Movie Review: Nandhan

When the local body elections take place in a village, Kopulingam ( Balaji Sakthivel), the village bigwig who has been proudly ruling uncontested  as head for several years, comes in for a shock.

The area has more come under the reserved section which means he cant contest.

So in order to keep things under his control anyway, he decides to nominate the innocent, obeidient to the core, man-friday, Ambedkumar ( M Sasikumar), a person from an oppressed cast, who fits the bill,  instead.

But matters dont go exactly as planned. What happens next?

The film seeks to bring out the inner workings of upper caste politics and how the oppressors continue to manipulate the system, with arm twisting tactics, keeping the subjugated in fear and under their thumb. Director Era Saravanan has gone all out in several scenes, to showcase the powerplay, as the one where Sasikumar and his wife (Suruthi periyasamy) are dragged, beaten and tortured. Many of the dialogues attributed to Kopulingam also bring out the e

reality behind the scenes.

Kudos to Sasikumar for pulling off such a tough role, undergoing a total transformation for this character. At no point do you get to see Sasikumar on screen; only the character.

Be it his body language, dialogues or complete makeover, he breathes life into the character with an outstanding performance.

He is ably aided by Suruthi who leaves a mark with an effortless performance, fitting perfectly into her role.

Balaji Sakthivel gives yet another impressive performance, though in few places expressions seem overdone.

On the flip side,  though the film takes you through the ups and downs and trauma of Ambedkumar's life, it doesnt really give time to get into his mindspace, as too much is happening around the character. Many of the dialogues of the negative characters are one note and too in your face with their vileness at times.

However, overall, the film manages to give out the social message it means to convey.

Rating 3/5

PRODUCTION - ERA ENTERTAINMENT
RELEASE - TRIDENT ARTS
PRODUCER - ERA SARAVANAN
CAST
M. SasiKumar as Koozh Paana
Sruthi Periyasamy as Selvi
Mathesh as Azhagan
Mithun as Nandan
Balaji Sakthivel as Koppulingam
Katta Erumbu Stalin as Clerk
Samuthirakani as Marudhu Durai
V Gnanavelu as Maavattam
G M kumar as Periyaiya
Sithan Mohan as Thandapani
Sakthi saravanan as Pothiyappa Rasu
CREW
DIRECTOR - Era Saravanan
WRITER - Era Saravanan
DOP - R. V. Saran
MUSIC - Ghibran Vaibodha
EDITOR - Nelson Anthony
BANNER - ERA ENTERTAINMENT
PRODUCED BY - Era Saravanan
RELEASE - TRIDENT ARTS
PRO - Yuvraaj