Narthagi – Tamil Movie Review

When it comes down to any film from any regional language, especially the South Indian film industry, most of the directors take the role of ‘transgenders’ for evoking laughter.  But, with Tamil Cinema emerging into the changing phase, things are taking a different route now.  Thanks to the trendsetters for their different and commendable approach.  Before few weeks, we have Krish’s ‘Vaanam’ hitting screens in which he had the characterization of ‘Karpuram’.  Though, it was a minimal role, it had a colossal delineation.  Now, it’s director Vijaya Padma making a bold attempt with the film ‘Narthagi’.

The film as known earlier from the tagline revealed that it is all about a transsexual ones.  She has taken it up as a challenge of bringing out the reality in all aspects.  The story is so simple as it revolves around a boy, who suddenly starts feeling womanly.  Though, the film slightly reminiscences of Santhosh Sivan’s ‘Navarasa’ it brings an intellectual thought provoking subject – Difference between Gender and Sex.

There is nothing much to delineate the storyline as it is all about the boy starts feeling girly and how his looks are transformed into a woman during later point of ages.

The act of transformation from a boyish to the girly thing has been very well projected by Vijaya Padma and she manages to change the artist at the right point of time to add perfection.  Though, it has some sort of irrelevance, it doesn’t seem to be a blatant one.

The filmmaker has shown keen interest, over throwing lights into the social and cultural contexts as well.  One of such greatest highlights is why the transsexuals are often dragged into the business as sex-workers.  Vijaya Padma has done a wide-range research that becomes the nitty-gritty element of this subject.  All the actors Kalki, Swathi and Ashwin have done their parts with justice.  Ashwin has made a daring effort of choosing to make his appearance in such a film while most of the young lads want to be a ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ SRK and ‘Alaipayuthey’ Madhavan or ‘Sivaji’ Rajnikanth on their first films.

The day-to-day problems experienced by this cohort are very well depicted and at times wins our sympathy.  Thanks to G.V.  Prakash and Na.  Muthukumar for accepting this project.  They have worked in several mega-budget films and to take up such a project really needs boldness.  Especially, the background score by G.V.  Prakash enhances the visual aspects and keeps the audiences’ attention from getting scattered.

Mark our words! For such films like ‘Narthagi’ to become a blockbuster, it might take hundreds of decades.  If after that ages, if this kind of movies becomes the major success and then remember this! Vijaya Padma will have her name registered in the history of Tamil Cinema for pioneering with ‘Narthagi’.

Cast & Crew:

Production: Punnagai Poovae Geetha

Direction: G Vijaya Padma

Star-casts: Kalki, Swathi, Vivin, Girish Karnad and others

Music: G.V. Prakash

Verdict: An unusual film