For all those, who have been waiting to witness Sai Pallavi in Tamil cinema, the D-day has come, as her debut Tamil film, Diya releases today.
Thulasi (Sai Pallavi) and Krishna (Naga Shaurya) are in love for more than five years, and they get married with the consent of their parents. As they move to a new house, after the marriage, serious issues start popping up, because of a five-year-old girl. The couple's life gets miserable and turns upside down. Who is that little girl, and how is she associated with Thulasi and Krishna? These questions are answered in a sensible and neatly presented manner in the movie.
The film runs for just 99 minutes, and it is a big bonus. A section of the audience might feel that the film's pace is an issue, but given the mood and the theme of the film, it seems justifiable. The pre-interval and pre-climax scenes, being the main highpoints, captivate the audience's’ attention. The emotional scenes between Sai Pallavi and the kid might go well with the general audience. Their chemistry is soulful.
Interesting usage of natural elements like water and air, in accidents, are noteworthy. The film deals with the horror genre, and that becomes one of the major plus points of the film. Diya is a no-nonsense horror film and has a sensible and subtle approach to it. There is no confusion in conveying the message to the audience through the film, and the team is totally focussed on their content. Kudos to director Vijay and team for that.
On the downside, the film falls predictable after the initial few minutes, and you can almost figure out the next scene, until the climax. There are quite a few accident scenes in the movie, which lack the intensity. Had those scenes been shot more interestingly, the impact would have been more, adding essence to the screenplay. The CG/VFX work lack detailing.
During the initial scenes, RJ Balaji’s characterisation and comedies might look totally out of place, as the film deals with a very serious topic. However, the character's variation towards the end helps to a minimal extent.
Diya is the debut Tamil film for all the three protagonists, Sai Pallavi, Naga Shaurya and Baby Veronica. Out of the three, Sai Pallavi shines the best, and the talented actress delivers a genuine show. Though she doesn't have any dialogue to speak, Baby Veronica is impressive too, thereby making a promising debut. If everything goes well, she could become the next big find for Kollywood, produced by Vijay, on the lines of Baby Sarah. Naga Shaurya is a good selection, however, there is a tinge of artificiality in his performance.
The film is technically rich, and a big thanks to ace cinematographer Nirav Shah for the same. His experience comes in handy, as his visuals are classy and pleasant throughout the film. Sam.C.S’ background music adds pulse to the film, especially, the child's theme score stays with you for a long time. Anthony's edit helps in the smooth movement of the screenplay, sans any complexities.
Director Vijay’s touches are very much seen throughout the film, with a slice of positivity and emotions, thrown upon here and there. With a less predictable and gripping screenplay, Vijay’s Diya could have impacted even more.