Andha Naal Review: Rashomon Effect, patriotism, film noir, and a murder mystery based on the British flick–A creative jump for Kollywood

RATING – ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ✨ 3.5/5*

Andha Naal Review Movie Talkies:

The first half of the film is based on the famous Rashomon effect, which presents different versions of the same event. Rajan, a radio engineer, is shot dead. His wife, his brother, his sister-in-law, a neighbour, and his mistress—each has their own story to tell, and they are, of course, contrary to one another.

The investigating officer begins speculating and finally arrives at the result when he reads about the tale of “the blind men and an elephant.” The second half takes you into an intriguing thriller mode and carries a strong dose of patriotism. The ending unfolds in a film noir pattern, but the twist is revealed by then.

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Andha Naal Setup:

S. Balachander was said to be inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon for this film, but the storyline is adapted from the British murder mystery The Woman in Question (1950). The patriotic touch here is what makes it different from the British mystery. Yet, I believe it makes for a solid thriller. For Tamil cinema, which is largely known for larger-than-life hero films and commercial entertainers, Andha Naal is quite experimental and path-breaking.

Andha Naal Cast:

The film also boasts a solid cast, with Sivaji Ganesan leading the show with a fine performance. Pandari Bai is superb in her role, and Javar Seetharaman looks impressive as the officer. T. K. Balachandran, K. Sooryakala, P. D. Sambandam, and Menaka have done well.

Andha Naal Movie Review:

The film doesn’t have any songs, action scenes, or heavy dialogues, which gives it a unique identity far removed from mainstream Tamil flicks. S. Balachander crafts a beautiful murder mystery that reminded me of The Thin Man and Sherlock Holmes films from the 1930s—minus the heroic, charming protagonist. Over the years, the film has gained popularity for breaking regular filmmaking norms, and I fully agree. As a creative product, it set a new high standard for Tamil cinema—and it still holds up today.

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