‘Nil Gavani’ revolves around the trials and tribulations of a lone woman, who is on the run from various situations, and men who put a price on her body - a plot with potential. But the focus on gloss and frills at the cost of content, the innumerable flaws and loopholes in the script, and its jerky narrative style, makes it an average fare.
It’s the tamil dubbed version of the Malayalam flick (The Black Stallion), some of its scenes reshot for tamil nativity.
The film marked Namitha’s entry to the Malayalam screen in a lead role. The makers seem to have banked heavily on the actress’s oomph factor to pull the film through. But she does get a role much better than what the tamil films have ever offered her.
Namitha plays Laura who having lost her father in a murderous attack, is left to fend for herself and her younger sister who is confined to a wheel chair.
With pimps trying to push her into the flesh trade, and coveted and stalked by policeman Black (Mani) who called himself a criminal in cop’s clothing, Laura goes on the run. Coming to her rescue is the suave Amir (Bala), an internationally known fashion photographer. With Black and his men hot on her heels, Laura turns to Amir for protection.
And she realizes that appearances can be deceptive. The turn- about springs a surprise.
Laura is a character with many dimensions, and one which gave Namitha a chance to portray myriad emotions, and earn the audience’s sympathy. But the actress never really seemed to make any serious effort to fit into it Nothing in her demeanour, body language or expressions, suggested anything even close to Laura’s distress, desperation or vulnerability. Further, in the absence of a solid screenplay, all the body show, frills and trappings, particularly the editorial gimmicks, just fail to make any forceful impact.