Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Naan Kadavul - Brutal...Yet Commendable!!!

I happened to watch the movie Naan Kadavul directed by Bala yesterday. Here are my thoughts on the movie...

The story revolves around the sufferings of the beggars (mentally challenged people) having been caught under underworld dons hands and on the other hand a life of an Aghori(Sanskrit word) - Meaning Non- Terrifying. They don't attach themselves to anything in this world, remain undisturbed and worship lord Shiva. For this reason, the hero of the film inspite of coming back home is unable to lead a normal life. He is unable to change himself and his life will continue to be the life of an Aghori and not as a normal humanbeing. These Aghoris have this ability to bless or curse a person after his/her death. The Aghori Arya(Hero) goes by the mentally challenged Pooja(Heroine)'s wishes and blesses her with death and no re-birth at the end.

After quite some time i could see a film that is not a usual love story. The story primarily revolves around the mentally challenged people who are made to look even more worser both in their looks and physical abilities by the Underworld Dons so that they can make money out of these people. In short, I would say...What a brave attempt by Director Bala! Has anyone in the film fraternity portrayed the sufferings of these mentally challenged people till date? I am afraid they have not done it! I think, the mentally challenged people in the film are facing the cameras for the first time ever in their life, however, they don't seem so! Kudos and Salutes to the entire team of Mentally challenged people who have acted in the film.

The first positive side of the movie is the justification on characterization. Every character in the movie is justified and has a vital role. The second positive side would be the casting. Most of the faces in the movie are new, yet, commendable performances from every individual who have casted for the first time. The third one would be the storyline - An untold story. Lastly, Maestro Ilayaraja's Music. The negative side of the movie is it should be an Adult only film. Children can better avoid this film. It is a serious and there is this brutal take on the movie which children would not feel comfortable with.

I should mention about Arya and Pooja for their commendable performances in the movie. Pooja deserves a national award especially for the climax scene. The climax is the time when i realized how these mentally challenged people would feel if they get caught amidst of the underworld dons. What a miserable life are they leading? Are the sufferings so bad and brutal? And at last, what a brave and courageous attempt by Bala to bring all this to the limelight. What kind of a human Director Bala would be to have brought all this in his film? I personally feel for any person to take such a film...how adversely it would have affected self? Definitely, it should have been a thought that would have been there in the Director's mind for sometime. I wish Director Bala should be appreciated from all corners of the world for his take on the film. I am sure he would not have worried about the commercial success of the film by taking such a subject. What a daring take I would say? Salutes to you Bala Sir and may you give such quality films in your future projects.

The final appreciation is for Maestro's Ilayaraja's work. Amazing background score for the film. No words to describe about his work. He is a legend and has proved it once again with his music in the film.

Kudos to the entire team of Naan Kadavul. This movie is sure to pour laurels from all walks of life!

2 comments:

Ananda said...

good review!!! i wanted to see this movie but for my wife who is allergic to movies of this genre :(

Bala.Venkataraghavan said...

@Ananda
Thanks. Your wife must be lucky :-)