About human emotions

“Naangal”

– Movie Review

Rajkumar, an ‘educationalist’ (Abdul Rafe) lives with his three sons Karthik (Mithun V), Dhruv (Rithik Mohan) and Gautham (Nithin D) with their dog Kathy (Roxy) at an estate in Ooty. 

The absence of their mother Padma (Prarthana Srikaanth) is starkly visible. Rajkumar tightens grip on his boys that borderlines abuse and authoritative discipline, as dysfunctionality remains the only constant looming over their family. He also schools them in the most abusive and emotionally violent ways.

The happiness of the children lies in going to the movies, reading books, helping plantation workers, glancing at a girl in the library, sharing a candy with a kid on the bus or simply being themselves when their father is not around.

Their ‘downs’ are numerous. They do all the chores around the house and outside, buy provisions and vegetables, clean the house and toilets, and tend to their father whose presence looms large even when he is physically absent.

Debutant director Avinash Prakash’s Naangal, which has had festival run already, wonderfully explores this from the lens of an intimate portrayal with a slow burn take. It never spells out, but at the same time defines the thoughts it wants to linger on. 

With a cast of newcomers who blend completely into the film’s ambience, Naangal is an affecting portrait of a father who is convinced that he means well. He loves his three sons to the point of feeling no qualms about inflicting emotional wounds on them in his attempts to discipline them and prepare them for the challenges of life.

Abdul Rafe is terrific as the strict father and has brought the character to life. The sons played by Muthun V, Rithik Mohan and Nithin D are all impressive and have lived in their respective character. Each and every actor has understood their role and has delivered a top notch performance.

Ved Shanker Sugavanam stays true to the genre of the movie and is mighty impressive.  

Avinash Prakash’s camerawork has captured the different shades of the movie in an effective manner. Rest of the technical aspects of the movie are good as well. 

Rating: 3.8/5 

By Naveen