NANBENDA MOVIE REVIEW

“Why are you upset as though you are just served Sambhar rice at a Muslim wedding?” Sivakozhundhu asks Sathya when he holds up a dull face after an issue. For all those who know that Nannbenda is another flick that exploits the Santhanam - Udhayanidhi chemistry, it is quite evident that ‘Sivakozhundhu’ here, is Santhanam and Sathya is Udhayanidhi.

 

A story that looks ordinary on paper, turns out to be a decent movie with the right kind of casting and decoration. Nannbenda is an attempted laugh riot that drags in the hangover from the previous couple of films that the two acted together. The movie brims with the typical Santhanam style counter attacks packaged in a lighthearted “helping-friend-in-following-girl-and-finally-impressing-her” story. 

 

The problem with movies such as this, is that it either makes you roll between the armrests of your seat laughing or you sit there emotionless wondering what is happening. The movie is completely dialogue driven, so much that people might be able to follow the story just by closing their eyes and listening to the conversations that happen - and of course still laugh if the comedy works for you.

Only few people can make people giggle for dialogues like “who is encountering my counter” and “please stop smelling your cap and show us your face” and that is exactly why Santhanam is easily one of the top comedians in K town. If it was the "thean-ada" dialogue that worked in favour of Santhanam's romance story in his first outing with Udhayanidhi, it is something else with Sherin this time round.

 

However, there are a few logical errors like a normal hotel manager taking a business loan for the development of his owner’s hotel and the lead actors loitering around in jail premises without wearing a prison uniform.

 

Nayanthara is as beautiful as ever, grabbing the attention of the viewers through her gracious screen presence and performance.

 

The interesting part of the film is that some of the characters in the form of Motta Rajendran, Karunakaran, Susan George and a few others are not wasted as they are involved in the effective building up of the fragile storyline.

 

Karunakaran’s combination with Santhanam and Udhayanidhi has worked out well, especially in the scene where they meet after a short gap.

 

Although the songs have been placed badly in the film, they have been picturized well by cinematographer Balasubramaniem; Nayanthara looking dashing in the ‘Nayanthara’ and “Nee Sun-oh’ songs, with an evident improvement in Udhayanidhi’s dance moves. Harris Jayaraj’s music and BGM stand tall for the movie, serving as one of its USPs.

 

Produced by Udhayanidhi Stalin under the banner Red Giant Movies, Nannbenda is a film where you can go without expectations, giggle through the movie and walk out of the theater without taking anything from it.