Natpukkaga

Natpukaaga (Tamil: நட்புக்காக English: For Friendship) is a 1998 Tamil language film directed by K. S. Ravikumar. It starred Sarath Kumar and Simran Bagga in the lead roles. It became a success upon release.

It was remade into Telugu as Sneham Kosam which starred Chiranjeevi with K. S. Ravikumar directing the version. Later remade in Kannada as Diggajaru (2000).

Plot and Review

Natpukkaaga probably ranks as the best among the numerous offerings from the K.S.Ravikumar-Sarathkumar combination over the years. Like their other movies, this too has its basis in enmity between families and contains all the hallmarks of a typical K.S.Ravikumar movie. But a good performance by Sarathkumar, nice characterization and funny comedy make this movie rise above his other movies and make it an enjoyable entertainer.

Chinnaiya (Sarath Kumar) is a faithful servant in the house of a rich man (Vijayakumar). There is no love lost between the rich man and his eldest daughter (Sitara). His second daughter, Prabhavathy (Simran Bagga), who arrives from a foreign land, falls in love with Chinnaiya but after gaining his trust, accuses him of attempting to rape her. Turns out that she did this to try to unite her sister's family with her father and send Chinnaiya out since it was Chinnaiya's father who killed her mother. So Chinnaiya is kicked out of the house. Meanwhile Muthaiya (also Sarath Kumar), Chinnaiya's father, is released from jail.

The movie offers a nice mix of comedy and sentiments throughout. The initial scenes, with the jolly camaraderie between Vijayakumar and Sarathkumar and the antics of Senthil, R.Sunderrajan and co., are fun. The duets and fight sequences are mild distractions but suit the overall mood of the movie. The romance between Sarathkumar and Simran is ordinary though the twist, when Simran accuses Sarath Kumar, is surprising and sets the stage for the grand entrance of the older Sarath Kumar.

Sarathkumar has always had good luck with double roles where one of the roles is older. Naattaamai and Suryavamsam have been two of his biggest hits to date and he continues the tradition here. The older Sarathkumar is a memorable character and he impresses with his soft-spokenness, loyalty and mellowness. The flashback does its job by explaining everything without any loose ends. Sarathkumar's final gesture towards Vijayakumar in the climax is very poignant and touching though Ravikumar ruins the effect of the scene by overdoing the sentiments in the following scenes. The movie has a funny comedy track with the antics of Senthil who tries to prove his cleverness. His misinterpretation of Vijayakumar's orders to help people and to travel to Tirupati to shave his head and his action to make sure no one else listens to his letter being read are very funny. Unlike Paattaali, the comedy is not vulgar or crude, which makes it very enjoyable.

K.S. Ravikumar makes his traditional cameo appearance in the last episode of the comedy track. Sarathkumar does well as Muthaiya, the soft and loyal servant while his Chinnaiya is a typical role. Simran looks pretty and adds glamour but has nothing much to do. Vijayakumar plays his typical, loud role and while the rest of the cast is adequate. Deva's songs are plain.

Reception

The film grossed 10 crores at the box office.

Remakes

Soundtrack

There are 6 songs composed by Deva. Lyrics by Kavignar Kaalidhasan ^[1]

• 1. Chinna Chinna Mundhiriya - Mano, K. S. Chitra
• 2. Adikkira Kai - Harini
• 3. Meesakkaara Nanba - Deva
• 4. Nammma Ayya Nallavarungggo - R. Sarathkumar, Vijayakumar
• 5. Meesakkaara Nanba - Krishnaraj
• 6. Garuda Garuda - Krishnaraj, Sujatha

References