Nenokkadine - One of its kind!!!

Sukumar, as a director is widely known for his screwball romantic comedy approach. His one previous attempt at an action film (Jagadam) was a mega failure. This time around, he teams up with the hot and happening Mahesh Babu to make what looks like a regular action movie, if the trailer is the mirror of the film. But rest assured, the only worry that will linger on after watching the movie is whether it will be accepted by the mass masala potpourri hungry Telugu audience. Otherwise, this movie turns out to be the most "un-massy" psychological - action thriller ever to have kissed the Telugu silver screen.



The plot is an account of a famous Rockstar and how a horrific event in his past keeps haunting him time and again. In his quest to unveil the truth about his past he is supported by his journalist sweetheart (after a surprisingly whirlwind affair).

In what is undoubtedly his best effort till date, Sukumar has given his all. He sheds his typical style and adopts a much more lush and tense style. As a writer, he has scripted his best ever. He cleverly weaves in a plot for the ages. Such a calibrated and crafted screenplay is rarely found in Indian cinema and was extinct in Telugu cinema for ages. He has made a thriller of the best sorts and has shown some interesting psychological study and in the process has unfortunately taken a big risk in doing so. Giving a potboiler addicted audience, a movie that requires their full attention and their involvement of thought is very much akin, to taking a drug addict into rehab. It is thus, unfair to judge this movie by how it fares in the box office because in all probability, it may not. Also given the fact that the most negative comment to come about this movie is that of how "complicated" it is for the audience to stomach is also unjustified. By being so brave, Sukumar has rejuvenated hopes that there is room for brainy entertainment in Telugu cinema. Look at the way he never loses focus on the main plot and even weaves in the customary romantic angle as an essential part of the plot and you will find that behind all the farcical comedies and mushy romances that he had previously made, there is also a brimming talent for top notch writing which is curtailed only by the lack of appreciation for the same. However, the slight pitfall to be encountered is in the form of a very lengthy run time. Frankly, for a thriller of this substance, 170 minutes is a tad bit long. Kudos to Sukumar for his dedication to making the best of his source material.

The central performance by Mahesh Babu is one of his most controlled performance ever (second only to Athadu and Nijam one may say). Notice the trend of psychological thrillers in India and you will find only crazed and neurotic central characters who invariably kill or get killed in the end and even talk to ghosts
. But here, we see an emotionally stressed man who implodes rather than explode. His talent for restraint has kept him in the top league for so many years and his streak continues. Never deviating into the routine "punch line" ridden areas, Mahesh Babu still reaffirms with his exuberant body language what a smart performer he is. Kriti Sanon is lucky to have landed into this meaty a role in her debut. In a considerably meaty role, she is very decent for a debutante. The most surprising performance is that of Posani Krishnamurali who gets his most "intelligent" role ever and that of Gautam Ghattamaneni (Mahesh Junior) who is great as a younger version of his real life dad. The rest of the cast including Kelly Dorjee, Nasser and Pradeep Rawat is apt.

Coming to the best parts of this movie apart from the screenplay, we have 3 mega successes here. The Cinematography, the score and the action. R Ratnavelu has canned some of his best ever visuals in this film. There are about 3 -4 chase sequences in the film and all have been shot with a bionic eye. Special mention to the initial chase sequence where the hero rides his bike in the tunnel and a square strip of light reflected on the tunnel walls precedes him and the lush camerawork in Goa and Belfast. Devi Sri Prasad gives his usual in terms of music but has given his best background score yet. Frequent usage of the violin to denote tense sequences is a touch of Ilaiyaraja-esque brilliance and the BGM that plays in the title cards and in the final sequences of the film are sure to raise a few goose pimples. Coming to the action sequences, they are about the most slick action sequences to be shot in Indian cinema. Peter Hein raises the bar and puts a "Bourne" style parkour chase in the middle which is just so exhilarating. Apart from this, we can say that the cars crashed and the glasses broken in the film have been given their apt justice.

To sum this all up, watch Nenokkadine. If not for its Hollywood style treatment, its taut and neat script, its impressive visuals, scintillating, powerhouse performances and deft direction, at least because this movie is about the most high standard, most brainy and most "un-telugu" Telugu movie that you have ever seen and maybe will ever see too (hope the latter is just a whim). Nenokkadine is a neat thriller and a surprisingly taut psychological drama that would be too horrific to miss.

Rating - 4 on 5