'Nellu' (Tamil, Drama, 2011)
Director: M Shivashanker
Cast: Sathya, Bhagyanjali, Karthik Jai, OAK Sundar,
Vasu Vikram's 'Nellu' is supposedly inspired by the Keezhvenmani massacre of 1968, where Dalit field labourers were burnt alive by local landlords, for seeking higher wages.
The opening scene does give the impression that the film would be realistic and different. The closing scene too follows the decades-back happening. But, what run in between these scenes are cliched situations and characters that seem to belong to some old Tamil film.
There is the ruthless, scheming village landlord (Sunder), who drives around the village with his armed goons in tow. And Kathir (Sathya), a Dalit labourer, who is hot-blooded and gutsy, takes on the might of the man. There is romance weaved in too. But with heroine Bhagyanjali lacking in screen presence, it doesn’t give much relief.
Further, there are probably more dance-song numbers thrust in than incidents that depict the desperation and plight of the labourers. So we neither connect to their plight nor feel any empathy with them.
Sathya is adequate as Kathir, while Karthik Jai (who is also the film’s producer), fits in suitably as the tea-stall owner who rallies the labourers behind him. Veteran actor OAK Sunder gets a full fledged role and plays it to the hilt. A relief at times is some of the comic antics of “astrologer” Singamuthu and Crane Manohar in their con acts. 'Nellu' could have been a poignant depiction of a relevant issue and happening. But the director lets go the chance.