Naradan

{{Short description|2022 film by Aashiq Abu}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}

{{Use Indian English|date=February 2022}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Naradan

| image = Naaradan.film.jpeg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Aashiq Abu

| producer = Santhosh T. Kuruvilla
Rima Kallingal
Aashiq Abu

| writer = Unni R.

| starring = Tovino Thomas
Anna Ben

| music = Yakzan Gary Pereira
Neha Nair

| cinematography = Jaffer Zadique

| editing = Saiju Sreedharan

| studio = OPM Cinemas

| distributor = OPM Cinemas

| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2022|03|03}}

| runtime = 149 minutes{{cite web|date=2022-03-15|title=Naaradan |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/naaradan-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdazmdg5 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315203822/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/naaradan-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdazmdg5 |archive-date=2022-03-15|access-date=2022-03-15|website= British Board of Film Classification }}

| country = India

| language = Malayalam

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Naradan is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Aashiq Abu. The film stars Tovino Thomas, Anna Ben and Sharafudheen in lead roles.{{cite news|title='Naaradhan,' starring Tovino and Anna Ben, is a thriller – Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/naaradhan-starring-tovino-and-anna-ben-is-a-thriller/articleshow/78850314.cms|access-date=2021-02-09|website=The Times of India|last1=Soman |first1=Deepa }}{{cite web|title='നാരദനു'മായി ആഷിഖ് അബു; ടൊവിനോയും അന്ന ബെന്നും ഒന്നിക്കുന്നു|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/ashiq-abu-tovino-thomas-anna-ben-new-movie-naaradhan-1.5155309|access-date=2021-02-09|website=Mathrubhumi|date=25 October 2020 }}{{cite web|title=Tovino Thomas, Anna Ben roped in for Aashiq Abu's Naradan|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2020/10/24/tovino-thomas-anna-ben-in-aashiq-abu-naradan-movie.html|access-date=2021-02-09|website=OnManorama|date=24 October 2020 }}

The film was originally scheduled to be released in April 2021, but was postponed due to the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India. After multiple postponements, the film was theatrically released on 3 March 2022 along with Bheeshma Parvam.

Plot

Chandraprakash, an upcoming journalist working with the channel News Malayalam, is a talk show host and television news anchor with a huge audience appeal. Chandraprakash is under pressure for doing stories that increase the channel's rating from his editor and bosses. When a fellow journalist, Pradeep does a new story and lands a job at News Malayalam, Chandraprakash keeps aside his own moral principles and focuses on being number one. Chandraprakash meets a politician, Babuji, who offers him a chance to start a new channel, Narada News. Investors seeking new revenue streams invest in Chandraprakash. He becomes a kingmaker through Narada, an influential person who is able to provoke social violence. Chandraprakash uses his strategy of fabricated and half-baked stories to meet his ends, beginning the channel with a sting operation on the Minister of Forests, Thomman Varghese. However, things change when a social media celebrity Mudiyan asks some questions to Chandraprakash in a lift, after which he posts the video on social media which led to many trolls. Chandraprakash fabricates a narcotic report against Mudiyan. Since he is innocent, Adv. Shaakira Mohammed meets him and decides to fight against Chandraprakash. Shaakira reveals all the illegal activities Chandraprakash has done to increase TRP in front of the court, which leads to Chandraprakash being arrested and sent to prison.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

}}

Music

=Songs=

The soundtrack features songs composed by Sekhar Menon. The Song Thannatthaan was Co-composed by Fejo and Manchild.{{cite web|url=https://gaana.com/song/thannatthaan |title=Thannatthaan MP3 Song Download by Fejo (Thannatthaan (From "Naradan"))| Listen Thannatthaan Malayalam Song Free Online |publisher=Gaana |date= |accessdate=2022-08-23}} Rex Vijayan played guitar for Thannatthan.{{Cite web | title=Naradhan Movie Review: By A Weak Direction And Script ‘Naradhan’ Failed To Create An Impact. - Kerala9.com | url=https://www.kerala9.com/reviews/naradan-movie-review-naradhan-failed-to-create-an-impact-a-movie-that-makes-fun-of-journalism/ | access-date=2025-05-10 | website=www.kerala9.com}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Naradan{{cite web|url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/song/neeyethaa-from-naradan/NxImZjZyA1E|title = Neeyethaa (From "Naradan") (Full Song) – Dj Sekhar, MC Couper, Marthyan – Download or Listen Free – JioSaavn|date = 28 February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://gaana.com/album/naaradhan |title=Thannatthaan (From "Naradan") Song Download: Thannatthaan (From "Naradan") MP3 Malayalam Song Online Free on |publisher=Gaana |date= |accessdate=2022-08-23}}

