Nadigaiyar Thilagam Movie Review

Cast: Keerthy Suresh, Dulquer, Samantha, Vijay Deverakonda, Prakash Raj, Naga Chaitanya, Shalini Pandey & many others

Cinematography: Dani Sanchez-Lopez 

Music: Mickey J Meyer

Editor: Venkateswara Rao Kotagiri

Art Director: Kolla Avinash

Production Designer: Shivam Rao 

Costumes: Archana Rao & Gaurang 

Screenplay: Sai Madhav Burra

Dialogues: Madhan Karky

Director: Nag Ashwin

Produced by: Swapna Cinema & Vyjayanthi Movies

Release Date: 11-05-2018

Run Time: 02:51:00

Nadigaiyar Thilagam is a fascinating account of the life story of late veteran actor Savitri, spearheaded majorly by a first-rate performance from Keerthy Suresh from the driver’s seat.

Although her story is widely known to moviegoers in the southern states such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, the movie, which marks the sophomore directorial of Telugu filmmaker Nag Ashwin, presented the heart-warming and heart-wrenching off-screen moments of Savitri, in great detail and with immense respect.

The story is narrated through the eyes of Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who plays the role of a journalist. Madhuravani (Samantha) aspires to be a go-getter, but her editor undermines her ability and keeps assigning substandard stories for her to cover. When her editor earmarks the coverage of Savitri getting admitted in a hospital and going into the comatose stage, Madhuravani finds the story as mundane. However, when she stumbles upon someone who has done extensive research on Savitri’s life, she gets to know the hitherto-unknown side of the legend and decides to work on the story.

My respect for Keerthy Suresh increased a notch higher after watching her breathe life into the character of Savitri. Keerthy has delivered a lifetime performance as Savitri in the film. It wouldn’t be a hyperbole to say that she has shouldered this emotional roller-coaster ride efficiently, and is aptly complemented by Dulquer Salmaan in the other end. 

It definitely takes guts to play Savitri for a variety of reasons. Considering that Nadigaiyar Thilagam marks Keerthy Suresh’s first performance-oriented film, a definite break from her usual star vehicles, she has quietly hit it out of the park with a motley of expressions as Savitri. Her uncanny resemblance to Savitri and this beaut of a performance is a fitting reply to trolls and meme creators who wrote her off as soon as the makers announced the film.

Dulquer has slipped into the shoes of Gemini Ganesan with great charm and effortless ease. Although Dulquer has scored time and again as a charmer in a bevy of romantic comedies in his career, this role of Ramaswamy Ganesan is, undoubtedly, quite significant for the gamut of traits his character brings to the table. Besides playing a charmer, Dulquer’s role is also portrayed as a womanizer, and he plays it with the same infectious charisma. There’s no inhibition or whatsoever in his stellar performance. Brownie points to Dulquer for walking the extra-mile by dubbing in his own voice for both the Tamil and Telugu versions.

Cinematographer Dani Sanchez Lopez’ incredible work is one of the significant highlights of the film. Be it capturing the period portions of the story with authenticity, or seizing the right expressions of the lead artists, his frames genuinely bring the characters and to a large extent, the story, alive on screen. 

The only turn off in the film is the flat romance track between Samantha and Vijay Deverakonda, who is wasted in a boring role.

While composer Mickey J Meyer’s work on the songs received fab reviews, he has now churned out a resonating background score for the film. His score deftly ups the ante on specific scenes and also keeps up the momentum on numerous occasions.  

Nadigaiyar Thilagam Movie Review Rating: 3.25/5

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