Go watch Nadodigal!!!

Much before its release and even when talks where around about the start of the project Global Infotainment's Nadodigal had raised huge expectations. A small budget film directed by a person whose previous ventures never troubled the box-office doesnt garner interest all the time. But when you have Subramaniapuram fame Sasikumar in the lead, one cannot help about the buzz around it. Directed by Samudrakani, the cast is led by Sasikumar and a batch of new or lesser-known faces. The stills and promo for the film constantly reminds us of Subramaniapuram, and we enter the cinema hall knowing what to expect.

The story is set in the districts of Erode and Namakkal. Karunakaran(Sasikumar) is a BA History graduate with a gold medal is constantly in the firing line from his father for chosing the subject, which he thinks is good-for-nothing. Sasikumar enters the frame with a superb explanation on why History is no way lesser than other courses. He keeeps trying for a government job, in order to satisfy his uncle's wishes and marry his daughter(played well by Ananya). And as usual there are a couple of friends with whom Karuna hangs out. Pandi(Bharani)'s aim is to fly out of the country to make big bucks, but constantly ends up messing up with his passport application. Chandran(Vijay) plans to set up a computer centre in future, and also falls for Karuna's sister Pavitra(Abinaya) and proposes his love with the help of his father(super kudumbam...). These three are thick friends and they wander and booze together.

When there seems to be no trouble in their lives, enters Saravanan, a friend of Karuna, who keeps mysteriously quiet. He tries to drown himself in the well, and when enquired he lets out that he is in love with a girl whose father is a rival to his ex-MP mother. The three friends plan to help him out, and they travel to Namakkal in pursuit of his love. They pick up the girl, and unite the lovers. But each of the three lose something vital, in this operation. While Chandran and Pandi lose their legs and hearing respectively, Karuna loses his love and more. With time, the three learn to cope with their loses and things seem to settle a bit. But they are in for a suprise, when they learn that all they ve lost have become meaningless. How they make amends for that completes the film.

As is the trend now, the film follows a much realistic approach and all characters in the film are very close to the one's we see in real life. Each and every character makes a huge impact on the audience. The tone and dialouges in the film are refreshing. Samudrakani had once said in an interview that this film has no hero in it, and how true it is. There is hardly any heroism or dominance by any character.

SasiKumar has great screen presence and is able to garner the attention whenever he comes upon the screen. His actions appear to be unnatural at times and so is his dialouge-delivery, but his charisma makes amends for those. Bharani, as Pandi, is a revelation. He has us in splits at times and moves us into tears in the very next frame. We might see more of him in the future. Vijay was apt in his role, and Ganja Karuppu was used effectively, and when done so, he is a treat to watch. The leading ladies were a refreshing change. Ananya, as the bubbly girl reminds us of Gopika, and forces a grin out of us, whenever she is on screen. The real-life deaf and dumb girl Abinaya amazes us with her picture perfect lip-sync. Some of the other characters that stay in our heart are the comic politician with an air of VijayKanth, who clicks photos which boast about his deeds now and then, Bharani's father who abuses his son in fron of his second-wife and makes amends later, and the anonymous friend who joins the three in all deeds but doesnt speak a word.

On the technical side, cameraman Karthik and editor AL Ramesh have done a neat job. Sundar C Babu couldnt quite repeat his Anjathey success in the songs, but the re-recording is out-standing. On the down side, a forcefully penetrated item number in the first half put the brakes on the pace of the film. Scenes depicting the losses incurred by the three protaganists become a bit emotional, but are still tolerable.

Nowadays, whatever Sasikumar touches are turing into gold. He had become a bankable actor with this film. This film might well follow the path off other off-beat films in setting the box-office active for a few weeks. Nadodigal is defenitely worth a watch, especially with your gang of friends.

My Rating: 3/5