Naandhi - Section 211

 

Naandhi

Telugu, 2021

Directed by Vijay Kanakamedala

Stars Allari Naresh, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Harish Uthaman, Srikanth Iyengar

Mohan's Measure ⭐⭐

 

At one time or another, almost all children in Western society wished to be policemen.  Although our parents' notions usually steered backed towards computers and medicine,  for a time the thought of being a hero by bringing down the bad guys inspired our imagination.

But, who would believe that in India, the police are often the bad guys? Much along the lines of Visaranai, Allari Naresh's character Surya becomes falsely accused of murder based solely on being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  The audience, along with him, soon becomes the victim of brutal torture and verbal abuse, all in an effort to make him confess.

 

Mr. Naresh is truly impressive in a rare, seriously dark role as the victim to the injustice, and he carries this movie to a level where its own failings are ignored.

 

But, weaknesses there are aplenty.  Most especially, Mr. Iyengar as the conniving defense lawyer whose knowledge of the law seems sadly out of place, coming across more as comedy than drama, particularly the type of drama to be presented in a thriller.  And, while Ms. Varalaxmi does better, there is a plasticity in her acting style that doesn't do much to improve the process.

 

But, therein lies the issue with Telugu movies; the producers seem to think novel ideas take precedent over substance.  While there may not be process to the justice system. We can only hope, however, directors will recognize there is in movie-making.