Noodles review: An emotional thriller about power and common people

Actor Madhan Dhakshinamoorthy turns director with this gripping emotional thriller that revolves around a simple incident involving a couple and two cops.

Noodles starts on a slow note but soon turns into a gripping drama as a confrontation erupts between an arrogant cop drunk on power and a husband determined to protect his wife and daughter.

It is a neatly made film that clearly strikes a chord with the audience as it shows how cops consider themselves to be the masters of the public and expect to be treated that way.

Synopsis

Saravanan (Harish Uthaman) and his wife Shakthi (Sheela Rajkumar) lead a happy, content life with their young daughter Priyu (Aazhiya) in a residential complex.

The couple are good friends with all their neighbours. In fact, all the families living in the residential complex have a get-together on Saturdays on the terrace where they play Anthakshari.

One such night, as the residents are having fun by singing songs, the relative of a senior cop residing nearby calls up the police station and instructs them to get the crowd on the terrace cleared.

The instruction is passed on to Elango (Madhan Dhakshinamoorthy), the inspector of the area police station who is on rounds along with his subordinates.

Already drunk on power, Elango is of the opinion that the public has started developing a spine and is not showing the respect the cops deserve.

So, when he gets information about the din being caused by residents, he sends a constable to clear the crowd. However, the constable talks in an arrogant tone and in a disrespectful manner to the women, forcing Saravanan to respond.

Elango, hearing the residents protesting, arrives at the scene and tries to throw his weight. But Saravanan does not back down. Eventually, Elango has to leave but not before his fragile ego gets bruised.

Seething with rage and seeking vengeance, he leaves the place that night. What happens next is what Noodles is all about.

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Performances

Madhan Dhakshinamoorthy, who played several characters with negative shades, shows a completely new skill in this movie.

He not only plays to perfection the role of the antagonist Elango but also delivers a fine film that has you on tenterhooks for the most part.

Don’t let the film’s slow start fool you into thinking that this is just another run-of-the-mill kind. The second half is the better of the two halves and keeps you both engaged and entertained.

Harish Uthaman and Sheela Rajkumar deliver fine performances.

But it is a relatively unknown actor who actually steals the show. Vasanth Marimuthu, who plays the character of a lawyer named Thiru, takes Noodles to another level altogether with his brilliant acting.

Until the lawyer arrives on the scene, the movie is just an intense action thriller. As soon as he arrives, it also turns into a comedy.

Robert Sargunam’s music and Vinoth Raja’s visuals are both big strengths of the film which pleasantly surprises you with its stinging content.

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Final verdict

In short, Noodles might not have big names in it but it certainly has content that will not disappoint you!

(Views expressed here are personal.)