Banner: AGS Entertainment
Cast: Narayan, Adith, Vimal, Sharan Sharma, Reshmi Menon
Direction: K V Guhan
Production: Prakash Raj
Prakashraj’s penchant for meaningful movies is known to everyone. His production ventures never failed to entertain and appease the film- loving audience. After a handful of such films like ‘Mozhi’, ‘Vellithirai’ and ‘Abhiyum Nanum’, he has come out with ‘Inidhi Inidhu’, a remake of Telugu hit ‘Happy Days’, which speaks about love, friendship, fun, hatred and jealousy in a college campus, in a realistic manner.
A feel-good film, this Tamil version by cinematographer-turned- director Guhan is breezy and takes one to the college campus. Though a host of films set in college life is there in Tamil cinema, what works wonders for ‘Inidhi Inidhu’ is its fresh casting, catchy visuals and simple and casual dialogues.
The story penned by Shekar Kammula is straightforward and a sincere attempt. It doesn’t get preachy or goes too dramatic. Close to reality, the movie shows the life of teenagers, their pressures in academics, friendship and the bond they share with parents.
Sidhu (Adhith), Tyson (Narayanan), Vimal (Vimal), Shankar (Shravan), Madhu (Reshmi), Jiya Umar (Sangee) and Appu (Fenas) are a bunch of freshers in a college. They all together make a fine gang. Soon Sidhu and Madhu, Shankar – Sangee, Appu and Vimal make a pair. Meanwhile, Tyson ends up falling in love with a senior Sravanthi (Sonia).
There comes a host of fun-filled moments besides hatred, jealousy and emotional moments in their lives. The rest of the story is how they spend their four years of their education in the campus and express love for their respective dear ones.
All the new kids have done well. Narayanan as Tyson walks away with all honours. As an innocent and intelligent youth, he is an apt cast. Vimal who plays a comical role is fresh and impresses with his one- liners.
Reshmi in the female lead (enacted by Tamannah in the original) plays it with ease and elegance. Sonia as final year student puts up a dignified performance, while Fenaz is impressive. Unfortunately Adhith as Siddhu fails to recreate the bubbly energy when compared to the one who performed the role in ‘Happy Days’.
Guhan has not just wielded the megaphone well but cranked his camera in an engrossing way. He has brought out emotions well in the scenes of separation and reunion between the pairs. Also the visuals are soothing. A couple of songs by Micky J Meyer is ok. But the rest sounds very alien.
On the flip side, at many places, the ego clash between the pairs reminds one of ‘Kushi’ and also the narration becomes very slow towards the second half. However on the whole. Prakashraj and Guhan deserves credit for giving a feel-good and a healthy entertainer amidst mindless masalas.
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The biggest drawbacks with remakes are the irrelevance to originality. Certain changes to be strictly done for the sake of suiting the region to savor the audiences and ‘Inidhu Inidhu’ hold itself into such clichéd league. Let’s not take things for comparison between ‘Happy Days’ and ‘Inidhu Inidhu’. But then, the kinds of scenarios we witness in the college campus are too far away from the realistic grounds. Of course, we have colleges that has the crème de la crème facilities, but the universal audiences would obviously fail to relate themselves with never-never land.
Director K.V. Guhan comes up with a very lengthy drama that has both positive attribute and on pars, few minuses. The major quotient of any Tamil film is ‘Conflicts’ and that’s what audiences expect the films to be comprised of. The film is sang-froid at places, but it’s too favoring for multiplex audiences while ‘B’ and ‘C’ would spot this film to be an odd piece of work.
The film revolves around group of friends in a college (4 guys and 4 gals). What starts as a friendship turns into love followed by 4 years drama of their college life. It touches the grounds of reality as these days persist with unconditional friendship, love, betrayals, success, pain and finally a big farewell.
Prakash Raj seems to have taken more care on introducing some new talents as they have put their heart and soul towards best results. In fact, everyone on main league of star-casts has done a great job and their performance is flawless. Sonia as senior girl recreates magic as in original version. Adith looks cute and chirpy and Narayanan’s characterization of Tyson looks slightly artificial. Though it evokes a sort of great likeliness and sympathy, Guhan could have made his role yet more captivating. Reshmi is okay and she has to work a lot for her improvisation.
Technically, the cinematography is appreciable as it brings a rich and colorful look. But the musical score by Mickey J Meyer is a mere disappointment. Remember this! His original album ‘Happy Days’ is still a chartbuster in audio markets. 2 ½ hours of plain drama is sure to turn as restless. Prakash Raj with the attempts of spelling pure poignant movies misconstrues about this regional remake.
