Yaavarum Nalam…….Horrifying!
-C. Karthik
Starring: Madhavan, Neetu Chandra, Saranya
Direction: Vikram K Kumar
Music: Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy
Production: Wide Angle Creations
Gosh I was tired watching a lot brain-dead movies of late. Tasteless romances, over the top action, dry-eyed emotional scenes, vulgarity disguised as glamour, double meaning dialogues, innumerable villains....... huh! I needed a break. I was a little excited when I saw the promos of Wide angle Creations’ “Yaavarum Nalam” with Madhavan and Neetu Chandra in lead roles and directed by a newcomer Vikram K. Kumar. I hoped and wished this movie will not disappoint. Did it? Read on…..
Rarely do you come across a movie with a logical screenplay, convincing and neat performances from the cast and an outstanding technical crew. This one does! And when you think that this movie is directed by a new-comer, it really adds to the excitement. So yes I finally got my break.
As in all thriller movies, this one too begins with a happy family shifting to their newly bought apartment. Manohar (R Madhavan) and Manoj (Hari Nair) are affectionate brothers, both married. Manoj has two children (Abhijith and Supriyaa). Manohar's charming, wife is Priya (Neethu Chandra, debuting in Tamil), while the brothers' mother (Saranya) loves watching serials on her cable TV. And there is a blind neighbor (Dhritiman Chatterjee) and his dog Harry as well.
Strange things start happening within the family. Milk curdles everyday when Madhavan wants a cup of tea, the elevator does not function when he wants to use it. But Madhavan takes everything lightly and the family continues to have a good time with everyone caring for each other. But things take a bizarre turn in Madhavan’s life when his neighbour’s dog refuses to enter his house and runs away and Madhavan finds that his picture taken from his cellphone is freaky only when taken from inside his house. What follows is a mystery which Madhavan and his SI friend Shiva (Ravi Babu) investigate and solve.
You really have to take a bow to Vikram Kumar’s effort here. We have seen a lot of horror movies on screen with blood, gory scenes, women ghosts in white saris etc and all these movies just frighten you till you leave the movie hall. But this one is different. It really is. He has not confused the viewer whether you believe in ghosts or not and has not left the decision to be made by us. He is very clear in saying that there is an opposite power to God which are ghosts or supernatural powers. With a simple plot, a decent screenplay and spine chilling moments in the movie Vikram’s movie HORRIFIES you. And the best part of the movie is that he has left no stone unturned.
If you know Madhavan as a blue-eyed chocolate boy romantic hero, go watch him in Yaavarum Nalam. He has delivered a knock-out performance to say the least. As a loving brother, a caring son and a doting husband he is in his usual self. But you really see him in his best when he realizes the mess he has gotten himself into. His wide open eyes, frightened face, spooky expressions and desperateness to resolve the mystery have definitely added a star to the movie.
Neetu Chandra and Saranya just fit into their roles perfectly. So do the rest of the cast which includes Dr. Balu (Sachin Khedekar) and Sampath.
Though this is a thriller, this movie does have its funny moments. And dialogues by Neelu Ayyappan have greatly helped in maintaining a mild humor throughout. But one feels that the cookbook comedy is a little over-cooked.
Tubbi-Parek’s background score is a big add-on to the movie. There are many scenes in the movie where they make you go numb with their BGM. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have done a decent job with the songs which are thankfully restricted to two in the movie. The chartbuster song has been retained for the title credits. Chetan Parekh’s art work is good. He has brought life to a middle class apartment.
Have I forgotten to mention anyone here? Ahhhhhh…. PC Sriram. Well, we know his work with the camera and I would be foolish not to mention his name here. Starting from the first frame where he shows motherboards and capacitors that make a television set, where he introduces all the characters of the movie (camera inside a schoolbag?) till the climax, its PC all the way. The yellow tone that he maintains all through the movie adds to the eerie feeling of the movie. The innovative angles, steady-cam shots, close-up shots of the characters makes you say wow in every single shot. He makes your heart pound in the climax where there is no power and the camera circles around the house with flashes of lightning. Hats off to you Sir!
For all horror-movie lovers, this is the movie you have been waiting for. Go watch Yaavarum Nalam and get horrified!
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