Naachiyaar movie review: Bala treads a path that’s different from his signature style in Jyothika starrer

When you walk out of a Bala film, the words that usually come to mind or at least most used to describe his films are - hard-hitting, tragic, hopeless and dark. In case of his latest outing Naachiyaar, he treads a path that’s a welcome departure from his world and that’s a reason by itself that warrants a visit to the theatre, especially after a cringe-fest called Tharai Thappattai.

Naachiyaar is Bala’s lightest film - in tone - which robs us of the shock value that we usually associate with his work. The twist in the interval could be guessed halfway into the film. Nevertheless, you warm up to the film because of the characters - particularly Jyothika - in whom we see a female version of Suriya’s Singam. She warns a suspect not to be fooled by her skin colour and good looks. “I can slit your throat,” she announces with pride. Bala projects his hero via a heroine and he doesn’t disappoint; his move is convincing enough. Jyothika, oozing swag and badass attitude, is a revelation but her accent is offset.

The film shines the spotlight on the disparity between classes - the have-nots, those in power (here, it’s those in khaki) and those who control the first two classes. GV Prakash Kumar and debutante Ivana, both extremely good in their respective roles, play the victims and Bala gives us a glimpse of the system through their ignorant, innocent worldview. Prakash shines in a role - he plays Kaathavarayan, who sells fruits and does odd jobs for a livelihood - that’s unlike of what we have seen of him so far. Ivana is a great find and she does full justice to her character. The opening shot of the film - the camera pans across the garbage-filled marshland and stops at the tall structures on the other side - pretty much sums up the story of the film, which is elevated by maestro Illayaraja’s score.