Nadu Center Review: Timepass, Lightweight Teen Drama

BOTTOM LINE
Timepass, Lightweight Teen Drama

PLATFORM
JioHotstar

RUNTIME
3 Episodes | 1 hr 26 mins

What Is the Show About?

After a tumultuous episode in his life, basketball-enthusiast Pradeep breaks up with his girlfriend and is forced to move to a new school, away from his comfort zone. Parvathi, the vice principal of the school, seeks to revive the stature of the institution with increased focus on sports. Pradeep, meanwhile, earns new enemies, a few friends and begins to find his groove, with help from his father.

Performances

SK Surya, who hogs most of the limelight in the first three episodes, is quite camera-friendly, portraying the struggles of a boy in a vulnerable phase of his life. Asha Sharath has a strong screen presence as always. Kalaiyarasan and Surya Sethupathi’s characters aren’t fully fleshed out, but you get glimpses of their journeys in the show. Elango Kumanan, playing Pradeep’s father, makes an impression. Familiar names like Delhi Ganesh, Janaki Sabesh are alright in supporting roles. Sasikumar’s presence is minimal, only credited as a cameo.

Analysis

Nadu Center, the new Tamil show on Jio Hotstar, helmed by Naru Narayanan, is a familiar tale tackling teenage rebellion in a campus backdrop, where youngsters fight, fumble, make friends, invite trouble, and find love. There’s sufficient emphasis on sports to mark this transition. The journeys are messy, dramatic and entertaining, and the show’s broad theme comes with a natural universal appeal.

Nothing is to be taken too seriously with Nadu Center, it just wants to be an easy watch peppered with a generous dose of drama, romance and friendship. The tale is predominantly narrated through Pradeep’s character, a teenage boy who is confronting his inner demons, anxiety after a troublesome episode in his life. His world changes when he shifts from a ‘posh’ school to a ‘mass’ school.

The show starts with a visually arresting depiction of Pradeep’s inner turmoil, the battles within his mind. Naturally, as one would expect from a change of school, there’s some ragging, hostility from a bunch of boys, an awkwardness in striking up conversations and adapting to the surroundings. He continues to be in touch with his ex (who isn’t interested in him much) and a friend, Dakshina Murthy.

What’s more interesting is Pradeep’s situation back home. An elder brother remains protective of him despite their tiffs, the mother is worried if he’s losing his way in life, the father adopts a balanced approach and is confident that his son is mature enough to tackle his problems. The conversations between Pradeep and his dad are particularly refreshing, suggesting a change in parenting methods.

The key conflict in Pradeep’s life is his uncontrolled rebellious teenage rage. The early episodes indicate that the show is about the boy discovering himself, making mistakes. His friend’s character, Dakshina Murthy, who hails from an orthodox family, skips classes and gives viewer reactions to the latest Tamil movies in theatres, ensures some entertainment.

Another character that showcases flashes of potential is the vice-principal Parvathi, who, much like Pradeep, has gone through a traumatic set of events and wants to redeem herself by reviving the school’s fortunes. The later episodes in the show are expected to revolve around how basketball reenters Pradeep’s life through Parvathi, him letting go of the past and embracing the new normal.

Several moments in the show also fall into a predictable pattern. The male students fantasise about the ‘beautiful’ French teacher in the school. Students from marginal backgrounds end up doing odd jobs, even drugs. There are only two kinds of backdrops – the privileged higher middle class and the low-income class; there’s hardly anything fresh in the portrayal of such characters.

Nadu Center is a comfy, easy-to-watch, low-stakes teen drama grappling with the highs and lows in the life of a few students. It’s a decent way to kill time, even if it doesn’t break any new ground.

Music and Other Departments?

The music score, while nudging the story forward, does the needful, though far from exemplary. On the technical front, it is the cinematography (by Hestin Jose Joseph) that registers a strong impact, working around the show’s limitations smartly, without affecting its aesthetic value. The crisp episodes ensure easy viewing, and the stories are simple, relatable, avoiding anything complex.

Highlights?

Light and relatable

Apt casting, neat acting

Has a good variety of character

Drawbacks?

Offers hardly anything new

Stereotypical characterisation

Lacks depth

Did I Enjoy It?

Works in parts

Will You Recommend It?

If you want to kill time and seek something lightweight, timepass, go for it

 Nadu Center OTT Web Series Review by M9