Film: Naan Ee
Starring: Nani, Samantha, Sudeep, Santhanam
Director: S.S.Rajamouli
Producer: Prasad V. Potluri
Banner: PVP Cinemas
Music: M.M.Keeravani
Rating:

Story:
Samantha starts an NGO along with her friends to help the differently-abled to pursue their education. Nani is her neighbour who is a party decorator. Samantha visits Sudeep, a construction company owner, seeking donations for her NGO. On meeting Samantha, Sudeep predictably falls madly in love with her. He uses his financial status to woo her but realises that Samantha and Nani are in love for over two years without disclosing their love to each other. Sudeep decides to do away with Nani so that it would be easy to claim Samantha’s hands. In the meantime, Samantha decides to disclose her love for Nani and tries to contact him. Unfortunately, Sudeep’s thugs aim to murder Nani before Samantha could profess her love. Right at the nick of the moment when he is about to die, Samantha’s ‘I Love You’ message reaches Nani’s mobile. The soul departs and lands in a housefly egg at a trash bin nearby. Nani gets a new lease of life as a housefly. Being a housefly, he later torments Sudeep every day. At one point of time, the housefly goes to the extent of killing Sudeep and confesses who he is and Samantha also comes to know about it. How Samantha and Nani, in the form of housefly, wreck their vengeance on Sudeep forms the rest of the story.

Perfornmances:
Nani looks different in the movie but given his best, especially in the scenes where he tries to impress Samantha. Hero appears for a few minutes on the screen and reincarnates as fly immediately after the death of Nani.

Samantha, the beauty glam has nothing to perform much yet given best for her plot. Santhanam is at his ever best as Nani’s friend and supporting Samantha.

Sudeep steals the show of Naan Ee, as a bad man for Nani with his villainous looks. Sudeep has to be tapped for his irritating, perplexing, dazed, angry, frustrating and heightened performance.

Technical Analysis:
Tollywood successful director Rajamouli has proved his mettle in Kollywood with Naan Ee. Rajamouli is best in narrating a sensitive plot with more hilarious and interesting screenplay.

MM Keeravani’s background scores and re-recording have given life to the graphical Ee created by Rajamouli with the help of Hollywood Technicians and cameramen KK Senthil Kumar.

Special VFX effects and the animation works are the highlights of this graphical extravaganza Naan Ee. Prasad v Potluri has lavishly produced this sci-fi movie Naan Ee with excellent graphics and cinematography.

Analysis:
The basic plot of Naan Ee is simple and predictable but the director has packed it with visual narration along with Keeravani’s music notes and riveting performance by Sudeep that takes it to the winning post.

The obsessive and consistent behavior of Sudeep Kachcha is a treat for audiences, which forces a smile on the faces of most serious looking persons even. The torture that the fly inflicts on the killer is so much, especially in the scene where security guards of Sudeep are holding insect bats, instead of guns when he arrives for a meeting.

Naan Ee is a visual feast for the audiences with few dialogues, good music with a predictable plot and excellent cinematography. Last but not least director’s choice in roping in Santhanam, Aravind, Hamsa Nandini, Devadarshini, Thagubothu Ramesh, Aditya Menon et al keeping in mind different languages should be admired.

Final Verdict:
Naan Ee is a fully loaded visual feast for the audiences…..

Review 2

Naan Ee Review - Techno-graphical extravaganza
SS Rajamouli was once criticised for poor graphics in his Telugu movie Chatrapati but unlike other filmmakers, who never admit the flaws in their films, Rajamouli accepted his mistakes and assured that it would never happen in his films again. Then came Magadheera (Maaveran in Tamil) and rest is history! Now, he has taken his passion for animation to next level in Naan Ee, a dubbed version of Eega where a fly plays one of the leads. And the result of this movie is that it has turned out to be a techno-graphical extravaganza.

S Vijayendra Prasad, the father of SS Rajamouli, begins the proceedings by narrating the story. Sudeep (Sudeep), a womaniser and businessman, sets his eyes on micro artist Bindu (Samantha), who is on the verge of falling in love with Nani (Nani). In order to get into a relationship with Bindu, Sudeep donates money for her non-profit organisation. As he builds the friendship, he came to know that she has started liking Nani.

This makes Sudeep to ruthlessly kill Nani, who reborn as a fly to seek revenge. Then, the fly gives him a hard time and attempts to kill him through different ways. Meanwhile, Bindu also realises that Nani was killed by Sudeep and helps the fly in its mission. What happens next should be seen on-screen,

On the story part, it is not a great tale, as it runs on predictable lines but the concept of a fly taking revenge backed with fantabulous CGI works would remain as a landmark film in Indian film industry. SS Rajamouli has successfully brought his imagination on-screen. What is more interesting is that he narrates the story without a boring moment in Naan Ee. However, the only drawback of the movie is that the absence of regular mass-masala elements, which may not go well with a section of audience.

