Nandhan

Not a review writer, but I just finished watching this film and felt compelled to share my thoughts. I believe this is easily one of the best films of the decade. I'm unsure why it hasn't received more attention.

If you read this review, please watch the film and thank me later. From the writers' note to the end credits, the screenplay is gripping. The post-credit scene was unexpected. Everyone involved, including all the actors and technicians, did a great job.

We all waste time watching a lot of commercial garbage every year. So, if you read this review, please spend 1 hour and 50 minutes watching this film. In the end, you'll be proud to have seen such a gem.

Such powerful portrayal of a social evil, and an urgent need of the hour!!

Brilliant performances by Balaji Sakthivel, who easily has given his all-time best, followed by Sasikumar and Suruthi. All 3 of them deserve national awards in the respective categories.

The movie is so intense and the screenplay is just as good as it could have been. Hats off to the director Era Saravanan for creating one of the best movies for a long time. Am so surprised this movie didn't get the recognition it deserves. This needs to be celebrated at film festivals and by the people/lovers of cinema.

Ghibran's background score is intense and captures the mood of the film perfectly. He deserves more movies for his talent and work.

The movie is interesting in so many ways with a note at the beginning, and a titular role which is not of the protagonist (or) antagonist, and how real politics happen instead of the cinematic revenge, killings.

All the characters are brilliant, and even the antagonist mother scores in a scene. The writing and making is brilliant throughout with Samuthrakani being the rescue guardian for the plight of the downtrodden.

The movies climax is beautiful that captures what is real win in politics and democracy. Cinematography and music is brilliant in the confined spaces and the shocking reality comments in epilogue is one to be must watched!!

Unrealistic cliche - overall film review

Not only movie and story but even scenes are copied from many old films from 1980 era. During that period the Telugu films with similar story was impactful but portraying in today world is little unrealistic.

The so called real events narration at end of film are there to justify the movie but doesn't bother to explain on aftermath. It is hard to believe that none from government or judicial system has intervened and resolved. Even in north India where these kind of practices are prevalent have started rebelling so I am not convinced on extent of brutality shown in film.

The movie captures the caste and power politics in rural Tamil Nadu very well, particularly how upper caste village chieftain uses his power to subjugate historically oppressed backward caste (SC) folks in his village. The movie also shows the social equations among upper and lower caste folks in rural hinterlands.

But in many scenes the filmmaker has taken too much liberty to show the excessive oppression of SCs by the upper caste village President, which seems caricatured for effect. Hence, after the overdone oppression story, showing the SC protagonist turning the tables on the upper caste ex-President in the climax seems rather unrealistic / implausible, though it makes for a good "happy ending" which most filmmakers aim for for a "successful" movie.

Worth a watch for those who aren't very familiar with rural caste & power politics.