Allari Naresh - Naandhi Movie ReviewBOTTOM LINE
A Honest And Emotional Fare

OUR RATING
3/5

CENSOR
2h 21m, ‘U/A’ Certified.


Allari Naresh - Naandhi ReviewWhat Is the Film About?
Surya Prakash (Allari Naresh) is an honest guy working as a software employee. He has a happy family and is soon to get wedded to a girl he falls in love with.

Unfortunately, Surya Prakash’s world turns upside down when he is implicated in a murder case by CI Kishore. What happens afterwards? How Surya fights the system and understands the power of Section 211 through Aadhya (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar) is what the movie is all about?

How Is Allari Naresh’s Performance?
Allari Naresh has come up with his best act in the last decade with Naandhi. There is a remarkable maturity in his action, along with an intensity that can’t be missed. He has tried this in some of his recent efforts, but it comes out the best in this movie.

There are mainly two walking stretches the highlights his act brilliantly. They are, of course, designed for that purpose, but they work out is what matters. The one is the walk of Allari Naresh around the pre-interval. It shows his helplessness and sadness. The other is when he comes out of the court post-intermission. He is teary-eyed here too, but it is with a tinge of relief. These instances demonstrate the performer in him. The rest of the film has enough to make it a special effort for him.


Vijay KanakamedalaDirection by Vijay Kanakamedala?

Vijay Kanakamedala directs Naandhi. It is a part police procedural and part courtroom drama. The story is simple, but it is the narrative containing those elements that make the difference.

The starting of the movie is slow once the ‘shock’ factor moments are done. It is because of the typical and predictable character establishment and family bonding scenes. But, they are necessary to establish the drama for what is to unfold next.

The actual story of the movie kickstarts when Surya Prakash is arrested on false charges by a police officer. There is a lot of brutality and pain on display in this segment which takes the narrative almost close to the interval mark.

The interrogation and family drama are all done with intensity and impact. The various seeds for the second half, too, are expectedly well placed. Over melodrama and torture sequences could be depressing to a few, though.

The interval mark raises hope, and one waits to see how the proceedings shape up in the second half. The ‘justice’ angle is a positive one and makes one interested in what lies ahead.

The second half takes off with Section 211 as the main point. The narrative turns into a thriller mode with drama thrown in in equal measures. The courtroom sequences are the key here, and they are handled well, to a large extent.

However, as the movie progresses, there is a wobble due to the utterly predictable elements. That they are still grippingly narrated is what makes one stick to the whole thing.

The ending goes overboard slightly with the melodrama aspect. It could have been toned down a bit to give some extra space for the content.

Overall, Naandhi is a well-intentioned hard-hitting, realistically mounted courtroom drama that deals with Section 211. It is a weapon for justice for the commoner. The noble intentions and honest execution make Naandhi a definite one time watch. The stomach-churning episodes need to be kept in mind, though.


Varalaxmi Sarathkumar Varalaxmi Sarathkumar and Others?
All the roles in the movie are cast according to the requirement. They don’t stay beyond the necessity, as well. Navami Gayak is technically the heroine. She is decent and does her small part well.

However, the real ‘hero’ of the movie is Varalaxmi Sarathkumar who plays the role of lawyer Aadhya. She turns around the narrative with her arrival like a hero would do and takes it to a ‘heroic’ end, as well. Varalaxmi has done the part superbly. She exudes natural confidence, which comes to great help here. It is a role that would be memorable in her career for sure.

Harish Uttaman gets a lengthy negative role after a gap. He delivers the required without missing a beat. Praveen, as a helpless friend, is perfectly cast. However, he seems to be getting typecast in these parts. Priyadarshi is reliable as usual. Srikanth Aiyyengar is good. He delivers small gestures accurately. It makes a lot of difference in the proceedings. Devi Prasad, Pramodini, Vinay Varma and the rest fit their brief roles neatly and do well.

Music-Director-Sricharan-PakalaMusic and Other Departments?
Sri Charan Pakala is the music director for the film. He is fast gaining fame for his background score. Sri Charan doesn’t disappoint on that score with Naandhi, either. The cinematography by Sid is neat. The editing is alright. The writing by Abburi Ravi is adequate and makes its presence felt in a few sequences.


Priyadarshi- Naandhi ReviewHighlights?
Story
Casting
Message
Direction
BGM

Drawbacks?
Slow Parts Initially
Gory And Torture Visuals (Not Necessarily To Everyone)
Some Predictable Scenes
Over-melodrama In Parts


Harish UthamanAlternative Take
Toning down the melodrama and adding some depth to the background case and court proceedings instead would have further elevated the movie to the next level.

Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, for the most Part

Will You Recommend It?
Yes

Naandhi Movie Review by Siddartha Toleti