Film that Lacks Conviction

Film- Nathigal Nanaivathillai

Director-Nanjil P.C. Anbazhagan

Cast- Pranav, Monica, Risha, Kalyani Nair, Bala Singh, Senthil

The film opens with a scene at a village festival, focusing on a fierce encounter between hero Pranav and a gang of rowdies. This is soon followed by a song. The screenplay in the earlier part alternates between fights and ‘Kuthu’ numbers. The title is a lyrical one. Unfortunately, the lines uttered by most characters in the film sound unnatural, like it was written for a literary work.

The early scenes depict Pranav’s relationship with his father and younger sister. Despite being a post graduate and gold medalist, Pranav is jobless. While his father constantly berates him, his sister is his only moral support and solace. There are long conversations abound with long winding sentences, proverbs and similies.

There are two women in Pranav’s life. One is Risha, who has a lucrative job and falls for Pranav, and the  other, his neighbour Monica, who is homely and sensitive. After an incident, Pranav’s life takes a tumultous turn, with him realising who his true well wishers are.

A song picturised on the physically challenged coping with their disabilities and performing various tasks like normal humans gives a positive feel. The close bond between Pranav and his sister (Kalyani) is captured with sensitivity. Debutant Pranav fits in suitably, and Monica is apt for the part of a supportive factor in the hero’s life. Towards the latter part, the director, instead of capitalising on the emotional potential of the plot, gets distracted, and leads his story into a thriller mode. The terrorist angle to the plot, and the hero’s involvement in it, lacks conviction and sensibility. Nathigal Nanaivathillai seems like yet another instance of a maker’s good intention gone haywire.