Naan Kadavul Movie Review - Aarya, Pooja, director Bala Naan Kadavul Movie

The Movie:

The long wait for Bala's Naan Kadavul has finally ended. The movie that took more than three years in the making is a disturbing tour into the dark world of people with deformities who are made to beg for a living and their search for God. Naan Kadavul, meaning "I am the God", makes one question the very existence of God.

The Story:

The story opens with a father coming to Varanasi in search of his son Rudran, whom he had left there in 14 years ago following an astrological prediction. Rudran (Aarya) grows under an aghori guru into an angry young man following the preaching of his guru. According to myth, a person blessed by an aghori won't have to go through the cycle of births and deaths an ordinary human being is destined to. He accompanies his father to Tamil Nadu, only to severe his relationship with his family and return to Kasi. He lives an isolated life in a cave temple smoking weed and blowing conch at unearthly hours.

The temple also hosts a group of beggers employed by a locan goon. The scenes which show the dungeons where the beggers live and the brutal treatment unleashed on them by the goon are disturbing. Amsavalli (Pooja), a blind girl, is forcefully separated from her foster father and brought to the gang. The cry for help of these poor people never reaches the ears of God but Rudran, who declares himself God 'Kaala Bhairav', the destructor of evil.

Coincidentally, Rudran becomes Amsavalli's saviour. How he saves her forms the climax of the film.

Performances:

Surprisingly, for all the hype, Arya does not have that much of screen time though he does make an impact whenever he appears. He doesn’t have much to work with though. He has always got the same stoic expression, uttering the same intonations and striking the same poses. But getting to maintain that demeanor is not easy and he has worked hard to do it which can be seen. Aara, despite being the protagonist, has few dialogues and, contrary to what was expected, has little to perform, too. It is Pooja as Amsavalli who gives an extraordinary performance. This movie will be milestone in her acting career. Another person who has given a noteworthy performance is comedian Krishnamoorthy (remember the man who once asks Vadivelu the way to Osama Bin Laden's house ?). Krishnamoorthy as Murugan is a surprise package for the audience.

Verdict:

Naan Kadavul is a typical Bala movie, on the lines of Sethu, Nandha and Pithamagan. His movies always deals with subjects not discussed often. The movie, which has received U/A certification, is certainly not for kids to watch. Dialogues penned by Jayamohan are sarcastic and touching. Music by Ilayaraja is ordinary, except for two songs.

An extraordinary movie with a complex subject that it is, Naan Kadavul could have been dealt with only by Bala.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5. Go and Watch it!!!