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Director: Bala
Cast: Surya, Rajkiran, Laila, Saravanan, Jeeva, Rajasri.
 Director Bala re-establishes his credentials again as a film-maker who moves away from the beaten track, and tries to bring in freshness by way of concept and narrative style. His 'Nandha' like 'Sethu', before it, is different from the routine films. The artistes are chosen well, irrespective of their market rating, and the locations have a freshness too. But the director could have avoided repetition of scenes and ambience, which give a sense of deja vu. Like the scenes in the remand home, which reminds one of the mental asylum scenes of 'Sethu'. And the shots of the hero's alienation from society, using similar backdrops as in
'Sethu'.
The weak part of the script is the harsh attitude of the mother towards her son, which look forced. Similarly the final scene was almost predictable, one sensing the director was moving his narration to a desired ending.
 It traces the life of Nandha, who as a kid is sent to a remand home for killing his wayward father. His mother's alienation, the pent-up hurt and anger, makes him a rebel and a recluse. His life gets a focus, when the local bigwig takes him under his wings. The man, who doesn't mind bending rules to destroy the perpetrators of injustice, sets the targets and Nandha turns terminator. Romance is in the air when Nandha falls in love with a Sri Lankan refugee Kalyani. After many futile attempts to reconcile with his mother, Nandha lets his mother make the last move that ends in tragedy.
 From soft roles to the angry young man, it is quite a transformation for Surya and the actor handles his role competently. The role of the docile, shy Kalyani comes a little difficult to Laila, the actress using her standard expressions here too. Dominating the frames is Raj Kiran. As the local Raja, a sort of godfather to his people, the actor gives life to his scenes, bringing out impressively the various shades in the character.
Photo
Gallery
Malini Mannath
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