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Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam Movie Review: I’m kinda liking how Dhanush is choosing his projects as a director - they’re just as interesting as the films he selects as an actor. Not saying they’re all exemplary, but there’s a persistent effort on his part to ensure each film is different from the last. If his directorial debut Pa Paandi explored mature romance and his second film, Raayan, delved into a violent revenge saga with a family angle, Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam (NEEK) sees him venturing into frothy young romcoms. And while, like its protagonists, the film has its flaws, it still comes across as a charming, colourful entertainer with enjoyable performances from most of its young cast - particularly Pavish Narayan (who turns out to be Dhanush’s nephew) and Malayalam star Mathew Thomas. Mathew Thomas Gets a Kiss From a Male Fan, While a Young Girl Goes Down on One Knee With Flowers During ‘Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam’ Promotions (Watch Viral Videos).
Prabhu (Pavish) and Preethi (Priya Prakash Varrier) are set up by their parents in an arranged marriage alliance. As they get to know each other, Preethi realises Prabhu hasn’t moved on from his first love when he receives the wedding invitation of his ex, Nila (Anikha Surendran). At Preethi’s insistence, he recounts his love story - how it began, how it flourished despite her father’s (R Sarathkumar) resistance, and how he ultimately had to make a painful sacrifice when he stumbled upon a secret.
Watch the Trailer of 'Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam':
Preethi tells Prabhu that if he truly wants to move on, he must attend Nila’s wedding to see if he still harbours feelings for her. So off he goes to Goa, accompanied by his perpetually single best friend Rajesh (Mathew Thomas), to attend the extravagant wedding of his ex.
'Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam' Movie Review - Comedy Outshines Romance
From the outset, Dhanush - who also wrote the screenplay - makes it clear that Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam is meant to be a light-hearted, breezy entertainer, allowing the young leads to shine with their comic timing. This approach proves to be the film’s saving grace, as the romance, despite its centrality, takes a backseat to the bromance and humour. The first half establishes the love track between Prabhu and Nila on a fun note, with a gender-swapped take on the old adage that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.
However, the film doesn’t give the couple enough room to fully develop their chemistry, making some of their scenes together feel lacklustre. In fact, I found Pavish’s chemistry with Priya Varrier in their initial scenes, and later with Ramya Ranganathan (who plays Anjali, the wedding planner), more compelling. This is a significant miss for a film whose emotional core relies on this central love story.
Interestingly, Pavish’s best chemistry is reserved for Mathew Thomas. There’s a scene where Anjali asks Prabhu who he would choose - Nila or Rajesh - and he instantly replies, 'Rajesh.' This dynamic is firmly established, with the film’s most appealing moments stemming from their scenes together and their impeccable comic timing.
The love story isn’t just hampered by chemistry issues - at times, the film feels like it’s being directed by a 40-year-old trying to capture the essence of 20-somethings navigating love. Dhanush aims to create a rom-com that’s frivolous and less heartfelt than the ones he used to act in or those made by his predecessors. He tries to reflect what he perceives as the fickle nature of modern relationships, with characters shown drinking and clubbing without a care. Yet, there are moments where his old-school sensibilities seep into the romance, like the couple debating who’s better - Ilaiyaraja or AR Rahman - or the idea of getting married before even going on proper dates (especially considering they haven’t graduated yet). Even their dates happen with their parents’ approval.
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