Nna Than Kesu Kodu Malayalam Movie
Nna Thaan Case Kodu is a satire, and like most satires, it ridicules the machinery of government. The plot is quite simple for a film of this kind. Kunchacko Boban's Rajeevan is a small-time thief. He marries a Tamil girl named Devi, played by Gayathrie, after working with her family and taking care of her father for a while. Rajeevan does not have any paid work, so Devi feels that he has not mended his ways. So, she suspects his innocence when he gets charged for breaking into a local MLA's home and stealing something from there. The MLA's dogs and the public hurt Rajeevan for the alleged act of perpetration, but he argues that he did not do it.
Rajeevan eventually blames the Public Works Department minister for a pothole that he claims led to his accident. He becomes accused as a thief once again, so it is a matter of pride for him to win the case.
Nna Thaan Case Kodu plays out mostly as a standard satire where one man takes on the entire system. It reminds you of a film like Punyalan Private Limited where the protagonist takes on the Kerala CM. Essentially, both films claim that government officials serve the public and are not above them. But where Nna Thaan Case Kodu differs from Punyalan Private Limited is in terms of the structure. It makes sensible arguments as to how even something as mundane as a pothole in Kerala is a collective failure. Nna Thaan Case Kodu focuses also more on the litigation procedure and goes into the minute details to show how Rajeevan goes about proving his innocence.
The movie takes some cinematic liberties, though. You need to suspend your disbelief when it shows the main character of a thief as someone who is well-versed with law. Rajeevan does not know how to maintain court decorum or even speak properly in court but knows the nitty-gritty of law. It may not make a lot of sense, but you can ignore this minor issue and choose to enjoy the court drama.
There are many moments in Nna Thaan Case Kodu where it merely plays to the gallery, so to speak. The movie repeats a reference to the rising price of petrol, although it has little connection to the central plot. Even a portion where the magistrate throws peanuts at the doves that come into the court becomes repetitive. But the movie does not try to bite off more than it can chew. Every satirical remark here seems like a dart thrown at the machinery, and you cannot look away from the arguments in the movie.
What is most admirable about Nna Thaan Case Kodu is how it shows the lawyers and the magistrate himself. It uses non-stars for the roles of these legal professionals, thus making them come across as more grounded people. The casting choice makes everything in court seem more mundane and less theatrical as well. I really like how each person in court puts forth their arguments or counter-arguments. It makes more sense than a star screaming from the top of his lungs while making arguments as a lawyer.
Nna Thaan Case Kodu is not laugh-out-loud funny but has many hilarious moments. My favorite is the moment where the thief says that there is a magistrate when the almighty is inaccessible.
The film also has enough in it to provoke the viewer, alongside two terrific performances. Kunchacko Boban is an apt choice for an ex-thief looking to mend his ways and taking care of his family as a domestic man. I really like Kunchacko Boban's sense of innocence here. Watch the expression on his face as he learns a key piece of news about his life. It is a lovely scene in an otherwise satirical film. Kunchacko's presence also ensures that Rajeevan stays a thief who believes more in the court system as compared to, say, Joy Thakkolkaran from the Punyalan movies.
On the other hand, Gayathrie's face shows the steely determination of a woman who backs her man to prove his innocence. The scenes with both actors are so good that I wish there were more of those in the movie. You do not always feel that winning the case is as important to the two characters as to us.
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