Nerkonda Paarvai Review: Same perspective with a little bling!

Turn on the audio for Nerkonda Paarvai and watch Pink - you’d still get 80% of the movie (Pink) if you do not understand Hindi.

நேர்கொண்ட பார்வை (Nerkonda Paarvai), directed by H. Vinoth is an official remake of the Hindi film “Pink” which stars Amitabh Bachchan, Tapsee Pannu, Andrea Tariang and Kirti Kulhari. In the remake Ajith (plays Bharat Subramaniam) steps into the shoes of Bachchan Sr, Shraddha Srinath (plays Meera Krishnan) does Tapsee’s role, Abirami Venkatachalam (plays Famithaa) does Kirti’s role and Andrea Tariang (plays Andrea) reprises her role in the film.

I watched the remake first before the original. Primarily because I was excited that Shraddha and Vidya Balan were in the film and I didn’t want to spoil it for myself.

Nerkonda Paarvai vs Pink

To put simply, it is a replica of Pink. Scene by scene, subtitle by subtitle. Except for Bharat’s backstory. It’s very different from Deepak’s backstory. I’m glad the Director stuck to story and delivered it as close to the original as possible.

In terms of technicalities, Pink is definitely more crisp and well made. Little things like a bad cover up of one of the character’s tattoos in Nerkonda Paarvai kind of put me off.

Performances, for me, made it difficult to decide which I enjoyed more. As for Pink, I really liked Deepak Sehgal (played by Amitabh) and Falak Ali (played by Kirti).

Amitabh Bachchan as Deepak Sehgal in Pink (2016)

However, I felt that Shraddha Srinath did a better job as the protagonist compared to Tapsee and Arjun Chidambaram as the antagonist compared to Angad Bedi in Pink.

Shraddha Srinath as Meera Krishnan in Nerkonda Paarvai (2019)

There’s a scene in NP where Meera tells her friends about her experience in jail and begs them to get her out. Shraddha did it so well it literally tore my heart into pieces.

The dialogues in Pink were much more crisp and apt for a thriller. NP, on the other hand, had a few punch dialogues slipped here and there (because hey, we need to reach the masses!) That didn’t affect the movie that much and let’s just say if it’s going to reach more people, I’ll close one eye.

Deepak Sehgal’s relationship with his Wife was more consistent and well thought out compared to the feeble story that Bharat held onto in Nerkonda Paarvai. Felt some Theri moments there...

Premiere Experience

I am not a huge fan of Ajith and it isn’t because he is a bad actor. I dislike his superstardom.

You’d ask how would that affect me - someone who’s watching this movie? Well, firstly, the reason why Ajith was chosen was because of his superstardom and the need for this movie to reach the masses. That’s okay.

My experience watching this movie was pretty much uncomfortable and it ties with my experience watching Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga. To hear a cinema full of audience laugh when the police officer makes snarky remarks about feminism and how women are “misusing” it, to see right before my eyes how Shraddha & Vidya were discredited for their talent just because they were acting with a superstar...Not only did the host of the premiere do a bad job at hyping the performances and talent that these women possess, audience members holler Ajith’s name and how great he is every time the women say anything about their experience in the movie. I wonder if this is the price we have to pay for the movie to reach the masses?

I’m not sure what the fate of this film is and how well the audience are going to receive it... I just hope you sit in a cinema and watch the movie for what it is, celebrate Ajith for making this film and understand that the producers, actors and director want to drive home a message and not merely entertain you.

Nerkonda Paarvai is a justified remake which can be watched for the protagonist‘s performance, Ajith’s screen presence and Vidya Balan’s minnal vegam.

Bonus Stuff!

I got to ask Shraddha a question during the premiere thanks to 12 hype men & women who encouraged me to open my mouth and talk.

Shraddha has mentioned in an interview that she put herself in Nirbhaya’s shoes when she did the molestation scene in NP. I was curious as to why she did that and I decided to ask her why specifically that instance/case.

https://youtu.be/7JiWAB5M8sE