On the whole, the film deserves a onetime watch if you’re ready to accept the flaws involving project of artificialness. But it’s nice to see a film that doesn’t carry the usual traits of college campus like ragging, double entendres, caricatured professors and students playing silly pranks on them, hostilities between two groups, etc, etc…
What works: Star-casts, cinematography
What doesn’t work: Screenplay, music, lacks of conflicts and exact copycat from original version…
Verdict: Passable show
Inidhu Inidhu Movie reviewIt’s a promise well-kept! If you’ve paid attention to all the promo activities for the movie, you already know producer Prakashraj says Inidhu Inidhu is an emotional movie that will remind you of your college days. And if you’re in college right now, there’s a lot about the movie that rings true. That’s what really makes Inidhu Inidhu (remake of the Telugu hit Happy Days) an entertainer worth watching.
“I just wanted it to be a peek into the college life of a bunch of kids,” says Prakashraj, and that’s precisely what it is. Nothing more and in no way less.
What is it about?
The story starts on Day 1 of college. Seven teenagers from varying backgrounds take the big step – out of school and into college – with their personal reservations and expectations. Each character is sketched in a different hue. Sugary sweet Madhu, a typical boy next door Sidhu, tomboy Appu, gal-crazy Vimal, radically bold Sangitha, reserved and studious Sharan, and do-gooder nerd Arvind aka Tyson. Chance brings them together on the very first day, and thus begins a fluctuating friendship with ups and downs, continuing for the next four years of their college lives. A feel-good movie through and through, so we know the obstacles will clear away sooner or later.
From scene one, you know who’s meant for who; it’s only a matter of time before the characters realize it. Meantime, it’s clean fun and mild twists.
Arvind’s the only one in the gang without a gal. But why? Because he’s got his heart set on a senior gal, Shravs, which his seniors are unable to digest! But even before the gang is formed, they meet their seniors for the tradition: ragging. Arjun, the senior who lays his eyes on Madhu and fixates on her, is one good-looking bad boy! Had he had not been quite the obsessive senior, Madhu may have even melted in his arms! But that’s another imaginary line altogether. By irritating her and eventually getting slapped by Siddhu, Arjun primarily serves to bring Madhu and Siddhu together. This is essentially the first turning point in the film, after the characters have been introduced and their friendship established.
Obviously the slighted senior wants revenge. He gathers a few cronies and one night, when the four junior boys are returning from Madhu’s birthday party, they strike. Siddhu, Arvind and Vimal get a sound beating. Sharan escapes because one of the seniors is Sangitha’s brother. We see that Sharan is not a friend to be trusted in one’s hour of need. The beaten junior boys decide to take up the issue with the management, but the student body leader suggests a T20 match to solve the differences. We all know who wins, so the ragging stops.
What follows? More scenarios familiar to college students – a trip out of town, the first kiss, crush on the prettiest ma’am on the block, exams, tiffs over the results, betrayal in love, betrayal in friendship and so on. How the gang members settle their differences, endure separation and then get back together is what the rest of the story is about – ending exactly on the eve of their farewell, leaving it to us to figure out the rest. It’s just like Prakashraj promised, a peek and no more.
The Performance
One character that truly makes an impact is Arvind, the ultimate friend one can meet at college. His character – the innately brilliant kid, who doesn’t need to study to top the class – is probably the best-developed in the movie. But that’s not the impressive part about him. It’s the unconditional way he loves and cares for his friends that really moves you. Another interesting aspect to his character is the way he loves and adores Shravs. His is a romance doomed from the beginning, and yet the childlike way he pursues her is beautifully brought out. Arvind may not be the hunk on the block, but he truly is the sweetest guy around.
One character that lacks depth is Sangitha. While the story focuses on her lover Sharan, it does not develop her character. We figure out that Sharan is the guy who will sell out his buddies to save himself, but no matter what anyone says, he loves and trusts his girl. But Sangitha and her reason for being the way she is, her attitude towards the gang, her feelings for Sharan… these are not dealt with enough, making her character shallow and unmemorable.
