Natchathiram Nagargiradhu Review: Natchathiram Nagargiradhu holds a persistent mirror to how cast, class, gender, and sexuality are used to protect endogamy in romance. Director Pa Ranjith through his film Natchathiram Nagargirathu tries to rips open trite definitions of romance, laying bare the darkness and bizarre that lie beneath.
This hard-hitting star Rene (Dushara Vijayan), who brilliantly captures the veiled layers of this enigmatic character, lives life on her own terms. Since her childhood, she has been tortured just because of her caste.
She also thinks of Ilayaraja”s songs as a symbol of empowerment. There’s Rene’s boyfriend Iniyan (Kalidas Jayaram), both Rene & Iniyan belong to a theatre group in Pondicherry and have been asked to do a show about love.
Then there’s Arjun (Kalaiyarasan), who is a prudent guy engaged to Roshni but soon gets attracted to Rene. In their group, there are lesbian, and gay couples in the initial stages of their relationships. This film tries to make us believe that love is political. It’s a story that revolves around thespians.
Caste, political correctness, societal status, and gender are beyond the concept of love. There’s a witheringly beautiful sequence between Rene & Arjun, where Arjun asks “Are you a communist?” both were kinda perplexed by the barbarity of Rene’s politics. “I’m an Ambedkarite,” she shoots it back with a frisky smile while savoring a plate of beef fry. This scene will forever stay in the mind of whoever witnesses it. Rene is such a special whom caste has followed around her whole life.
Music director Tenma’s background score fits so coherently well into the events. Whether it’s the introduction song ‘Rangaratinam’ which helps to tone for the film or the sweet title track ‘Natchathiram Nagargiradhu’, voiced by singer-songwriter Arivu and Sharanya Srinivas. This is Tenma’s second time composing an album after the momentous one Irandam Ullagaporin Kadaisi Gundu.
It’s the representation of LGBTQIA+ politics. Pa Ranjith tries to go beyond unanimity. Cinematography, performance, background score, and everything make it a perfect one.
Overall, Pa Ranjith’s Natchathiram Nagargiradhu is the smartest yet bold one which is a total masterpiece. The truth can either disturb you or comfort you, it may feel like a chaotic one or a mild breeze. Everyone should watch this must-watch film in theatres only.