Movie review 'Naan Sigappu Manithan': Vishal gives a laudable performance sans heroism or punch lines
NSM belongs to Vishal and the dusky actor has given a laudable performance
By : anupama subramanian
Update: 2014-04-12 16:37 GMT
Cast: Vishal, Lakshmi Menon, Iniya, Jagan
Direction: Thiru
Rating: ***
It’s the third time Vishal and director Thiru are coming together for Naan Sigappu Manithan which has an original plot. The story travels in a new premise, where the lead protagonist suffers from Narcolepsy, a neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep.
Indran (Vishal) is suffering from Narcolepsy right from his childhood. Any loud noise, extremes of emotions like anger, joy or love, causes him to abruptly slip into a deep state of sleep. He has a doting mother (Saranya Ponvannan) who is a teacher. Indran has a diary in which he lists down 10 specific wishes which he wants to accomplish in life. He takes the help of his close pals (Jagan and Sundar Ramu) to fulfill his desires. He meets Meera (Lakshmi Menon), daughter of rich business tycoon (Jayaprakash) and her caring ways makes him fall for her but he fears to open up owing to his condition. Slowly, Meera is also drawn towards Indran. But her dad is against it as he fears that Indran cannot lead a normal married life and will not be able to make him a grandfather. However, Meera is determined to find a way. When she comes to know that Indran never falls asleep under water or in the shower, Meera suggests an extreme step. The two experiment underwater and get intimate which eventually leads Meera getting pregnant. But, on one rainy night cruel fate intervenes and Meera is brutally gang raped is front of Indran who slips into sleep. How, Indran goes on revenge mode and finds the real culprit with the film ending with a riveting climax.
The movie belongs to Vishal and the dusky actor has given a laudable performance sans heroism or punch lines. His is an understated feat and in keeping with his role. He is realistic in his repeated collapsing due to narcolepsy problem and there’s not a tinge of artificiality in it.
Lakshmi Menon as the city slicker is good and the on-screen chemistry between her and Vishal is refreshing.
Jagan brings the roof down with his witty one-liners. Sarnaya equally is impressive in a comic role. Iniya in her brief role is adequate. Sundar Ramu finds it difficult to emote.
The first half breezes through with lot of enjoyable stuff, except for the rape scene which is disturbing. But post interval there is too many twists and turns and subplots with narcolepsy taking a backseat. How Thiru overlooked the inconsistency when he took so much attention to build the particular aspect of Vishal’s characterization in the first half.
GV Prakash music is a high point of the movie, but placement of songs at regular interval mars the pace. Richard Nathan’s cinematography goes well with the mood of the film. Overall, a gripping entertainer with an unusual theme.