| type = Soundtrack

| artist = Sekhar Menon

| cover =

| border =

| alt =

| released = 28 February 2022

| recorded = 2020–2022

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Feature film soundtrack

| length = {{Duration|m=6|s=17}}

| language = Malayalam

| label = OPM Records

| producer = Sekhar Menon

| chronology = Sekhar Menon

| prev_title = Kozhi Punk

| prev_year = 2020

| next_title = 03:00 AM

| next_year = 2022

| misc =

}}

{{tracklist

| headline = Naradan

| total_length = 06:17

| extra_column = Artist(s)

| title1 = Neeyetha

| lyrics1 = MC Couper, Marthyan

| length1 = 2:59

| extra1 = MC Couper, Marthyan

| title2 = Thannatthan

| lyrics2 = Fejo, Manchild

| length2 = 3:18

| extra2 = Fejo

}}

=Original soundtrack=

The original soundtrack is composed and produced by Yakzan Gary Pereira and Neha Nair.

{{Infobox album

| name = Naradan{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/naradan-original-sound-track/1612700371|title=Naradan (Original Sound Track) by Yakzan Gary Pereira & Neha Nair}}

| type = film

| artist = Yakzan Gary Pereira and Neha Nair

| cover =

| border =

| alt =

| released = 3 March 2022

| recorded = 2020–2022

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Film Score

| length = {{Duration|m=20|s=29}}

| language = Malayalam

| label = OPM Records

| producer = Yakzan Gary Pereira and Neha Nair

| chronology = Yakzan Gary Pereira and Neha Nair

| prev_title = Sumesh and Ramesh

| prev_year = 2021

| next_title = Vaashi

| next_year = 2022

| misc = {{external media

| audio1 = {{YouTube|YsTaHCzdeh4|Original Soundtrack}}

}}}}

{{Tracklist

| headline = Naradan (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

| total_length = 20:29

| title1 = Birth Of CP

| length1 = 02:39

| title2 = Call Me CP

| length2 = 02:05

| title3 = Countdown To Naradha

| length3 = 00:51

| title4 = Blackmailing The Minister

| length4 = 02:42

| title5 = I Know Where You live

| length5 = 01:08

| title6 = Shakira's Journey

| length6 = 02:25

| title7 = Dethroning CP

| length7 = 03:27

| title8 = The Magistrate

| length8 = 01:25

| title9 = The Power Of Justice

| length9 = 03:45

}}

Production

The film was announced in October 2020. Principal photography began on 25 January 2021.{{cite web|last=Madhu|first=Vignesh|date=2020-10-24|title=Naradhan: Tovino Thomas and Anna Ben in Aashiq Abu's next|url=http://onlookersmedia.in/latestnews/naradhan-tovino-thomas-anna-ben-aashiq-abus-next/|access-date=2021-02-09|website=onlookersmedia}}{{cite web|last=CUE|first=THE|title=ടൊവിനോയുടെ നാരദൻ തുടങ്ങി, സ്വിച്ചോൺ ചെയ്ത് റിമ, ക്ലാപ്പടിച്ച് അന്ന ബെൻ|url=https://www.thecue.in/film-news/2021/01/25/tovino-thomas-anna-ben-ashiue-abu-naradhan-shooting-started|access-date=2021-02-09|website=The Cue|date=25 January 2021 |language=ml}}{{Cite news|work=Filmfare|url=https://m.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/tovino-thomas-and-anna-ben-to-star-in-in-aashiq-abus-naradan-44472.amp|title=Tovino Thomas and Anna Ben to star in Aashiq Abu's Naradan|access-date=24 October 2020}} The film's shoot was wrapped up on 12 March 2021.{{cite web|date=12 March 2021|title=TOVINO THOMAS WRAPS UP HIS NEXT 'NARADHAN'|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/tovino-thomas-wraps-up-his-next-naradhan-movie-malayalam-news-282237|access-date=19 December 2021|website=Indiaglitz}}

Release

The film was originally scheduled to be released in April 2021, but was postponed due to the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India.{{cite web|date=25 January 2021|title=ആഷിഖ് അബു – ടൊവിനോ ചിത്രം, 'നാരദന്' തുടക്കം|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/aashiq-abu-tovino-thomas-anna-ben-movie-naradhan-shooting-started-1.5386479|access-date=19 December 2021|website=Mathrubhumi}} The film was later scheduled to release on 27 January 2022,{{cite web|date=19 December 2021|title=Naradhan First Look : 'മിന്നല്‍ മുരളി'ക്ക് ശേഷം ടൊവീനോ; ആഷിക് അബുവിന്‍റെ 'നാരദന്‍' ഫസ്റ്റ് ലുക്ക്|url=https://www.asianetnews.com/entertainment-news/naradhan-first-look-tovino-thomas-aashiq-abu-unni-r-santhosh-t-kuruvilla-rima-kallingal-r4cj1p|website=Asianet News}} but then postponed due to spreading of Omicron.{{cite web |date=15 January 2022 |title=ഒമിക്രോൺ വ്യാപനം; ടൊവീനോയുടെ 'നാരദനും' വരാൻ വൈകും |trans-title=Naradhan movie release postponed due to covid omicron threat |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2022/01/15/naradhan-movie-release-postponed-due-to-covid-omicron-threat.html |website=Malayala Manorama |language=ml}}

