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What a disappointment! NGK (which is the initials for the protagonist's name, Nanda Gopala Kumaran) marks the return of famed director Selvaraghavan to the big screen after a gap of six years. The film-maker, also actor Dhanush's elder brother, is known for his poignant human dramas, like Kadhal Konden and Mayakkam Enna, or ambitious attempts like Aayirathil Oruvan or Irandam Ulagam. Having worked with Karthi in Aayirathil Oruvan, Selvaraghavan gets the opportunity to work with his elder brother, Suriya, in NGK. Alas! The movie turns out to be a disappointment in both Selvaraghavan and Suriya's careers. NGK Movie Review: Suriya Tries Too Hard but Can’t Stop Selvaraghavan’s Political Drama From Stumbling!
NGK relies too much on Suriya's star-image to help it sail through a messy script and enough contrivances. The superstar does his best, but there is little he can do when the material is this boring. Both the female leads, Rakul Preet and Sai Pallavi, are stuck in problematic characters. In the end, NGK doesn't have the Selvaraghavan stamp at all. As for being a political drama, based on current times, NGK offers you nothing that you haven't known before. Even in the genre of political dramas, we have seen so many better movies in Tamil cinema.
In this special feature, we list our pick of five political films that you can watch instead of NGK (though, it is entirely upto you!)
Iruvar
It's a pity that one of Mani Ratnam's best films didn't work at the box office. Iruvar is reportedly inspired by the lives of late MGR. M Karunanidhi and Jayalalitha (which also created quite a backlash for the film by their followers). The move is an incredible piece of cinema, focussing through the journey of a man, who exchanges his cinematic aspirations for political ambitions. Iruvar has terrific performances from Mohanlal and Prakash Raj (winning a National Award here), while marks the debut of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in cinema.
Mudhalvan
The success of this Shankar movie is such that many political films that came after it, including NGK, attempts to use its formula. And fails. Mudhalvan may not be a masterpiece, but it makes for a highly entertaining cinema with powerful scenes. The plot of how an ordinary man becomes a Chief Minister for a day and brings a radical change that awed every one, has enough moments of inspiration. The movie was later remade in Hindi as Nayak, starring Anil Kapoor and Rani Mukerji.
Aayitha Ezhuthu
Another Mani Ratnam movie on the list! The bilingual Aayitha Ezhuthu (In Hindi as Yuva, with an almost different cast) is what lovers of cinema call as portmanteau cinema. Three segments focussing on three youngsters with three different aspirations are linked by a fateful accident. What starts off as a gangster drama soon turns into a political fracas that calls for the youth to start a revolution in the system. Aayitha Ezhuthu has its problems but it feels relevant to the current times. It also features wonderful performances from Suriya, R Madhavan, Siddharth and Meera Jasmine.
KO
This KV Anand film stars Jiiva and Karthika Nair in the lead, with a scene-stealing turn from Ajmal Ameer. The movie displays how politicians manipulate the public through the media for their own gains, while teaching us that it is only the media who can expose everything wrong with the system. A fine thriller with enough twists and turns. Avoid the sequel, though!
Kodi
Selvaraghavan's brother, Dhanush plays the lead in this political drama that too in a double role. It is about how a young man takes up his slain brother's identity and enters into politics to carry out his vengeance on those who killed his sibling. Kodi is an engaging thriller that is elevated by the performances of Dhanush and Trisha Krishnan, the latter in a rare negative role.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 31, 2019 04:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
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