With an evocative and sweet title like Ninaithale Inikkum, one would have thought that the film would have a tangy flavour.
But, strangely the film dilutes the essence of its original Classmates, as it strictly does not follow the thread of a remake.
The director himself has said in interviews that he has changed the basic format of the original by 70 percent and given it a totally new look and feel.
That exactly is the problem with the film as the director GNR Kumaravel is not able to keep the suspense and twists in the narration.
Well, Kumaravel before the film starts makes it clear that his film is based on the story of James Albert from Classmates.
The film begins with an young man Shiva (Prithviraj) working in Mumbai, going back to home for a reunion with his old college mates. As the plane is about to land in Chennai he looks out of the window and reminiscences about his college days.
Folks, it is flashback time. Shiva used to study at the National Arts College and used to stay in the college hostel.
For him friendship was above everything in life and had good friends like Sakthi (Sakthi) and Balu. From scene one in college he is at loggerheads with the college bully and rich guy Vasu (Karthik Kumar), as he is jealous about Shiva's popularity.
Soon Meera (Priyamani), the arrogant daughter of the local MLA, after a few flare-ups with Shiva slowly falls in love with him, after he saves her from a police lathi-charge in college.
After the college union elections when Meera is forced to contest against Shiva due to the machinations of Vasu, things go awry.
The first half of the film is full of fun, breezy romance, and lighter moments like students bunking in the night for a film and ending up in the company of some transgenders, followed by an item number.
Vijay Antony's music is just ok, with Piya Piya.. being the only hummable number. Count Sreekar Prasad's crisp editing and Balasubramaniem's camera as the highlights of the film.
Prithviraj does a neat job, he is the pivot around which the film revolves. Shakthi is a revelation and is a natural in a role which is unusual due to the twist in the tale. Karthik Kumar gets a break from his American Maapillai roles as he is totally negative as Vasu and is impressive.
Priyamani hardly has a role in the film, it is the other girl (name not revealed by the filmmakers) who is Shakthi's pair who has the more meaty role.
Bhyagyaraj, Ilavarasu, Manobala have all small roles which they do justice. The film sparkles now and then but does not have a comedy track, which would have made the proceedings livelier.
The best thing of the film is that it is only 2 hours and 10 minutes, which itself is a welcome relief. After watching the film, the question one would like to ask the director is, why go for a remake of Classmates, which has too much Malayalam campus politics and nativity?
He could have gone for a non- complicated campus caper with more nostalgia and Tamil milieu, which would have worked wonders.
Verdict- Average
By : http://sify.com/movies/tamil/review.php?id=14908553&ctid=5&cid=2429
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