The film was then released on 3 March 2022 along with Mammootty starrer Bheeshma Parvam.{{cite web|date=4 February 2022|title='നാരദൻ' മാർച്ചിൽ തീയേറ്ററുകളിലേക്ക്; റിലീസ് തീയതി പുറത്ത് വിട്ടു|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/tovino-thomas-aashiq-abu-movie-naradhan-movie-naradhan-to-release-on-march-1.6417739|website=Mathrubhumi}}

Reception

Naaradan received generally positive reviews from critics and audience. Bollywood Life gave 4.5/5 and wrote "Tovino Thomas and Anna Ben deliver the most stinging MASTERPIECE on TRP-hungry journalism".{{cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodlife.com/reviews/naradan-movie-review-tovino-thomas-and-anna-ben-deliver-the-most-stinging-masterpiece-on-trp-hungry-journalism-latest-malayalam-film-news-2020622|title=Naradan movie review: Tovino Thomas and Anna Ben deliver the most stinging MASTERPIECE on TRP-hungry journalism|website=Bollywood Life|date=3 March 2022 }} Times of India gave 3.5/5 and wrote "A closer look at TRP chasing newsrooms".{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/naradan/movie-review/89981675.cms|title=Naradan Movie Review: A closer look at TRP chasing newsrooms|website=Times of India|last1=Soman |first1=Deepa }} Firstpost gave 3.5/5 and wrote "Tovino Thomas, Anna Ben land a slap on the face of India's fake-news-peddling media".{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/naradan-movie-review-tovino-thomas-anna-ben-land-a-slap-on-the-face-of-indias-fake-news-peddling-media-10429481.html|title=Naradan movie review: Tovino Thomas, Anna Ben land a slap on the face of India's fake-news-peddling media|website=Firstpost|date=4 March 2022 }} The News Minute gave 3.5/5 and wrote "Tovino-Aashiq Abu film shows reality of new age journalism".{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/naradan-review-tovino-aashiq-abu-film-shows-reality-new-age-journalism-161545|title=Naradan review: Tovino-Aashiq Abu film shows reality of new age journalism|website=The News Minute|date=3 March 2022 }} Indian Express gave 3.5/5 and wrote "Tovino-Aashiq Abu film shows reality of new age journalism".{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/naaradan-review-tovino-thomas-shines-as-a-news-criminal-7799822|title=Naaradan review: Tovino Thomas shines in thriller about exploitative journalism|website=Indian Express|date=4 March 2022 }} Pinkvilla gave 3/5 and wrote "Tovino Thomas shines on screen as a news reporter in this thrilling story".{{cite web|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/naradan-movie-review-tovino-thomas-shines-screen-news-reporter-thrilling-story-1037570|title=Naradan Movie Review: Tovino Thomas shines on screen as a news reporter in this thrilling story|website=PINKVILLA|date=3 March 2022|access-date=28 August 2022|archive-date=14 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314094140/https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/naradan-movie-review-tovino-thomas-shines-screen-news-reporter-thrilling-story-1037570|url-status=dead}} Ottplay gave 3/5 and wrote "Tovino Thomas' anti-hero act makes Aashiq Abu's slow-burning thriller gripping".{{cite web|url=https://www.ottplay.com/review/naradan-review-tovino-thomas-anti-hero-act-makes-aashiq-abus-slow-burning-thriller-gripping/ec98a08d06569|title=Naradan review: Tovino Thomas' anti-hero act makes Aashiq Abu's slow-burning thriller gripping|website=Ottplay}} Behindwoods gave 2.75 and wrote "Naaradan keeps you hooked with a tight screenplay on modern-day journalism".{{cite web|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/malayalam-movies/naradan/naradan-review.html|title=Naaradan is a Tovino show, with a razor-sharp focus on his character's development and barely any focus on side characters. With a more comprehensive character development, the film could have been better. Nevertheless, it's a gripping entertainer for the weekend|website=Behindwoods|date=3 March 2022 }}

References

{{Reflist}}