Udhayanidhi plays a brainy and caring cop in Nenjuku Needhi, which is strikingly different from his regular films. It speaks a lofty issue and cares for the society. The need to treat all equally is the need of the hour is what the movie tries to convey.
Produced by Boney Kapoor’s Bayview Project LLP in association with Romeo Pictures’ Raahul, it features Udhayanidhi in the lead role as a tough cop Veeraraghavan. Set in Coimbatore belt, the movie has Tanya Ravichandran, Shivani Rajasekar, Ilavarasu, Aari, Mayilsamy and Chakravarthy in the cast. Music is by Dibu Ninan Thomas. Camera is by Dinesh Krishnan. A remake of Bollywood hit Article 15, it is directed by Kanaa fame Arunraja Kamaraj.
The movie backed by good technical team does a fine job of depicting how the marginalised are denied justice. Razor-sharp dialogues and every character having an impact on screen make it interesting.
The movie is about the gruesome rape and murder of two minor girls in Suthanthirapalayam village in Kovai. People wear their caste on their sleeves. It’s an unsettling world, where people don’t even want to share water with people from so-called lower castes. More than a person’s name, it’s their caste which is of relevance. Police officer Vijayaraghavan (Udhayanidhi Stalin) comes here. He is entrusted with the task of punishing the culprits. But caste equations are his hurdles.
Udhay does a fine job. As a khaki-clad cop, he does give his best. His body language and dialogue delivery add strength. Tanya as his ladylove chips in well. Shivani Rajasekar is the scene-stealer. Chakravarthy plays negative role with aplomb. Ilavarasu and Mayilsamyare apt cast, while Aari in an extended cameo gives his best.
Thamizharasan’s dialogues make the movie stand tall. The movie on the whole has tried not to tamper with the original. A message well-said.