Naradan

Naradan is a story revolving around the news media and its current temptation to revolve around ratings and mockery. Although the story is interesting, the direction is amateur. Ashiq Abu who made the beautiful Mayanadhi with Tovino couldn't recreate the magic again.

Tovino did a good job but has his limitations which he couldn't cross. The character demanded a better actor- Fahad, Prithvi or the big Ms would've suited better. Anna Ben who had her moments in previous films was a failure. Both Tovino and Anna at present has star value but the ability to act doesn't resonate with it.

Indrans was spectacular as munsif judge and Renji Panicker as lawyer was ok. Both of them were the only saving grace of the film. The ending was abrupt and disappointing.

Music and editing department of the film was pathetic. The entire film had lag between lines and at times felt like an art film made by a kid with phone camera.

Naradan had the potential to be a compelling political thriller but ends up as a wet cracker. Even the good script couldn't make up for average acting and bad making.

Having watched the thriller, it must be said, there are elements in it that are captivating, thought-provoking and powerful, and at the same time, the plot did lack the punch to convey the intended message. Especially, towards the end, the story lost its depth. Casting someone else as judge or an alternative cause to ground CP would have been much better.

Nevertheless, it doesn't bore you.

I really enjoyed watching the movie. In fact its thrilling and exciting aspects were appreciable. I think it has got a very strong and grippy scripting which could have slipped if handled carelessly. Casting is one of the perfect things in the film. From Cp to mudiyan all have done their part very well. Sharafudheen and Annaben actually nailed it. Also the usual pattern of depicting journalists with one hand on the top of the desk and reporting in a very unrealistic tone are brilliantly replaced. I also noticed the same thing for the court scenes also. Often the court scenes are very dramatic in our films with mass dialogues and undefeatable superiority of the leading actor. But here it is very carefully and realistically executed. And there was where I felt, 'oh the director is Ashiq abu'. When coming to its plot its a very sensitive and sensible one which must be spoken in the present days. Even the layman can understand that there is a clear division among journalists when it comes to the matter of ethics. It is very well conveyed. But at certain times certain slips and lag was felt and also we had some questions remaining in head especially regarding the opening issue of Narada channel. So there I felt if those aspects where also cleared out it would have become an ultimate one. And I'm glad that mollywood is very forward from the time of depicting an invincible hero even if he is a no. 1 criminal. Neglecting certain aspects of continuity at certain points, I enjoyed watching it. The opinions may vary among audience as it is a very tough topic to handle... Anyway I liked it!!!

Time pass movie but not upto the Aashiq Abu benchmark.

It is a linear narrative with no twists and turns : story revolves around the usual media affairs seen in other movies. Thanks.

Naradan (2022) : Movie Review -

The history of films about journalism and the media isn't as impressive as one might expect. Sidney Lumet presented a sensational story with "Network" (1976) (not my personal favorite), which showed the ugliest side of journalism. Then came another sensational film, "All The President's Men" in the same year (this is my personal favorite), starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford (two of the best Hollywood actors of that time), which explored the super honest side of journalism. After that, some filmmakers tried to make something good but failed until we saw the Oscar-winning classic "Spotlight" (2015). Indian cinema has been missing such stuff, except for a few female-centric films made on journalism and media work, but now I can say we have Aashiq Abu's "Naradan" to satisfy some hunger. It's been more than a decade now that the Malayalam industry has been dominating the rich content field in Indian Cinema. The last two-three years have just been way beyond expectations. Simply unmatchable. They have come up with another fantastic film, and this time with a concept that hasn't been elaborated upon in brutal manners. Journalism is one of the most vital limbs of society's tree, and that's why our Constitution has given them some specific rights. But what if some people misuse it? The public believes the media, whatever they show on screen and whatever they say on screen, but what if it's not true? Wouldn't it destroy one of the biggest support systems in our lives? Well, Naradan has all the answers for you.

Half of Naradan is inspired by true events that can't be named here, while the other half is fictionalised. Chandraprakash, a senior journalist for news in Malayalam, is a talk show host and a news anchor with a huge audience appeal. He is the face of the channel but has now lost his moral values under the pressure of his editors and boss. He quits the job and starts a new channel of his own, financed by others, and makes it big in no time. Well, he has to answer some people for his wrongdoings, and how some ordinary people expose him is all about the second half of Naradan. It's a long film, about 150 minutes, but I think it's very common in Malayalam cinema. However, the screenplay is gripping, so it never looks boring or monotonous at all. Unni R's script does remind you of several incidents that happened in the past couple of years. You've seen that kind of reporting on channels, and you'll find that connection as well as similarities quickly. Despite the long narrative, Naradan keeps you on the edge of your seat with all those media-made cliches. It takes you through newsrooms, behind-the-story facts, office-way politics, the human race, TRP calculations, string operations, and finally to the courtroom. You don't regret a single moment throughout the film.

Talking about performances, Tovino Thomas is the leading force here. This guy just had a stupendous "Minnal Murali" a couple of months back, and before we could get over the fever of the superhero he portrayed, he hit another hammer on your head. "Wake up man, this is Tovino Thomas time. He is killing it there." His looks and personality will remind you of a popular news reporter/anchor, and even though I can't disclose his name, you'll understand it naturally. As a whole, it's back-to-back phenomenal results for him. Anna Ben has been impressive since her debut in 'Kumbalangi Nights', and with 'Helen', she showed the next level of her acting skills. In Naradan too, she is damn impressive. But the only problem is her screen time, which I personally think should have been longer. The supporting cast is just great. Sharafudheen, Joy Mathew, Vijayaraghavan, Balachandran Chullikkad, Raghunath Paleri, Jayaraj Warrier, Dileesh Nair, Rajesh Madjavan, Rafi and Kuchan have all done a fine job there.

The technical side of the film is uplifted by the chilling background score. Jaffer Zadique's cinematography doesn't have anything new to offer, maybe because we have seen all those frames on TV, or rather, we see them daily, so it doesn't evoke any kind of excitement. However, other scenes are beautifully shot, especially those top views. Aashiq Abu's direction makes this one look more real than it could ever have looked. He had a nice script in hand, yet he put his own convictions into the story while presenting it on screen. Despite the dramatic climax, he makes you believe those hard-hitting speeches, and you feel like you are in the courtroom all by yourself. Using human conscience to prove the law & justice is one of the most unique tricks played recently, and the entire credit goes to Aashiq Abu. Naradan doesn't just expose the insights of the media world but also teaches you, as a viewer, what to believe and what to not. The irony becomes even more difficult for us because, being a part of the media fraternity, we have to review the film. Yes, we have to accept these facts and live with them until our conscience awakens and makes us realise things like never before. In a nutshell, Naradan is a film that is brutally honest in its main context; despite exposing one of the most important fields of mainstream entertainment, it leaves you with a strong message about dishonest journalism and a powerful human conscience as an honest citizen of the nation.

RATING - 6.5/10*