Nooru Saami Review: The emotional core of Nooru Saami is a mother who carries the burden of life for years, two sons who witness her sacrifices, and a society that will not let her go. This film, helmed by Sasi, deals with a sensitive issue of widow remarriage and tries to narrate a very human story of loneliness, companionship and social acceptance. The film’s premise is good, but the execution sometimes failed to live up to the emotional impact of the idea.
The story is about Swasika, a young widow raising two sons alone. Her life from the start is filled with hardship. She is constantly harassed by men in her village and works hard to educate her children. She manages to send both boys to college and to help them build a future, despite these difficulties. The more the years go by, the more her loneliness becomes evident. A local teacher, realising this, asks the elder son, “Why not get your mother remarried?” The suggestion makes him so angry that it leads to a family feud. But when he begins to work and to have a more mature understanding of life, his perspective changes. He finally comes to his mother and asks, “Mom, shouldn’t you remarry?” The actual battle starts when the villagers are not willing to accept such a choice.
The most interesting thing to me was the relevance of the subject. The issue of widow remarriage is still relevant and cinema can break the cycle of old thinking by telling a story. Unfortunately, the central emotional need that drives the story is not developed enough in the screenplay. I was waiting for the film to make it abundantly clear why Swasika’s character is so in need of companionship, why her sons are so adamant against it initially, and what exactly makes them change their minds later. These emotional changes are there but are not developed enough to be convincing.
This makes many scenes seem emotionally removed. The film tells us what is happening, but it doesn’t always make us feel it. The best dramas tend to establish a strong emotional base before advancing the story. In this instance, the base is rather shaky. Consequently, some significant moments go by without making the impact they deserve.
I also found some of the supporting characters to be poorly written. Some of the villagers are portrayed as obstacles and antagonists, but the film does not provide much information about their motivations. Their opposition is sometimes more of a requirement for the script than a natural response from believable characters. These conflicts could have been made more complex with better writing and the social commentary much more effective.
Another major issue for me was the music. Background scores are important in setting the mood of the audience, but Nooru Saami often fails to get the tone right. Music is sometimes used in a serious scene that is comic, and lighter moments are treated seriously. This constant mismatch leads to confusion and reduces the emotional atmosphere. The visuals would sometimes convey one emotion and the music another. The music sometimes pulled me out of the scenes, rather than bringing them to life.
There are also parts of the film that are not very authentic. The lifestyle of the mother and her sons seems more artificial than organic. I don’t always feel like they’re living their lives as they should, so that’s another obstacle to getting emotionally involved. Also, the subplot of YouTube is not really integrated into the main story. These scenes do not add to the story, but distract from the main focus of the mother-child relationship.
Swasika is sincere and tries her best to take the emotional weight of the film. Her character is easy to sympathise with, and her portrayal is dignified, painful and resilient. The story itself is a feel good drama with all the ingredients. I was hoping for a more emotional experience, since Sasi is known for his emotional storytelling. Unfortunately, the film never really makes the most of its good idea and turns it into a great film.
Ultimately, Nooru Saami is to be commended for tackling a social issue and for trying to tell a story that many movies don’t bother with. But it never reaches its potential due to weak emotional setups, poorly developed character motivations, inconsistent music, and an artificial narrative tone. I liked the message of the film, but I didn’t like the delivery of the message.
Rating: 2.5/5
There is also a movie released, called Chinna Chinna Aasai, which starred Indrans and Madhoo, is a good movie, should I also review it?
