Film: Nee-Na
Direction: Lal Jose
Cast: Deepti Sati, Ann Augustine and Vijay Babu
Man is born free but he always remains in the chains of his emotions. Hence life becomes a continuous struggle to break the bondage for real freedom. Neena, the protagonist in Lal Jose’s latest flick by the same name, though being a woman, leads life like a man. She drinks, smokes, rides motorcycle and has friendship with only goons. Neena (Deepti Sati) explains her reaching puberty as “that bloody red-mark that changed everything.” Since then, Neena was in constant conflict with her life without compromising and leading her life on her own terms.
Until her boss Vinay Panikkar (Vijay Babu) comes into her life, she was carefree. Vinay’s concern towards Neena tingles her love buds. Then the film takes a turn and becomes a triangle love story with Vinay’s wife Nalini (Ann Augustine) coming into the plot. Initially, Nalini encourages the infatuations of Neena for Vinay until the carefree Neena becomes a headache for her.
When Vinay rejects her love proposal, Neena attempts suicide and Vinay develops a soft corner for her. In a dramatic way, the story unfolds further.
The story starts in Russia, then comes to Mumbai and unfolds almost completely in Kochi. Then takes a ‘U’ turn and ends in Russia. The life of Vinay Panikkar starts with Nalini (Ann Augustine) then traverses to Neena, but like majority of the Pati Patni Aur Woh stories, returns to Nalini. In his 17-year-long filmography as director since 1998 with ‘Oru Maravathoor Kanavu,’ Lal Jose had created movies which had touched the strings of sensibilities of the Kerala audience. His female characters were very powerful and intriguing so far. When he reaches his 22nd film ‘Nee-Na,’ for the first time, a female becomes the central theme of his movie.
As a director he has done a good job as the story is told in an engaging pattern.
But the story penned by R Venugopal (who himself is in advertising industry - Vinay and Neena also from the same field), except the portrayal of Neena as a bold manly woman, is nothing new.
The theme falls flat as another clandestine love affair without any bright spots to pick up.
‘Nee-Na’ depends mainly on the shoulders of debutante Deepti Sati. But, unfortunately, the shoulder is not that strong and the collarbone breaks. Deepti Sati, Ann Augustine and Vijay Babu have done justice to the job but without an interesting backbone they too face limitations. Cinematography by Jomon T John is excellent also the background score by Bijibal. Music by Nikhil J Menon is also interesting.
According to Alfred Hitchcock, a good film is when the price of the dinner, the theatre admission and the babysitter were worth it. In that aspect, ‘Nee-Na’ quenches only half the thirst.