Of love, bruise and damage -- Koodal Nagar
CARVED WITH CARE: Koodal Nagar
Koodal Nagar
Genre: Family drama
Director: Seenu Ramasamy
Cast: Bharat, Sandhya, Bhavna
Storyline: Two brothers of whom the love story of one turns bizarre. Bottomline: Sincere debutattempt!
Suryan and Chandran (Bharat) belong to different professions — the former deals in second hand books, while the other works in a mortuary at the government hospital. Cupid's arrow darts across and each finds a girl of his choice. And as always that's when trouble begins ...
Annamalai Films (P) Ltd.'s `Koodal Nagar' (U) is well begun and well done too, for most part of the way — till the climax, to be specific. At which point writer-director Seenu Ramasamy churns out the usual finale you've witnessed in ever so many films. Having apprenticed under the likes of Balu Mahendra and Seeman, Seenu Ramasamy shows that he is a technician worth taking note of. The natural flavour in the narration is an interesting aspect of `Koodal Nagar.'
The poetic title is an added lure. Actually the story as such offers nothing new. But the treatment makes it different.
It's a first-time-dual-role for Bharat. But you don't see any striking difference between the two brothers, Suryan and Chandran. However, as the screenplay is on smooth terrain there's not much confusion for the viewer.
Most of the time it's an underplayed show from the hero. Even when he cries out in grief, he looks vulnerable, never unnatural. Only that his moans are very different from that of other heroes.
Bharat is astute enough to choose roles with scope. `Koodal Nagar' is another such.
Between Sandhya and Bhavna, the latter has a bigger part, you could say. And you have to mention Ilavarasu and his cryptic remarks, which convey a lot.
Technically speaking
M.S.Prabhu's camera moves through sylvan settings and indoor sequences with telling effect. The angles he has chosen are particularly impressive. But in the sequence where the brothers are conversing, one with his back to the other, it is quite obvious it's another person standing there! This gaffe in today's hi-tech scenario is rather puzzling! And be it the mortuary, the bookstore or the rich man's home, Vijay Murugan proves his excellence in art work. Appreciably, Nature defying aerodynamics isn't part of `Super' Subbarayan's stunt choreography, though bloodshed and gore are very much on the agenda. The music of Sabesh-Murali, especially the background score, bears the stamp of quality. And the theme music of `Koodal Nagar' is reminiscent of the famous `Malligai Mullai ... ' number of yore. Impact-making words drop from the pen of Na. Muthukumar (`Yaradhu ... ') and Pazhani Baharati (`Vaaraar Iyya ... '). The melody of the former and the vibrancy of the latter ring in your ears! Ramasamy could have worked harder on the final sequence and given an innovative end. Not as though he has not tried. Just that despite the effort a feeling of déjà vu prevails!
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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