Nirangal Moondru review: This Atharvaa-starrer suffers from bland narration

Director Karthick Naren’s last two films were direct-to-OTT projects. With Nirangal Moondru, he got a theatrical release after a four-year hiatus.

The movie piqued the curiosity of cinephiles ever since its promo videos were released. Rahman joining hands with the filmmaker after the latter’s debut vehicle Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru (2016) was considered as one of the reasons behind the film’s hype.

Sarath Kumar playing a key role was another factor to look forward to in this thriller flick starring Atharvaa in the lead.

Synopsis

A youngster in his late teens becomes anxious when he discovers that his girlfriend has gone missing under mysterious circumstances. He suspects a gang’s involvement in her disappearance and sets out to find her with the help of two friends.

Parallel to this plotline, the audience is introduced to various other characters— an aspiring filmmaker in town who is desperately waiting for a break, a corrupt cop who lands in a soup after he ruffles feathers with a state minister and a reputed teacher who displays signs of discomfort owing to a personal reason.

Interestingly, all these characters are connected in this hyperlink film that has a taut premise marred by an incohesive screenplay.

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Highlights and drawbacks

Nirangal Moondru takes no time to establish its plot and characters while the filmmaker allows suspense to build organically. The narration is in such a way that the red herrings prepare us for explosive revelations.

We are allowed to assume that the series of mysterious incidents that unravel are just the tip of the iceberg. The arresting background score aids the film’s enigmatic mood. A couple of twists work to a decent extent, leaving the audience glued to their seats.

The intriguingly staged sequence that appears towards the interval is an example of what Karthick Naren could pull off with his talent.

However, the filmmaker takes his own sweet time to build the prime conflict, testing the patience sporadically. The scenes that showcase the protagonist undergoing hallucinations evoke a lukewarm response.

It is not only detrimental to the flow of events but also hinders the plot from offering exciting moments. Some of the episodes in the latter half make more sense and offer respite in terms of emotional connection, but the glaring inconsistency in handling the plot is evident.

Performance

Atharvaa is apt in the role of an ambitious filmmaker who is at a crossroads, owing to personal reasons. However, the character should have been fleshed out more for the audience to connect to his woes on a personal level.

Moreover, the conflicts he experiences offer no novelty. Rahman’s role as a teacher and an irresponsible father who regrets indulging in a grave mistake is a welcome departure from his recent cop characters.

Sarath Kumar excels as an unstable cop who keeps the audience engaged with his measured performance. The film would have suffered much if not for his enjoyable presence in the latter half.

Dushyanth and Ammu Abirami fit in their respective characters’ shoes.

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Final Take

Nirangal Moondru isn’t the film one expects from Karthick Naren who made a stellar debut in 2016.

Movie lovers are likely to be disappointed if they anticipate another Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru from the filmmaker.

With the non-linear narration he resorted to in this thriller flick, he could have created wonders had he focused more on the screenplay and conflicts of each character.

While the slow pace and lack of engaging conflicts in the first half are likely to put you off, the latter half has a few satisfying episodes that would entertain you.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)