Nenjam Marappathillai

As much as the film works due to Selvaraghavan’s quirky vision, it equally belongs to SJ Suryah, who makes it unimaginably funny with his over-the-top performance that works quite well in the film’s favor. I’m not sure if the same kind of performance from any other actor would’ve had a similar impact on the film as much as Suryah left. Regina Cassandra, who recently impressed in Vishal starrer Chakra, is incredibly good as Mariam, a role that fits her like a glove. Nandita Swetha’s role is sidelined for the most part of the film but is effectively used towards the end.

It has been a long wait to see director Selvaraghavan’s Nenjam Marappathillai in theatres. The film was stuck in a limbo for about four years for a host of reasons, which were beyond the control of the director. So was the film worth the years’ anticipation, eagerness, and wait? For a cinephile, the answer is a resounding yes. Nenjam Marappathillai is an unusual film; it is also a Selvaraghavan film. It would be silly for us to buy a ticket for a Selvaraghavan film, expecting to see a straight-forward narration without surreal themes and metaphorical reality. I believe this director outgrew that phase in his artistic evolution when he made Aayirathil Oruvan over a decade ago.