Imaikkaa Nodigal Movie Review

August 30, 2018

2 minutes read

Review Overview

Performances

Story & Narration

Technical Aspects & Music

An engaging, well-packaged action thriller.

The first good thing about Imaikkaa Nodigal is the way that the actors have been used in it. With three main characters propelling the screenplay, it's important to maintain all their weights at a balance and here - that's done. Go watch Imaikkaa Nodigal if you're fan of good thrillers and would like to quench your thirst of watching a brainy film.

Cast: Nayanthara, Atharvaa, Anurag Kashyap, Vijay Sethupathi, Raashi Khanna, Ramesh Thilak & others

Cinematography: RD Rajasekhar

Music: Hiphop Tamizha

Editing: Bhuvan Srinivasan

Stunts: Dilip Subarayan

Art Direction: V Selvakumar

Dialogues: Pattukkottai Prabakar

Written & Directed by: Ajay Gnanamuthu

Produced by: CJ Jayakumar for Cameo Films

Release Date: 30-08-2018

Run Time: 02:50:00

Even though Kollywood is packed with action thrillers one after the other, very few directors stay genuine to the genre and get it right. Imaikkaa Nodigal is the latest entrant to the genre and fortunately, does it’s job well with the help of some smartly etched characters and situations. The film has a romantic angle that may not fit into the story perfectly, nevertheless it works as a thriller on the whole.

Ajay Gnanamuthu, in only his second outing, shows a lot of promise as a director who can handle high-level scripts as well. There’s a touch of maturity his work – citing the way in which he handles his characters, brings about situations, reveals twists and importantly the action. The first half has a major worry in the terms of the romantic angle which feels plastic, but the second half rides on very interestingly with the way things are narrated. The director makes sure that he does not leave everything to the twist alone, and keeps packing his scenes with small surprises that help the momentum move forward.

The first good thing about Imaikkaa Nodigal is the way that the actors have been used in it. With three main characters propelling the screenplay, it’s important to maintain all their weights at a balance and here – that’s done. When you just get a feeling that Anurag is hogging away all the limelight, Nayanthara gets her ‘mass’ scene. And when you start wondering if Atharva has just been used as a bunny for the whole of the first half, the director pulls out another card. It’s this presence of mind in the writing stage that feeds the intelligence of the moviegoer what what he deserves. Not to forget, it’s still Anurag Kashyap who makes the biggest mark out of them all, with his role being the centrifugal force of the film. Vijay Sethupathi in an important cameo, is a good move too.

Now move on to the technical part, which has been once again done without any compromises. RD Rajsekar picks his films only when he sees something different and hey, his cinematography does exactly what the doctor orders. There’s even nice sensibility in the edit pattern, without jumping from one scene to another and educating the audience with the little nuance that the story holds. Hip Hop Tamizha’s songs are good, but the BGM deserves a whole new level of appreciation for continously keeping the attention intact.

Post maiden horror-thriller Demonte Colony, Ajay Gnanamuthu comes to the party with a stylish and smartly written thriller that’s worth your money. There are logical tosses, some unnecessary scenes and the odd song, but that’s not hinder the effect the film has on you on the whole. Go watch Imaikkaa Nodigal if you’re fan of good thrillers and would like to quench your thirst of watching a brainy film.