is largely expected. The finale defies logic.
Mukund plans to leave his daughter at a safe place, before he faces his final reckoning. It is incomprehensible why he leaves her stranded at midnight on a deserted road, where anything could have happened.
It was a knot with potential. But if only it had more consistency in its feel, and was crisper in its narration.