Malayalam

Nagaravadhu
Another vendetta
VANI Viswanath has almost become synonymous with revenge-seeking action-oriented characters in Malayalam cinema. Here is yet another vendetta movie with Vani in the lead.

But Nagaravadhu, made under the banner of Okay Productions by Mani C Kaapan, is an altogether different film compared to the usual revenge-stuff by Vani. In this film, directed by Kaladharan, Vani is seen in a totally different light. While most of Vani’s characters take up the gun and go on a killing spree eliminating all the villains, this one uses more of mental power and shrewd planning. Sukanya, born in a pious Brahmin household as the eldest of three daughters, is a medical student. She is to marry her Sethu Raman. But when Sethu is hit and killed by a jeep and Sukanya abducted and later arrested on charges of prostitution, things take a totally new turn for her.

Renowned Gandhian Kesari Govinda Pillai comes to her rescue and expresses to her father his earnest wish to make Sukanya his daughter-in-law. Thus Sukanya is married off to Sreeharshan.

But matters do not end there. The day after her marriage, Sukanya finds that all this, including her marriage, was orchestrated by Narendra Babuji, a shrewd politician. Babuji had a fancy for Sukanya, whom he had met earlier, and his aide and retired DGP Bala Gangadhara Menon alias Mamaji executed the plans, including Sethu’s murder and Sukanya’s fake marriage. Sukanya is forced to satisfy the lust of Babuji. But before long, she wins over Babuji’s confidence and steps into the corridors of power and politics along with Babuji. Sukanya makes her entry into active politics, but she has certain definite plans and decisions too.

Vani plays with controlled ease the role of Sukanya while Saikumar impresses too as Babuji, the shrewd politician. Rajan P Dev does his part well as Mamaji while Janardhanan also comes up with a good performan-ce as Kesari Govinda Pillai. Baiju has got a really good role after a long time as Eby Cherian, a youth leader. NF Verghese, as Hrishikesh Parame-s waran Nampoothiri IPS, passes muster. All the rest in the cast, namely Sphadikom George, Jayakrishnan, Harisri Ashokan and Premachandran have done their roles in their own characteristic styles. Rajan Kiriyath’s script, based on story by GC Kaarackal, is the real highlight of the film. Things seem to be very much in control of the scenarist. Salu George lends able support with his cinematography while Gangan Thalavil does good work of the art-direction. Slick editing by L Bhoominathan and background score by Rajamani help in keeping up the tempo of the film. But the songs, penned by Prabha Verma and Sudhamshu and set to tune by M Jayachandran, fail to make an impact, apart from the soulfully-rendered Pakalinu Kaavalaalayi Ninnoru Sooryante.

Director Kaladharan, who had earlier made comedy films like Nettipattam and Ellaarum Chollanu has beaten a different track this time and deserves kudos on a job well done.

Unni R Nair