Koodal Nagar Review

By: Settu Shankar
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Koodal Nagar is yet another Bharath movie with a Madurai backdrop. But it is a paler version of the previous two, or in other words it is looks like a sequel to movies like Kaadhal and Veyyil that were big hits. But what makes Koodal Nagar worth a look is its treatment and presentation that Director Cheenu Ramasamy has been able to give it along with a stellar performance by Bharat that melts one's heart.

The storyline follows the beaten track, except that you have Bharath in a dual role. To make it more sentimental, and create an impact with the viewers, the director chooses to tell the story of identical twins. The story is set in Thirumangalam, a suburb of Madurai. Suryan (Bharat) the elder of the two, is soft spoken and a good guy who works at a local lending library. Chandran, (Bharat) the younger one, is fearless, fun loving and works as a mortuary assistant at the local government hospital. Suryan falls in love with Bhavana, daughter of Namasivayam ( Mahadevan) the local political Dada and MLA .Chandran is working as a part- time worker under Namasivayam. He falls in love with a local girl Sandhya and decided to marry her. When Namasivayam comes to know about this love affair, he decides to kill Suryan. But accidentally his men attack Chandran, but he escapes from their clutches. But soon, Suryan is killed and of course, there is redemption in the form of the younger brother Chandran who uses tact and cunningness to set the wrong right, after a bloody climax. The film moves at slow pace in the first half as there are too many scenes drag on needlessly, and the drab songs test the patience of the viewer. But in the second half the tempo rises, especially in the last 20 minutes of the film.

Bharath has done justice to both the roles he has played. His boy-from-the- next door image helps viewers watch the movie patiently. He has performed both roles ably and with ease; his body language and dialogue delivery are in particular, commendable. But the director should have tried something new to bring out the difference between the twins.

Among the heroines, both Sandhya and Bhavana are equally good but the former has an edge. Bhavana has dressed and behaved just like she did in Veyil, and has given similar expressions throughout the film. The end of Bhavana's character shocks the viewers.

The others in the cast like Mahadevan, Indhu, Illavarasu and others have all acted well. Prabhu's camera work is pleasing to the eyes, and songs by Sabesh Murali are okay.

A neat presentation!

Credits:

Banner- Annamalai Movies
Cast- Bharath, Sandhya, Bhavana, Mahadevan, Indhu, Illavarasu
Music- Sabesh Murali
Camera- M.S. Prabhu
Story, Screenplay, Dialogue and Direction- Cheenu Ramasamy
Genre: love

Verdict: Watchable