'Naanum Rowdy Thaan' Review: This movie is a visual treat and high on comedy!

Film: Naanum Rowdy Thaan
Director: Vignesh Shivan
Cast: Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, RJ Balaji, Parthiepan
Rating: ***

What's it about: Young Pandi, who lives in Pondicherry, dreams of becoming a police officer like his mother (Radhikaa Sarathkumar). One day he meets a rowdy at the police station who changes his mind and Pandi decides to become a rowdy. While his mother tries her best to get into the police force, Pandi begins his life as a rowdy with his best friend (RJ Balaji) unknown to her. He then meets Kadambari (Nayanthara), who is deaf, and is besotted with her.

Kadambari loses her hearing at a young age when a rowdy Killivalavan  (Parthiepan) decides to take revenge on her cop father by sending a bomb to their house. Her mother dies in this bomb blast and the family leaves Pondicherry. After many years,​ Kadamabari returns to Pondicherry ​with her dad only to discover that Killivalavan is thriving in the area. Her dad ventures out to kill him. Meanwhile, Pandi tries his best to impress Kadambari and win her over. What happens to Kadambari’s dad? How does Pandi win over Kadambari? Does Killivalavan pay for killing Kadambari’s mother?

What’s hot: The movie keeps you in splits for the most part thanks to Vijay Sethupathi and RJ Balaji. While Pandi tries to be heroic, he’s also comical in his reactions. Vijay Sethupathi is a versatile actor and has carried off the role of an aspiring rowdy really well. However, he seems a little too mature for this role. RJ Balaji has got his comic timing perfect and it’s refreshing to see him be more than just a comic prop. Nayanthara essays the role of a deaf girl who is strong, yet quirky in such a wonderful way that you feel for her and yet laugh at her. One must also commend her on her own dubbing as it was flawless. Wonder why she hasn’t dubbed for her films all these years. This is director Vignesh Shivan’s second film and he seems to have spent a lot of time on the script which is evident on screen. It’s not only the characters of Pandi and Kadambari that are well-etched, but even the smaller roles evoke a laugh and entertain you. Anirudh’s songs and BGM are a major plus for the movie as is George Williams' cinematography. The movie is technically ‘pretty as a picture’ and the visuals and music add to the movie experience too.

What’s not: Though there are laughs in the first half of the film, it is a little slow. The first half could have been better scripted and edited as well as the second half has been. Some of the characters who are there in the film to add comical value seem to just appear for a few scenes - so were they really necessary? 

What to do: This movie is a must-watch for the novel treatment of an age-old storyline. Naanum Rowdy Thaan is a good fun ride!