Natchathiram Nagargiradhu - A film I can't stop watching

I recently watched Natchathiram Nagargiradhu. It is a wonderfully woven film by director Pa. Ranjith. The kind of film that turns a new leaf in 21st-century Tamil filmmaking. I could say without any doubt it is simply the best Tamil movie of the year. Pa. Ranjith's films always portray strong female characters. This film's "Rene” character is yet another wonderful addition to the list. It is a film with so many layers and subtle nuances providing deeper perspectives on the topics of love, art, politics, gender, sexuality and tradition. Let's look at a few scenes from the film to give you a taste of what's in store in the film.

Typical male psychology is perfectly captured by the two male protagonist's performances in the film. For example, let's take the following scene. In this scene, Iniyan starts to proudly brag about his first kiss with his ex, and then his face changes when Rene says she had previous relationships too. He doesn't want to believe it; keeps asking her whether it is true. Then he asks her about her past sexual history and he is completely upset when he gets to know she had slept with someone even though he had slept with other girls before.

This is something I have been continuously telling my friends, "If you are concerned about the past relationships or sexual experience of your partner, it just shows that you have deep insecurities about yourself or you have a very fragile ego. Don't blame and shame them for your issues.

Throughout the film, there were strong Buddhist references. For example, in the shot where Rene gives Arjun another chance for redemption, she is seated very similar to Green Tara (the female Buddha in Mahayana Buddhism).

Again in the following scene where Rene leads Arjun out. The picturization hints that she is opening a new door and walking him out from darkness into light. There is a Buddha painting on the entrance door too, hinting he is walking out as an enlighted man.

Rene leading the men in her life towards the light from darkness is a recurrent theme in the film. This is beautifully portrayed in the following scene as well, where she leads Iniyan upstairs from darkness into light.

I would love to have a daughter like Rene 😍💖

She is just perfect 😍

Why would someone use verses of love poems from Tamil Sangam literature written two millenniums ago in a movie that discusses the issues of contemporary love? That question is the key to understanding this scene which tries to convey a deep underlying fact. The director hints that despite all the complexities of modern love, the emotions involved in love remain the same regardless of time. What a filmmaker Pa. Ranjith is. Take a bow man. Such a poetic scene.

யாரினும் இனியன் பேரன்பினனே (குறுந்தொகை 85)

சாதல் அஞ்சேன்; அஞ்சுவல், சாவின்

பிறப்புப் பிறிது ஆகுவது ஆயின், 

மறக்குவேன் கொல், என் காதலன் எனவே. (நற்றிணை 397)

பொருள் -

தலைவன் மிகவும் இனிமையானவன். அவன் உன்மீது மிகுந்த அன்புடையவன். இறப்புக்கு அஞ்சேன்; இறந்து போனால் நேரும் மறுபிறப்பில் என் காதலனை மறந்துவிட நேருமோ என்றே அஞ்சுகிறேன்.

Rene !! Rene !! Rene !!