180 / Nootrenbadhu

This romantic story emphasizes on living each moment to the full instead of losing out on today’s joys while fretting about the morrow.

AJ (Siddharth) an NRI arrives in Chennai where he finds joy in making others happy, be it while delivering newspapers with the delivery boys or lending a hand to the ironing vendor and even spending time playing carom at an old age home.  Vidya, (Nithya Menen) a photo-journalist impressed with his attitude befriends him. Little does she realize that she is falling in love with this man of whom she knows very little. But when she opens her heart to him, AJ decides it is time to leave town. No, it’s not one of the run of the mill romance flicks. This cute and fresh story from duo writers SUBA and Jayendra holds your attention in the first half pulls at your heart strings in the second half and keeps you guessing towards the end. 

Plus Points: Nootrenbadhu is  a welcome break from those Madurai based stories spilling with blood as well as those rural scripts packed with kuthu songs and arresting visuals. In this urban flick the characters are real and their fears human. Siddharth as AJ delivers. His chocolate boy looks endears him to the audience and he emotes well, though at times, you feel he could have done better.  The onscreen chemistry he shares with Priya Anand (as Renuka) is great. Supporting the story are  Nithya Menen and Sricharan (last seen in M3V) with their performance that is not over the top. Technically the film speaks of style and class with respect to each shot. Some images linger in your thoughts, especially the scene in Varanasi, where a little boy performing his father’s rites is more engrossed with his toy car. 

Minus Points: If only more care was taken with respect to Nithya Menen’s wardrobe, she could have appeared slender. The film could have done with slick editing.

Music: Shareth’s music comes as a fresh breath of air. 
    
Camerawork: Visuals realistic meeting the demands of the script.

Verdict: Do watch 180. There is cute love, entertainment, clean humour and an underlying message on life’s uncertainties.  It’s a good start for ad film maker Jayendra.

The Alamelu