Movie: Natchatra Kadhal

Director: Nayakam
Cast: Ajay, Bhavana, Subhalakshmi, Ashok Rao, Pathy, Jayaraman

The intention seems to be to make a film that is different from the run-of-the-mill Tamil films. And also not to go too far away from the usual formula! In this dilemma, what results is a mess. A film that neither satisfies one aesthetically nor entertains! Further, the director seems to be a bit confused as to which language his characters should speak, Tamil or English. So he lets them speak both. For example, a character speaks in Tamil and promptly translates the same into English. And vice versa. Naturally, it all looks a bit superficial, and the actors too look confused. The language issue settled, the director moves on with his story.

It is about a wealthy girl Malini (Bhavana) who loves the car-mechanic Shekhar (Ajay), an orphan. The girl's parents come from abroad to finalise her marriage. The father, though fond of Shekhar, desires a son-in-law whose antecedents are known, and more importantly whose horoscope matches his daughter's. Shekhar doesn't fit the bill, and Mumbai boy Ashok does. The girl bows to her father's wish, but goes on a weekend trip to Bangalore with Shekhar to have a 'nice time'. They book a room in a hotel and just when everything is set, the director suddenly seems to remember that he would be dealing with an Indian audience. So, when Shekhar enters the room in anticipation, Malini, to the shock of Shekhar and the audience, talks about purity of love saying, "My body will be with Ashok, but my heart will be with you." 

But an infuriated Shekhar refuses to settle for anything less - till he gets a tight slap and push from the girl. The duo returns home and Malini gets married to Ashok, who seems to be suffering from AIDS. It is Shekhar who comes to take care of Ashok at the hospital, with the earlier rejection forgotten. The director for some unexplained reason makes him wear a doctor's coat now and then. There is some half-hearted attempt to talk about AIDS. A suffering Ashok pleads with the doctor to end his life. A lecture on euthanasia from the doctor follows. Finally, a frustrated Ashok pulls out the life-saving device himself. Malini's father gives a lecture on superstition, horoscope, etc. 'I want to confess something,' he begins. But the director never allows him to tell what he wanted. The final scene has Malini and Shekhar quite happy in each other's company.

Ajay who had played a psychotic villain in 'Ooty' plays Shekhar and gives a good account of his talent. The rest are quite confused, trying to understand what's going on.