The Music
Music is by Mickey Meyer, who scored the music for the original (Happy Days) as well. He has retained a similar style of music in Inidhu Inidhu – leaning towards melody. The tracks ‘Inidhu Inidhu’ and ‘Vaazhkai Oru’ are sure faves of melody lovers. ‘Inbam Ethirilae’ is a peppy number dedicated to Michael Jackson. The stars have even tried to emulate the late Pop Icon in their dance; since it’s a tribute, we refrain from criticism!
The Technique
In terms of direction and cinematography, K.V. Guhan has done a fab job in this very honest film. Without trying to outdo himself or prove a point, he has taken a lovely story and made an entertaining movie out of it, one that will have a very personal impact on audiences. Every person is bound to react to the movie in his or her own way, relating to certain characters or scenes more – which is the biggest success of the film. Cinematography is picture perfect. The colours and lighting enhance the general cheery and youthful mood of the film.
As a producer, Prakashraj has once more brought out a quality piece of art. It may not be as touching as Mozhi or as moving as Abiyum Naanum, but it certainly has charm of its own – one that is sure to sing to your soul, bringing forth happy memories.
Duet Movies’ latest offering ‘Inidhu Inidhu’ falls in the genre of ‘feel-good’ movies meant to move the viewers’ mind and hearts sans any violence and obscenity. The film doesn’t have violent sequences, obscenity and sequences depicting extreme disappointments.
The film, remake of the Telugu superhit film ‘Happy Days’, depicts the campus life in a realistic fassion. The script has many interesting sequences narrating the sweet and unforgettable experiences of college, cherished years later by many parents.
The rookies who get into the college become close friends thanks to the ragging by seniors. The rest of the film is all about the love, friendship, separation and enmity and disappointment that mark their lives in the college.
Each student steps into the college with varying mindset. While Sidhu (Aadith) falls for classmate Madhu’s (Reshmi) charm and beauty, Tyson (Narayanan) looses his heart for senior student Shravathy (Sonia). There is studious Shankar (Shravan) and care-free Vimal (Vimal) and a few others to make the proceedings colourful and interesting.
How can a college campus be complete without romance? However, romance paves way for stress. Relationships go through a gamut of emotions like including jealousy, egoistic clashes, etc.
Madhu avoids Suhdu’s overtures after spotting his objectionable attitude while Shravati is reluctant to accept the love of Tyson. Aparna, who loves Vimal, waits for him to accept her feelings for him even as Shankar’s ladylove cheats on him apparently with a self-centred attitude. The culmination of their tenure at College coincides with all of them getting answers in some way or the other to all their relationship-related problems.
The story can easily be written on the backside of a bus/train ticket but the incidents and the emotional upheavals take it forward in an interesting manner barring a few scenes.
Guhan, the debutant director, manages to reveal the nuances of each of his character through casual incidents and conversations. The newcomers, Aadhth, Narayan, Vimal, Sharon, Reshmi, Sonia, Benas and Jeeya Umer, make a strong impression on the audience as performers. It can be a very risky affair to introduce as many as eight newcomers in central characters in a film. On the contrary, it acts in favour of the film.
Within a few minutes into the film, the viewers feel that they can easily relate with each of the characters shown on screen, which is a victory to the director. The way he has made the newcomers act and emote deserves appreciation. Sonia, the ‘Paiyaah’ girl, has been improving with each of her film.
The couple of flaws could be the length of the movie and the mostly expected twists and turns. Songs (7 of them) are okay but Mickey scores more in the background music department. The song ‘Inidhu Inidhu’ recited by Karthick lingers on in the mind even after you leave the hall.
Handling the cinematography besides directing the film is a tough ask but Gugan has done both of them appreciably well. Bony Verma’s choreography is very different and fits the mood of the film well.
Inidhu Inidhu is a feel-good romantic campus story that works despite some flaws.
To me the biggest draw back of this movie is the star cast, The ruined this movie to the max! Prakash raj sir missed to select the right acting crew!
this movie rockz!!!!!!!!!!!hope u guyz have a part 2 of this movie
i love adhith………………sooo handsome…….i want his facebook emaiul
Unlike most of you guys, I find this movie a very good one… it is a feel-good film that’s been missing in tamil cinema lately, so that itself should be appreciated.
and one thing i can NEVER EVER approve is the view on music. it is SO refreshing and should definitely be welcomed. i simply loved the music. i don’t know why you guys found it “boring” or whatever..
reshmi has also done a great job. everyone did their role perfectly.
i am disappointed how people did not appreciate this wonderful movie as much as it deserves.. it’s sad.
I LOVE THIS MOVIE………..
I LOVE THIS MOVIE……………………..