Nadikar Movie Review: Tovino's acting elevates this passable entertaine.
Jean Paul Lal's Nadikar starts off with the lavish and extravagant life of a 'superstar' David Padikkal. There is humour and some foreshadowing, some of it effective and some so hard to catch. Interestingly it's not as angsty as one might expect with such a subject.
There is a casual approach to the subject that reflects in how the film turned out. It was a mixed bag with some very interesting moments and let downs in some places. Tovino's David Padikkal is so petulant that it is hard to feel contempt. In fact, one might end up rooting for him. Even his womanizing ways didn't invoke any sort of anger but a calm acceptance and the way he treats his one-night stands are almost respectful even though the theme in itself is very cliché. There are no melodramatic monologues which is definitely a plus for this film. The general theme is not very relatable since there aren't many superstars but some of the issues he faces are part of human nature. Some hit the mark while others missed.
The choice to end the film the way it did was probably to portray David's growth and the idea behind it was excellent but the execution failed a little. It dragged on a bit especially given how the film's pace was a bit different till then and David doesn't manage to claw his way into the viewer's heart thoroughly by then. Balu Varghese was very consistent and Suresh Krishna's role was a pleasant surprise. Soubin rocked the nail polish and the hair, but even more so in the way he handled a very charged situation in the second half. The way David's transition happens was almost organic and the way he finally accepts help was planned well. Almost, because there were moments where the 'coaching' didn't happen and what Soubin's Bala brings to the table is not very evident especially given the build up. Bhavana had very little screen time and she is the wronged ex but there is this 'done with him/her but not ' air about their relationship which is sort of relatable.
The writing is very sloppy in places and some minor details were off putting. There is this one scene where they were filming something where Indrans plays the parent's role. The costume was so glaringly out of place. The feeling of artificiality crops up in some of the scenes that requires more naturality. A lot of behind the scene elements were covered well. Most of the drawbacks are saved by the screen presence of the suave man on screen. The film is by no means a masterpiece, but it is an entertainer.
Verdict: Below Average.
