Star Cast: Vani Vishwanath
Music:M.Jayachandran
Producer:Maani.C.Kaapan
Director:Kaladharan

Vani Viswanath has almost become synonymous with revenge-seeking action-oriented characters in Malayalam Cinema. Here is yet another revengeful story with Vani in the lead. But Nagaravadhu, made under the banner of Okay Productions by Maani.C.Kaapan, is an altogether different film compared to the usual revenge-stuff by Vani. In this film, directed by Kaladharan, Vani is seen in a totally different light as a revenge-seeking heroine. While most of Vani's similar characters take up the gun and go on a killing spree eliminating all the villains, this one uses more of mental power and shrewd planning.

Sukanya, born in a pious Brahmin household as the eldest of three daughters, is a medical student. She is to marry her lover and neighbour Sethu Raman. But when Sethu Raman is hit and killed by a jeep and when Sukanya is abducted and later arrested on charges of prostitution, things take a totally new turn for her. Renowned Gandhian Kesari Govinda Pillai comes to her rescue and expresses to her father his earnest wish to make Sukanya his daughter-in-law. Thus Sukanya is married off to Sreeharshan.

But matters do not end there. The day after her marriage, Sukanya finds that all this, including her marriage, was a drama-all planned to satisfy Narendra Babuji, a shrewd politician, who is getting himself established on the National scenario. Babuji had had a fancy for Sukanya, whom he had seen earlier, and his aide and retired DGP Bala Gangadhara Menon alias Mamaji had arranged and executed all these plans, including Sethuraman's murder and Sukanya's fake marriage.

Sukanya is forced too satisfy the lust of Babuji. She is shattered, but she takes certain bold decisions. And before long, she wins over Babuji's confidence and steps into the corridors of power and politics along with Babuji. Sukanya makes her entry into active politics, but she has certain definite plans and decisions too.Vani plays with the role of Sukanya with ease while Saikumar impresses very much as Babuji, the shrewd politician.

Rajan.P.Dev does his part well as Mamaji while Janardhanan too gives a good performance as Kesari Govinda Pillai. Baiju has got a really good role after a long time as Eby Cherian, a youth leader. N.F.Verghese, as Hrishikesh Parameswaran Nampoothiri I.P.S, passes muster. Maani.C.Kaapan appears in the role of Thripathi, the All India Secretary of Babuji's party. All the rest in the cast, namely Sphadikom George, Jayakrishnan, Premachandran, Harisri Ashokan etc have done their respective roles in their own characteristic styles.

Rajan Kiriyath's script, based on story by G.C.Kaarackal, is the real highlight of the film. Things seem to be very much in control of the scenarist. Salu George lends able support with his cinematography while Gangan Thalavil does good work of the art-direction. Slick editing by L.Bhoominathan and background score by Rajamani help in keeping up the tempo of the film.

Of course the songs, penned by Prabha Verma and Sudhamshu and set to tune by M.Jayachandran, don't have much significance here and fail to make an impact. But still the soulful rendering of the song "Pakalinu Kaavalaalayi ninnoru sooryante....." makes it stand out among the songs. In total, director Kaladharan, who had earlier made mostly comedy films like Nettipattam, Elaarum Chollanu etc has beaten a different track this time and had done a really good and commendable work of it.