Nadodigal - by Samudirakkani

Yesterday we went for a film - my mother, Peer and I. This was Naadodigal, a film that we were much tempted to see because it promised a totally fresh viewpoint of cinematic life.. here are some thoughts on the same...

My first reaction was to think that this is a very superficial story - but later, on thinking deeper, I felt that there is a point - that love and marriage in a society like ours means more of responsibility and commitment than the romantic fabulous individualistic sexual saga that it's made out to be. It's true that often the risk of bringing together two people from different strata is run not only by themselves but by the entire group of friends and well-wishers.

The story is this - Three friends, Karuna, Pandiyan and Chandran, are just beginning their journey as educated youth in search of careers and experience. Karuna and his cousin Nallal are in love and her father has agreed to get them married on condition that Karuna gets a job in the TN state public service. He is all into that. His sister, Pavithra, and Chandran are attracted to each other and the third friend, Pandian is their loyal and trusted buddy in all exploits.

Meantime, one of Karuna's friends, comes to him, seeking support in his desire to marry a girl against the wishes of either set of parents. Karuna is an idealistic youth full of fervour and rebellion. He ropes in all his friends and very efficiently achieves the formidable feat of rescuing these two members from the influences of their powerful elders... That is the first half of the story.. a complete entertainer.

The second half almost deconstructs the whole thing... While the newlyweds spend the first month of their married life having fun at a beach resort, the brunt of their rebellion is borne by the people who risked their lives to help them suceed. Karuna misses his Government Service Interview, moreover the parents carry out legal proceedings against the three friends, which puts a permanent blackmark on his file; Chandran loses a part of a limb and Pandyan suffers a blow which permanently impairs his hearing! To add to the repercussions, Karuna's uncle blackmails his daughter Nallamma into marrying a different boy - just, it seems, to spite Karuna and his family.

The story comes to an anticlimax when the couple realise that they are more interested in the good life than one of togetherness and struggle so they - SPLIT!!!! All their efforts were for nothing!!!! Now comes the twist - which u can see in the film!