Review Overview
Narration
Performances
Technical Aspects & BGM
Songs & Plot
Engaging Tale!
Arima Nambi is a part-deft, part-matured first feature from the director Anand Shankar. Apart from the predictable climax and an underwhelming turn of events towards the fag end of the film, it is an engaging fare right from the word go.
Cast : Vikram Prabhu, Priya Anand, JD Chakaravarthy, Lekha Washington, MS Baskar, Arjunan, Yog Japee & Others
Cinematography : RD Rajasekhar
Editing : Bhuvan Srinivasan
Stunts : Dhilip Subbarayan
Music : Sivamani
Written & Directed by : Anand Shankar
Produced by : Kalaipuli S Thanu for V Creations
Release Date : 04-07-2014
Run Time : 02:31:00
Arima Nambi is a part-deft, part-matured first feature from the director Anand Shankar. Action thriller means business any day. If rendered with an engaging plot, the film is certain to sell. In that way, Anand Shankar has chosen a genre which appeals to all sections of the audience. What makes Arima Nambi stand apart from other action thrillers is Anand’s astute directorial execution.
Anand doesn’t waste time to start the proceedings. After all, at 2 hours and 30 minutes, you wouldn’t want to risk boring the audience in the name of constructing your characters. The film starts off in Hard Rock Café where the meet-cute between Arjun Krishnan (Vikram Prabhu) and Anamika Raghunath (Priya Anand) happens. After a small talk with Anamika and her friends, Arjun dedicates a song for Anamika and congratulations, we have an opening song already. Anamika was so impressed that she gives her mobile number to Arjun. Subsequently, they go for their first date and Arjun visits Anamika’s home the same night where she is mysteriously abducted by two thugs.
Right after this kidnap incident, the film is potently engaging throughout the first half. A hapless and bewildered Arjun goes to the police station to give a complaint about the kidnap but to no use. The plot moves at breakneck pace thereon with Anand’s tidy and full-blown writing. The spate of events that follows the kidnap is quite engrossing and kindles your brain cells to keep guessing. And, then we slowly come to learn of a McGuffin which we are quite familiar of. We have witnessed a myriad number of films which start off promisingly, put forward a McGuffin for the audience, falter mid-way through and then being burnt to ashes. But, there are few films which have utilized the central plot element quite effectively.
Once the revelation happens, a methodical approach to the story is the key. Anand has handled this part quite well with calculated risks. But, the painstaking hints at every stage in the name of taking the script even to the layman (spoon-feeding) could have been done away with for they are not primitive. An overdosed usage of sophisticated gadgets in the second half is a let-down especially when you think of the first half which is quite cerebral. The second half falters a little but thankfully a matured execution of Anand doesn’t make you laugh at the film.
Vikram Prabhu looks apt for the role and has performed well in the neatly crafted stunt sequences, credits to veteran stuntman’s son Dhilip Subbarayan. Priya Anand is gorgeous and dons striking costumes throughout the film. Debutant composer Sivamani has compensated with the background score for his lacklustre songs.
Cameraman RD Rajasekhar has done commendable work behind the lens. With more than 90% of scenes in the first half being shot completely during night-time, his camerawork captures the atmosphere beautifully and sets the perfect tone for the film.
Apart from the predictable climax and an underwhelming turn of events towards the fag end of the film, Arima Nambi is an engaging fare right from the word go.