Expressing disappointment over Sasikumar's Nandhan film struggling to recover the investment, filmmaker and politician Thankar Bachan decried the tendency of critics and activists to look away from the film.
He appreciated the film, produced and directed by Era Saravanan, that has thrown light on the present social and cultural set-up in Tamil Nadu that gatekeeps power from the grasp of Dalits. He said the film showcases this problem in Tamil society even after the constitution enshrines Dalit representation in electoral politics. Thankar Bachan wondered why even Dalit activists failed to take the film's message forward.
He even criticised film critics for allegedly making this profession a means to only earn. He clarified that though he is not against commercial cinema, such films should not corrupt the mindset of people and spoil the next generation. He urged critics not to shift the focus of Tamil cinema to empty box-office numbers that has nothing to do with a common man.
The film that stars Suruthi Periyasamy as the female lead also stars Samuthirakani, Mathesh, Mithun, Katta Erumbu Stalin, V Gnanavelu, GM Kumar, Sithan Mohan and Sakthi Saravanan.
Upon its release on September 21, the film received mixed to negative reviews, with critics and the audience praising Nandhan for its story but criticising its execution.
Our CE review of the film read, "The film proclaims to throw light on the injustice meted out through caste discrimination but is focused on making us feel pity for the oppressed at the cost of their self-respect."
On the technical team, the film had music by Ghibran Vaibodha, cinematography by RV Saran, and editing by Nelson Anthony.