The only reason why we could forgive the shoddy scripting of 'Navagatharkku Swagatham' is that the film has perhaps been a while in the making. But that doesn't unfortunately, make the viewer feel any better though.
This film is one of those campus capers, if you can call it that. Imagine Lal Jose's 'Classmates' with the focus on Balachandra Menon! That pretty much sums up the situation. There is no similarity of course between the two films, except that the spotlight is on the professor here.
This professor (Mukesh) is called Appettan by the students, a unique combo of Appan and Ettan, and he serves as the boys' hostel warden as well. He is one of those teachers who would give up their lives in defence of their students, and Appettan and his gang of hostellers led by Aravindan (Vinay Fort) make merry all the time.
Along comes the fresh batch of students at the beginning of the academic year, and there is Prasanth (Rejath Menon) and Veena (Shafna) among the lot. The boy falls in love with the girl, and with Prasanth being a hosteller, Appettan decides to play Cupid.
Yawn! Love does strike in the end. Towards the intermission there are a few scenes that involve Aravindan that evoke the curiosity for a brief while, making us fervently hope that something real exciting is about to come up in the second half. These flickers that splutter for a brief while are washed away in no time in a disappointing downpour that soon follows.
Come to think of it, its sad films as these are left open to be scrutinized and to be written on. The climactic moments that reveal the protagonist's romance are expected to be downright touching, but on the contrary, they make little impact. The reason perhaps is that the build up is so feeble, that everything else seems to hold no significance after a while.
Mukesh as Appettan is strictly okay, as is Jyothirmayi. The younger lot, played by Rejath Menon, Shafna and Vinay Fort are impressive. There is no technical wizardry on show.
All those emotions that the audience is supposed to be rooting for are simply absent in 'Navagatharkku Swagatham'. It's a harmless piece of film making that doesn't sicken you in away, but the blandness of which will make you stretch back on your seats and close your eyes with a sigh.