Thara Visveswaran

I preferred Saroja Devi over Savithri. I never thought Keerthy Suresh could act. Yet I wanted to see this film, because, period films are always a treat to watch, it starred Dulquer and the music by Mickey J Meyer was mesmerizing. The first few scenes initially didn't give me the confidence it would be a film that I would like. Samantha as Madhuravani and Vijay Devarkonda as Anthony felt a little out of place in the beginning or maybe it was me, who as an audience didnt know what to expect of this film. But once Savithri is introduced, there starts the emotional connect. And there is no turning back. Keerthy Suresh is going to be one of my favorite heroines. The amount of hard work this actor has put into this role, is reason enough to watch this movie. She might never get a role like this in her lifetime, but this is a movie that will be talked about till her lifetime. There are some scenes where you forget it is Keerthy and not Savithri. The success of Dulquer's portrayal of Gemini lies in the fact that you fall for his charms and fall out of love when he lets his Ammadi down. Yet at the end of the film, you can't hate him because in spite of his betrayal and weakness, there is a wish that this love story should have never had this tragic ending. Whether his love was true or was it only a play, only Gemini himself can answer. Samantha with her controlled acting, makes you feel that you are Madhuravani herself. The film has excellent performances with every actor in every frame adding strength. The cinematographer Dani Sanchez-Lopez and the art direction department are the main reason for the film to be what it is. Kudos! Nag Ashwin undoubtedly deserves all the credit for making this a beautiful, poetic, visually enticing, heartwarming story of an actor who in a male dominated industry, held her own and lived a life that very few knew of. When Savithri got so involved with Parvathi, little did she know that she was not Parvathi but Devdas! The tamil version falls a little short because, it is mostly the tollywood industry. But so what, it makes me want to watch the Telugu version too. Nag Ashwin has succeeded, because he has been able to draw audiences to the theater who have not been to a movie in a long time (which includes my mom). Nag Ashwin and Keerthy Suresh have made us fall in love with Savithri. A fitting tribute and a movie like this deserves to be watched in the theater. Nadigaiyar Thilagam - A Class Act!!!