Nadikar movie review: An in-form Tovino Thomas prevents this festival of misfires from crashing | Movie-review News

Nadikar opens with a homage to outdated Malayalam movies, presenting the opening credit as playing cards harking back to the previous. It then cuts to an archived interview of (late) Prem Nazir, one of many business’s first superstars, discussing the challenges of turning into a revered actor, emphasising that “stardom isn’t a mattress of roses,” setting the stage for the movie’s themes. In a couple of subsequent pictures, the movie depicts the speedy rise of David to stardom, together with his movies having fun with consecutive successes. Nonetheless, because the narrative shifts to the current day, David’s extravagant and careless way of life takes priority, highlighting “booze, dance, occasion and play” as his important pursuits, whereas references to his cinema profession are solely heard by his supervisor Paily’s (Suresh Krishna) cellphone calls with others, clearly indicating David’s priorities. After going through a string of flops, he’s not a bankable actor and David is in no temper to uplift his drowning profession both, although involved about it at occasions. In an effort to revive his profession, Paily secures him the lead function in ace filmmaker Koshy’s (Ranjith) new undertaking, which David promptly loses as a result of his conceitedness. Nadikar additionally subtly suggests David’s psychological struggles by initially unexplained flashbacks to his childhood traumas, highlighting that he’s lonely on the high. By way of his confidante Lenin (Balu Varghese), David realises his declining standing as an actor and reluctantly agrees to hunt steering from an appearing coach, Bala. Regardless of his preliminary resistance to relinquishing his celebrity persona, David finally confronts the fact of his downward trajectory. The rest of the movie explores whether or not he can overcome his consolation zone and rediscover his footing within the business.

Regardless of its promising premise for a gripping drama, Nadikar fails to make a long-lasting impression from the outset itself as a result of lacklustre writing. Many probably impactful moments, akin to David’s dramatic exit from Koshy’s set, his interactions together with his ex-girlfriend, actor Anna Bava (Bhavana), his profitable depiction of a personality in a youngsters’s play arrange by Bala and even the climax efficiency, are wasted as a result of Suvin S Somasekharan’s weak writing, visibly evident within the weakly dialogues. Whereas the script fails to totally capitalise on these evidently highly effective cases, even the supposed comedic moments fall flat, eliciting little laughter past a couple of one-liners which too, after a degree, comes throughout as compelled. As soon as carried out watching the film, one would possibly really feel that Nadikar had only some key plot factors or moments and the remainder of the scenes had been rapidly added with out cautious thought or refinement, solely to attach these cases. Consequently, the general movie lacks coherence.

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Moreover the glitter and flashiness on display screen, enhanced by Tovino’s placing look and skilful portrayal of David’s feelings, Nadikar appears like a fowl craving to take flight however unable to take action and as a substitute, it aimlessly walks round, flapping its wings within the hope of magically hovering to nice heights.

Whereas Jean’s scene choreography and picturesque settings are commendable, it appears that evidently the director prioritised solely visible attraction over a compelling narrative and thus, the movie falls right into a pit of boredom quickly. At any time when anticipation builds for one thing impactful or gripping to unfold, Nadikar merely brushes previous these moments with out totally realising their potential. As an example, the dialog between David and his fan (Chandu Salim Kumar), the place the star shares his childhood trauma of abandonment by his mom, and the climactic efficiency the place the actor faucets into these feelings for a strong portrayal, are each mishandled — one underused and the opposite overused, respectively — highlighting the movie’s shortcomings.

Jean Paul Lal’s Nadikar revolves round a celebrity who has forsaken his appearing roots, embracing a way of life targeted solely on “booze, dance, occasion and play.” (Picture: Tovino Thomas/Fb)

Although Nadikar introduces a big selection of characters, solely David receives any semblance of justice, largely as a result of his omnipresence all through the movie. Whereas Bala is fairly crafted, Soubin fails to delve into the character’s depth, lacking yet one more alternative. Regardless of the frequent appearances of Lenin, Paily and Anna, these characters lack substance past the floor degree. Bhavana’s character, specifically, is frustratingly shallow, and her absence would have made little to no distinction to the narrative, regardless of the movie’s makes an attempt to painting David’s affection and concern for her, as showcased by a scene harking back to the motivational cellphone dialog between Maathan (Tovino) and Appu (Aishwarya Lekshmi) in Mayaanadhi (2017).

Regardless of it’s many, many shortcomings, the issue that retains one glued to the display screen is the presence of Tovino as he effortlessly embodies the function with immense power and aptitude. He skillfully navigates between swagger, appeal, emotional turmoil and duty as and when crucial, offering David Padikkal with a stable core that the narrative failed to offer. Soubin additionally shines intermittently, solely as a result of his appearing prowess. Nonetheless, different actors like Bhavana, Balu and Suresh Krishna, whereas competent, are restricted by poorly developed roles.

Aside from Tovino, cinematographer Alby and manufacturing designer Prasanth Madhav deserve credit score for sustaining Nadikar by their distinctive work of their respective fields. With out their contributions, the movie would probably have faltered quickly after its inception. Whereas Yakzan Gary Pereira and Neha Nair’s music partly complement the aforementioned technicians’ efforts, it falls in need of their earlier works akin to Iyobinte Pusthakam (2014), Driving License (2019), Halal Love Story (2020), Love (2021) and 1001 Nunakal (2023). RG Wayanadan’s make-up and Ekta Bhatted’s costume design additionally deserve recognition for his or her contributions to the movie’s visible attraction.

Nadikar film solid: Tovino Thomas, Bhavana, Soubin Shahir, Balu Varghese, Suresh Krishna
Nadikar film director: Jean Paul Lal (Lal Jr)
Nadikar film ranking: 2 stars