NAAN KADAVUL - REVIEW

Star-casts: Aarya, Pooja and others
Banner: Pyramid Saimira
Story, Screenplay and Direction: Bala
Dialogues: Jayamohan
Music: Ilayaraja
Cinematography: Arthur A Wilson
Art: Krishnamoorthy
Stunts: Super Subrayan


The movie that have been made for almost 3 years finally hit the big screen yesterday(6th Feb 2009). It's a big day for fans of Bala and Aarya. The last movie directed by Bala is Pithamagan, released 5 years ago, which won a national award for Vikram. For Aarya, we seen him lastly in Orompo which did not fare well among movie goers. Before you guys enter the teatre, keep one thing in mind, this is a Bala's movie. So, automatically movies like Sethu, Nandha and Pithamagan will come to your mind. Naan Kadavul also follows the same narrative style of Bala. You guys can feel Bala's touch everywhere in the film. Watching Naan Kadavul is about something experiencing an unknown or unforeseen journey of two different worlds; those who consider themselves as God while for the other one it’s only God who can save them. One might question why Bala took such a long time in making this film, even i was wondering the same and everyone has the answer as they watch it.
The story goes like this......... The astrologers said it was bad luck to have his son at home. So, giving in to this believes, the father abandons his son at Kasi and only returns after 15 years of guilt at his cruelty. The estranged son Rudhra (Aarya) grows amidst of Aghory Rishis who have no emotional concerns for relationships. Realizing his faulty nature, the father along with his daughter returns to Kasi for bringing his son back to Tamil Nadu. What the father finds is not a normal young man, but a wild, shaggy-haired and bushy-bearded man. His encounters in Tamilnadu forms the story. Wait! Wait.......This is just one side of the story. There are another story added in this movie which is about the life of beggers. It’s where Hamsavalli (Pooja), a blind beggar and other physically and mentally challenged children, men and women are tortured to beg by Thandavam (Rajendran). How this both different stories can be connected into a story? I personally feel, Bala failed in the narration this time. It looks like he was not sure as to where to draw the line. Still remember Pithamagan? Firstly, the director told us about the lifestyle of Vikram and then the director move to another story, where Surya and his lifestyle is shown. Before the interval, both the characters will meet and from there onwards, the story will move in one story until the climax. But, here in Naan kadvul, as i said the story will start with Aarya and then move to Pooja's story but it wont have any connections until the climax. Aarya, who unable to stay along the city and his parents, gets into the hilltop and dwells inside caves. This is where Pooja and the other beggers shown begging. The director should atleast potray Aarya's character by showing some scenes as a do gooder for the beggers, but unfortunatley he wont have any connections with them except the place where both of them live, the hilltop. It all seems a little too sudden sometimes. The movie started well actually, but as i said Bala was not sure as to where to draw the line. Aarya suddenly becomes the savior now who doesn’t just put an end to evil elements, but brings light to the beggers and also to Pooja in a way that will leave you breathless.
About the starcast........ In a Bala film, you can expect the artists to be at their best and the entire starcast will fullfill ur expectations. We have seen Aarya in cool outfit and macho looks, but here in Naan kadavul, he potrays a character which will leave an impact to the audiences. Hats off for Aarya for choosing the story where he can shows his acting skills. It must have been a difficult task to learn yogic poses, but he has done it very well. His body is perfect for a yogi’s, here is a star in the making, for sure. One might think whether Aarya will succeed in a Bala movie. After you watch this movie, your doubt will be definatley cleared. But the sad thing is, normaly in a Bala movie, the story will move around the hero, but here, Arya does not have that much of screen time though he does make an impact whenever he appears. Remember Pooja? She is the same girl who danced in skimpy outfit when she firstly introduced in Jay Jay and then a list of movies where she acted as a modern girl. One can't stop praising her acting ability after watch this movie and i don't know whether any other heroines dare to act in such a heavy role. She even dubbed in her own voice. The Villain, Rajendran.......This is the first time i saw him in a movie, i don't know whether he is a new comer or wat but he acted very naturally. New villain in making. All the supporting actors, especialy the beggers(if im not mistaken, they are real beggers) have acted very naturally as they have acted in 100 movies before. Watch out the beggar boy who has, despite his woes, loads of attitude and a great sense of humour. Ilayaraaja, the maestro in music have beautifully tune the songs according to the mood of the movie and given his best in background score as well. Art direction and also the cinematography always play a big part in Bala's movie and Naan kadavul have not exception. Arthur A Wilson and Krishnamoorthy respectively done their job wonderfully. To talk about the fight scenes, it has been wonderfuly choreograped by Super Subrayan. I think there are no dupe in the fight scenes.
Summing up, Naan Kadavul is not a movie that everyone can digest. None of the versatile filmmakers had ever dared to attempt weaving such a poignant tale. Hats off to Bala and entire team for that. But, as i said earlier, if Bala have concentrate more in the narration of two different stories and how to connect both these stories into one, i'll feel more satisfied. This is just the review from my side and i don't know the expectation from you guys for this movie. So, kindly send ur comments after you guys watch the movie. Thank you