Nenjam Marapathillai - Regina & Jesus, SJ Suryah & Devil, Yuvan the monster!

D Meera Chithirappaavai & AG

Any piece of work is undertaken & delivered with some core intention(s). Some films carry a message while some may aim to just entertain. In any case, a film does work towards casting an impact & Nenjam Marapadhillai is no exception.

This Selvaraghavan film is maybe not the best that we’ve seen from the director’s desk but doesn’t let you write it off as yet another horror film. This film is a result of Selva deciding to respect a crazy idea & giving it existence through a film. There is some solid evidence why the film, though with a template horror movie story becomes an unforgettable one.   

////SPOILERS AHEAD////

1. RAMSAY 

“Stop being a Ramsay” may become the trendy way to call out someone crazy! The character Ramasamy or Ramsay (he’d prefer that) is an interesting package of contrasts. He is so psychotic that he becomes interesting. He is so annoying that you cannot stop paying your full attention to him. He is so flawed that he seems more human. He is so raw that ends up becoming extremely entertaining. He is so dark that he makes the movie lit! Director Seva’s brilliance in striking the balance in ensuring that Ramsay’s darkness is evident but not glorified shows his command over characterization.

Every human holds a share of good & bad in them but how much attention we pay to each aspect makes us unique & defines our moral. Similarly, Ramsay unapologetically seems to feed his evil side & that authenticity makes him a special someone. This special someone hands down stand as a major reason why Nenjam Marapadhillai won’t leave your head that easily.

2. Contemporary narration with gospel references

Nenjam Marapadhillai like numerous films in the past is all about the battle between the good & the bad a.k.a god vs devil. Ramsay’s portrayal of the devil is planned through SJ Suryah’s characterization & performance while Mariam's (Regina Casandra) portrayal of the god is packaged through contemporary replication of scenarios that hold gospel references.

- According to the gospels of Mathew, Mark & Luke, it is believed that Jesus had visions/warnings about his death. Similarly, here in Nenjam Marappathillai, Regina receives two warnings or signs indicating her death. Once when she first tries to enter Ramsay’s bungalow & second when she finds a disturbing image on the mirror a particular morning.

- Jesus is believed to have been crucified on Good Friday and resurrected on the day of Easter. Similarly, Regina’s character Mariam is raped & murdered on a Good Friday & her soul resurrects.

Through some parallel cuts to visuals showing Jesus’s crusification, Selvaraghavan directly implies that Mariam is Jesus. In a particular shot, we see Regina on the cross instead of Jesus. 

- According to Christianity, Jesus’s bodily resurrection confirms to all the believers that they will also be resurrected at christ’s second coming. This concept is portrayed when Regina’s soul is found among other dead people soul outside the church.

- Regina's character Mariam interacts with an old blind man who behaves as though he is blessed with a miracle of sight right after meeting her which connects back to the story of Jericho, a blind roadside beggar from the bible. 

These gospel references stand as fresh/under-explored ideas that spin a lot of thought about the film & the theme. 

3. Yuvan - The actual monster!

Yuvan’s work with music yet again proves the power of musicality in narration. Songs are done being fillers or entertainers that appear like a clown in the circus. Every song in the album ensures to drive the narration, not by pace but with mood-setting & detailing. While each song holds explanatory lyrics, the appreciation truly goes to how the rustic lyrics were accommodated in an appealing tune.

For instance, imagine how crazy it would be if  a group of men who have committed a ruthless crime break into a ball of a song in a police station! “Kannungala'' is a song that holds an actual dialogue as lyrics & spots the main offenders guilt free and happy. As an audience we are seamlessly driven into the same mood that we start enjoying the lack of guilt and the abundance of fun they have on screen.

Boasting of these three factors, Nenjam Marapathilai inevitably will be discussed, debated & will remain unforgettable for the audience who watch it. Though the film holds one of the most tacky climax fight sequences, the film passes as the overwhelming elements listed above overshadows every other flaw.