நடு இரவில்
You watch a ton of movies over your life, leading to an endless parade of frames, moments, and stories. But out of all that, only a few catch you off guard. Only a few moments really stick. Only a few haunt the very edge of your consciousness. They just sort of... linger.
When I close my eyes and think, "What is the greatest suspense thriller, the ultimate whodunit, in Tamil cinema?"—immediately, like some kind of past-life reflex, I get this picture in my head. Not a thought, but an etched image, a bunch of flashes that evoke a feeling. And it takes me right back to that time. That moment. That location in my mind where I felt a genuine sensation of fear. That was my very first experience watching Nadu Iravil back in circa 1990.
This is not a review. I’m not even trying to break down the plot for you. It’s simply an appreciation—a tribute to a rare film that skillfully burrows into your brain, makes a home in your soul, and then just stays there. I’m just saying—this film gets you.