Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe’ seduces with its brilliant narration

 Director Lakshmy Ramakrishnan returns with ‘Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe,’ (Come closer but do not kiss), an intriguing title. 

When the film opens to reveal a dark night and a person swimming out of the sea, who subsequently makes a run on hearing an approaching police van with sirens on, you wonder if it is one of the regular films churned out. But then Lakshmy Ramakrishnan throws in surprises with her narration, that is clearly not the usual.
It does not take long before you hitch onto a truck ride onscreen, a journey that begins in Trichy at a go-down where women are sorting out onions. The truck is headed towards Karaikal port on a day marred by petrol strike.
As the truck chugs and meanders on its course, there are pit-stops, moments to laugh and unforeseen accidents adding to the thrill of the journey. Weaving several stories into this multi-layered script, Ramakrishnan introduces us to Subramaniam, the hard working petrol bunk owner with a son Chandru, who fails to meet his expectations. So when he discovers that Chandru has stolen large quantities of diesel from his bunk, angry would be to put it mildly.
As for Chandru, he is on a journey, driving a truck, transporting a load of onions that conceal cans of diesel for Kaleeswaran, (A. L. Alagappan) a devious MLA. What he is unaware though is Keeswaran’s wrong motives for transporting the diesel.
Enroute Chandru allows a young couple Maha and Pichai, who have eloped, to take refuge in his truck. The lovers, belonging to different castes, he the son of a barber and she an upper caste girl, are on the run, with her family baying for their blood.
At a pit-stop, Chandru is coaxed into giving a lift to a stranger (Thambi Ramiah). He is one of those pricks you encounter sometimes on a travel.
Narrated in a style that smacks of maturity, Ramakrishnan gently ushers in characters and their stories, all the while keeping the audience  guessing.  There is Maya, a young woman holding a grudge against her mother, a singer.
Complementing the brilliant narration is the performance of the cast. New comer, Shabeer, who carries the story on his shoulders, gets into the skin of Chandru, a truck driver, with an admirable ease. His acting is subtle and believable. We are never told that he is the hero though. No duets, no forced item songs, no silly humour nor double entendres. Humour is delivered by Chokku, Chandru’s friend played by Bala Saravanan, who is a remarkable performer, fondly remembered for his role ‘Pannaiyarum Padminiyum.’
Thambi Ramiah’s character is a real surprise though.  Pia Bajpai, known for her bubbly roles is another surprise. As Maya, the angry and disturbed young woman desperate to know who her father is, Bajpai emotes well. It is a poignant moment, when she learns the truth about her mother’s past. Only a woman director could have handled this scene with grace. No sickening flashbacks mind you. Y.G. Mahendran delivers his character with great aplomb. Viji Chandrasekhar as Maya’s mother fits the role well. 
‘Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe’ takes many slices from people’s lives. Without being preachy, Ramakrishnan chides young lovers for their impulsive behavior asking them to focus on education first. And putting across the fact that parents only wish well for their children, she makes Chandru repent for trusting Kaleeswaran and ignoring his father.
Ramakrishnan plays a guest role and so does producer A.V. Anoop.
Madley Blues’ music is another strength for this film. Sabu Joseph’s camera work is splendid.
And if you are still curious about the title, I think it’s time you caught it on screen. Don’t forget to take the family along.
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