NEEK MOVIE REVIEW
Cast: Ashok Selvan, Ritika Singh, Shivathmika Rajashekar, Mathew Thomas, Azhagam Perumal, Kaali Venkat
Director: Dhanush
Rating: 3.25/5
Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam (NEEK) is just another love story. In fact, it even bills itself as “a usual love story” – then proceeds to both embrace and subvert that very ordinariness.
The film follows Prabhu, a passionate young chef who finds himself caught between two worlds: a practical potential marriage with his schoolmate Preethi, and the unresolved feelings for his ex-girlfriend Nila, whose wedding invitation arrives at precisely the wrong moment. When Preethi suggests he attend the wedding to find closure, Prabhu embarks on a journey to Goa that forms the emotional core of this breezy but uneven romantic comedy.
Director Dhanush demonstrates a deft touch with the film’s lighter moments, particularly in scenes that capture the casual, pragmatic approach many young people now take toward relationships. The cinematography shifts beautifully between dreamy romanticism and candid realism, creating a visual language that feels authentically Gen Z without trying too hard. Mathew Thomas as Prabhu’s friend steals nearly every scene he’s in, delivering the film’s best lines with impeccable comic timing.
Where NEEK stumbles is in its emotional depth. The performances, while charming, rarely cut beneath the surface, making it difficult to fully invest in the central romance. The characters are likable but thinly drawn, with dialogue that sometimes feels more like the writer’s voice than authentic character expression. GV Prakash Kumar’s music, save for the catchy “Golden Sparrow,” serves the story without elevating it.
The film’s greatest strength lies in its understanding of modern romance – the way it acknowledges that today’s youth navigate relationships with a blend of practicality and passion. When Preethi calmly processes Prabhu’s confession about his ex, or when Nila’s fiancé Aravindh shows unexpected kindness, NEEK offers glimpses of emotional intelligence that transcend its formulaic structure.
By the time the story reaches its conclusion, NEEK has proven itself to be a pleasant, if not particularly profound, film. It captures the aesthetic and attitude of contemporary youth culture while still delivering the comfort of familiar romantic tropes – a usual love story told with unusual charm.