I still remember watching Pink in the theatre. The film left an indelible mark on my sub-conscious with its near-perfect script, dialogues and of course, not least, the inimitable Amitabh Bachchan. Over the years, it’s a film that I’ve revisited several times and each viewing only increased my awe of it. So, when it was announced that it would be remade in Tamil, my only concern was if it would uphold the dignity of the original. Nerkonda Paarvai does that perfectly.
The film narrates the tale of three independent working women Meera (Shraddha Srinath), Famita (Abhirami Venkatachalam) and Andrea (Andrea), all of whom are implicated in a case of attempting to murder a politician’s nephew. The girls are accused of having “objectionable character” and are sucked into the vortex of the case. Do they stand a chance of getting justice? That’s where former lawyer Bharath Subramanium (Ajith) enters the frame.
When Ajith was announced as the lead, there were mixed reactions—this wasn’t an ideal film for a superstar with such a huge fan following. H Vinoth, the director and scriptwriter of the film, extracts a great performance from Ajith, who is effortlessly sharp and precise.
Vinoth has made small tweaks to the film without touching the core of the script. There’s a pre-interval sequence which is a smart add-on that helps elevate the mood of Ajith’s fans without proving to be a roadblock to the story. There’s also a flashback that’s short and proves to be pivotal to the storyline. These tweaks aside, the film is an exact remake of Pink, yet gets the desired impact through some wonderfully crafted dialogues.
Ajith’s screen presence adds weight to the film but where his character stands out is in the superlative use of his rich baritone. In Pink, Bachchan was at his best with his signature baritone and the remake obviously needed an actor with a firm intonation, to ensure that the dialogues remain etched in our minds. That’s precisely what Ajith does and it wouldn’t be wrong to say that no film has used Ajith’s voice like Nerkonda Paarvai.
The plot revolves around the trio of girls; they have a fair chunk of the screentime, especially during the first half where Ajith barely makes a presence. Vinoth hasn’t been affected by the presence of a superstar and has strictly gone by the script. Arjun Chidambaram as the main antagonist is spot on, as are the artists playing his friends.
Apart from the performances, Yuvan Shankar Raja’s background score is another worthy addition to the film as it subtly manages to capture the distinct moods of the film. The songs are well-composed but it’s the BGMs that really stand out. Nirav Shah’s cinematography is aesthetic and complements the plot well. Vinoth’s Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru was a critically acclaimed thriller with attention to detail and that quality is visible here too. Clearly, he’s a man who is destined for bigger things.
Nerkonda Paarvai is an inch-perfect remake that’s moulded splendidly to cater to the sensibilities of the Tamil audience. The film uses the actor in Ajith completely, apart from exploiting his star appeal.
The theme is hugely relevant in the times we live in and the film serves a much needed lesson about consent and the choices of women.
