Natchathiram Nagargiradhu is Pa. Ranjith's new film with a lot of characters and a great deal of love. This Tamil musical drama encapsulates Kalidas Jayaram, Kalaiyarasan, and Dushara Vijayan in the lead roles. The film was jointly produced by Yaazhi Films and Neelam productions.
The story begins with the breakup of Iniyan (Kalidas) and Rene (Dushara) after the former demeans Rene on her social background. Setting the platform, the film introduces distinct characters whose lives are threaded together by their passion towards acting. This union takes us through a journey into a world of taboo and tries to redefine it.
Kalidas, Dushara and Kalaiyarasan shine brighter than the other pearls. Dushara Vijayan as a strong headed girl who has been shaped by the oppressions of the society is super-convincing. Kalaiyarasan stands tall in delivering a performance which sets a new benchmark for him. Every other character impacts no more no less than their given roles.
The film touches upon an array of topics that are considered to be forbidden by our conservative society. It is driven by dialogues for the most part with umpteen metaphors, direct references and political discourses. This works for and against the film as quirky, witty dialogues engage us while the latter breaks the engagement factor with the film. Duration of the film definitely needs trimming to enclose its protruding thoughts.
Pa. Ranjith not only experiments with the form and structure of his narrative but also tries to concoct many popular orthodox opinions into it. There are sequences which invoke a lot of contemplation among the viewers by its piercing dialogues. One of the sequences in Kalaiyarasan's home is fresh and speaks a lot about the entrenched mindset of people on caste and community.
Technically the film is adept in all aspects, cinematography by A.Kishor Kumar is apt for the background of the narrative. The backlit setting during drama sequences enhance the foregrounding of the issues discussed. Tenma's music is atmospheric which lifts the mood of the film. Editing of Selva works in tandem with the vision of Pa. Ranjith. The non-linear narrative switches frequently to add depth for the ongoing conflict between characters. Capacity to hold such emotions are diluted by the experimental thought of the film maker.
Pa. Ranjith, well known for his relatable characters in spite of limited screen time, but few of the characters in this film do not get a proper closure at the end. The narrative tries to address issues of gay community, transgenders, but feels abandoned it halfway. This film indeed adds a new dimension to Tamil cinema also providing hope for the new-gen filmmakers.