Ethir Neechal(1968)

Cast : Nagesh, Sowcar Janaki, Jayathi, Muthuraman, Major Sowtharajan etc

Plot and Storyline:

Ethir Neechal(1968) is a tamil comedy drama film directed by K.Balachandar. It starts Nagesh as the main protagonist, a comedy character playing the lead, one of a very different film at the time. Madhu( nagesh) is an orphan who grows up in a crowded apartment, People call him  Madipadi (Staircase) Madhu because he stays under a staircase through out his life. The film starts in a regular busy day, Madhu works as s servant for all the people in the apartment and manages his study in his college. Though he seems to be happy helping them, the people in the apartment are selfish and in many times ridicule his current state.  Though the plot seems to be tragic and filled with grief for the lead. the film is filled with comic moments.

The actual plot starts when Paaru( jayanthi) comes to the apartment, She was an inpatirnt at a medical institution but her parents keep this as scrent as it would reduce her chances of getting married,  At the time of her engagement some how the news of her previos medical history gets leaked to the apartment members, knowing this the groom asks for 15000 as dowry, Parru calls of her wedding by behaving like a mentally unstable person. This makes Parru an outcaste in her apartment, The twist begins in the film when Parru's parents make plans for Madhu and Parru's marriage.

The character of Madhu is of a selfless person, one who is bound by loyalty to help all his members of his apartment, Nagesh beautifully portrays Madhu's role especially when he is helpless to do anything but to accept the choice they give to him. The scene when he decides to start loving Parru just so that he could marry her later and the scene when he decides to break up with her when another marriage proposal gets arranged for her  by her parents. When Parru asks him why is he being so adjustive to the people around him Maadhu replies " Beggars can't be choosers"

 Major Southarajan and Muthuram are the only ones who support Maadhu in his difficult times , when he blamed for a robbery in his apartment and when he is unable to make it to the exam because of an accident. Friendship and Respect are beautifully shown by these to characters.

Ethir Neechal can be considered as one of the films with a rare social messages in many cases, There is talk about Woman's freedom, Parru's character as such is meant to portray the hardship a woman faces in marriage, and how she is suppressed of her views during her marriage, It is a very bold attempt to caste a female lead in such a role but it was well suited for the film. There is also scene when a rumour is raised that Maadhu is not an orphan but a son of a millionaire to which all members of the apartment react with sudden care and affection towards him. Even Maadhu is caught in this rumour and behaves differently because of his new found Millionaire dad. It just shows how people change their nature so quickly.

Verdict:

Unlike any other film, There is no specific character in a negative shade or a plot as such in the film, But the film is not event at a single point throughout the film, Nagesh's brilliance to make even the Mundane of stuff funny is sheer genius. there is no gap, he has so many tricks up his sleeve. Many time i could associate him with Woody allen(Just a thought!)
Ethir Neechal is just a story of the problems which the protagonist faces to finish his degree. It his his street smart ways and his clever thinking and hard work which leeds him to victory finally. It can be considered one of the Milestone films in Nagesh's career,  KB sir is know for his unique scripts and subjects. This film can be considered one of his masterpieces