Nenjil Or Alayam-The greatest Movie in Tamil !!!!

Every time I see this movie I get stumped by legendary work of Sridhar and his team.Can you believe I have seen this movie for nearly 15 times and I knew still its left in me to have a experience. I would unarguably and definitely say this is the best ever movie made in our part of the world.Nenjil or Alayam starring Kalyan kumar as Dr Murali ,Devika as Seetha and Muthuraman as Venu.

Every body knows the story .How Dr.Murali saves the life of his old lover seetha’s husband life from cancer.But Nenjil or Alayam is known for it Music,Camera ,screen play and sets.There is only two shots which is shot in the out door rest of it were completely shot indoor.Fifty years ago a movie is made in 23 days.! Movie uses innovative camera angles and visual effects to portray the emotions and scenes which still being wondered by modern day camera men. can we believe it.Thats Nenjil or alayam!

Nenjil or Alayam is Casablanca of Tamil Cinema. I can say with full heart. Some body must be thinking I have gone nuts writing so elaborately about this movie, but it deserves the celebration after these much years also. When I was discussing with my Dad about his experience about this movie he said he waited for two years to watch this movie. He also said a remarkable comment which I was surprised to hear “Sridhar was the director who changed the drama style to cinema style in Tamil movie”. Remember Nenjam marapathillai,Ethirparathathu,Kadhalikka neramillai.How its possible to make a very versatile movie in the period when the whole industry is making in a style .That has the been the radical rethinking of Sridhar.

There is one particular scene in Nenjil or Alayam when Kalyan kumar cries by seeing Devikas old photo.All of a sudden Muturaman enters his room searching for some books.Muthuraman takes the book where Kalyan kumar hides the photograph of Devika .Kalyankumar is left confused and he looks with distress. When Muthuraman enters his room Devika inturrputs him with coffee and Muthuraman takes the coffee and gives the book to her,Casually while going through the book she finds the photo in the book.She gets shocked and just tilts the book when the photo falls near the foot of Muthuraman.

Now the brilliance remains here! Muthuraman’s sight of reach is restricted when the Cup is placed in the saucer,its hidden behind the cup when he drinks the coffee he is left without seeing.The scene ends like when both moves away Kalyan kumar clears the photo. This is the one particular scene where the camera is handled in such a brilliance which stuns even now. Cameraman Vincent had been Sridhar’s asset in all of his movie. The positions his camera moves across in the song sonnathu neethana is truly disturbing and says lots more along with the song.For example the lines “Ennoru kaigalile Naann naan naaana “ .when devika utters these words Muthuramans image is shown in the mirror from distance which means the illusion or a false impression about the whole from her point of view.Nenjil or alayam takes the emotions for a ride .I have not read or heard about this but what I inferred is the difference in pronouncing a name .Seetha name of Devika is spelt from heart by Dr.Venu sounding “Sethaaaah” showing his sediments of his past love.. Same way Muthuraman her husband pronounces as Sita with shear love. There should have been a protocol laid to pronounce as such.I believe strongly.

Okay the point now is not to speak on the technicals ,I believe this is one movie which can be remade with good actors and if handled by good director .I still feel this movie has lot left in it to say for the modern day cinema. I didn’t have a definite characterization but strongly feel this would be a definite masterpiece if remade also if the chords are set precisely.Sridhar is truly the genuine showman of Tamil cinema.