The next comes Sudeep, who leaves one totally spell bound with his acting. It is difficult to imagine a fly and perform but he has amazingly acted without giving a clue to the audience that there was nothing before him. In fact, he outperforms his co-stars. Samantha is good and has given her best. Nani, though limited role, impresses audience as a lover boy. Santhanam has done a cameo.

Naan Ee is a technically brilliant waku doki movie. Firstly KK Senthil Kumar has done marvellous job behind the camera and he gets full marks for it, MM Keervani has given excellent songs, Ravindar's art is praise worthy, and Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao's editing is neat. Finally, SS Rajamouli, who has taken out best from his team, has proved again why he is called one of the best directors in South India. Undoubtedly, his experimental movie will win him a lot of laurels in the days to come.

Review 3

Expectations were sky-high. The trailers promised aplenty. And the end product is finally here, which gives one more than what was expected. Director S S Rajamouli, the pride of Telugu cinema, has touched upon a fantasy theme for his first straight Tamil venture. It is a wafer-thin storyline of a man reincarnating as housefly & avenging his death.

But a shrewd Rajamouli has laced romance, comedy, emotions and revenge drama well in the story to make it count. The making makes all the difference. Every frame spells grandeur and fantastic visuals.

The quick unfolding of events strike a chord. The star cast including Nani, Samantha and Sudeep add pep to the proceedings with their performance. A top actor of Sandalwood, Sudeep walks away with aplomb playing with ease a complex character.

Fantasy will be the right word to describe the film. The amazing computer graphic works makes one stand up and applaud. Even minute things have been paid utmost attention. Rajamouli has opted for a linear narration. He begins the movie narrating it more like an Ambulimama story that we grew up listening to.

Sudeep (Sudeep), a fun-loving and a playboy businessman, lures everyone he comes across and wins them over. He meets Bindu (Samantha) and tries all his tantrums on her. But his efforts fail as she (a kind-hearted social worker) is inclined towards a boy-next-door Nani (Nani). Coming to know of this, Sudeep hatches a conspiracy and kills Nani. Now it is the turn of Nani to reborn as house fly and the 'Ee' buzzes around Sudeep and teaches him lessons the hard way.

Reminding one 'Magadheera' in parts, 'Naan Ee' is narrated in a lighter vein with reincarnation concept.

Nani is adequate and his innocent looks come to his rescue. Samantha, the pretty lass, does a decent show. She is at her best in emotional scenes. But stealing the show is Sudeep as baddie. Known for playing man with golden heart in Kannada movies, he seems to have taken it in his stride to deliver a packed performance as villain. It is commendable that an actor who plays the hero in mainstream Kannada films takes to play a negative role. As an actor who understands the nuances of cinema, Sudeep gives his best.
The scenes where he comes across waging a battle against an unknown enemy in the form of a housefly, he simply astonishes. Sudeep seems to come a long way from his mould to play such a perplexed and negative character.

If computer graphics and special effects are one eye for the film, Sudeep's portrayal of the role is another. His encounters with Bindhu and later with the housefly deserve a watch.

Santhanam provides comic relief with his usual one-liners. Crazy Mohan's dialogues deserve a special mention. There is abundant laugh on the housefly. Thanks to Maragadhamani, the peppy background score enlivens the proceedings with Senthilkumar's camera complimenting it well.

Coming to the main part, the visual effects, one can rightly call it marvelous! A mammoth attempt well transformed by a team. The housefly has been perfectly recreated. The special effects have set a benchmark in Tamil cinema.

The highlight being the perfect use of state-of-the-art technology without overshadowing the theme. Hats off to the creative team, who have spent several sleepless nights to recreate the magic. The housefly, it's buzz and the encounters are well brought-out.

Making a hero out of a fly is commendable. Forget logics, enjoy grandeur and get immersed in fantasy. And 'Naan Ee' will make you fly in joy. A must watch family entertainer this never ending summer!

In short:

Positives:
SS Rajamouli’s taut screenplay, Sudeep’s extraordinary acting skills, excellent visual effects. Maragadhamani’s music brings the audiences to the edge of their seats. Senthil Kumar’s cinematography is a visual treat and the list goes on…

Negatives:
Nothing that is worth mentioning here.

In Total:
For movie buffs who rely on Hollywood films for best graphics, Naan Ee is an example that such films can be made here on a reasonable budget. It is a must watch; at least once.

Did you know?
The director of Naan Ee, SS Rajamouli, has given five consecutive blockbusters in Telugu. This film is also released in Telugu under the title Eega. If Naan Ee joins this list, then Rajamouli will have the distinction of giving two consecutive hat-tricks.

Producer:PVP Cinemas
Director:SS Rajamouli
Stars:Sudeep, Samantha, Nani, Santhanam
Music director:Maragadhamani

Release:July 6, 2012
Time:2 hours 14 minutes
Certificate:U/A
Genre:Socio-Fantasy