Talking about a vulnerable episode from her past, Nayanthara, a female superstar who was notoriously denied the chance to keep her personal affairs private, recalls the time when she was put to the test of virtue. Was placed in. “I have never talked about my past relationships. People assume a lot of things and they go along with the stories they want to believe,” she says. Gossip, and the resulting character assassination, has certainly become a normal part of being a movie star in India, and Nayanthara doesn’t say this just to gain your sympathy for superstars with sensationalist personal lives. Nor does she bother to use it as an opportunity to set the record straight (because why should anyone?).

with netflix Nayanthara: beyond the fairy taleNayanthara takes a confident, respectful step towards telling us about the life she lived and how it all culminated in her marriage with director-producer-lyricist Vignesh Shivan, who was the ying to her yang. In truly spectacular fashion, Nayanthara is also baring her soul to ask a simple question: What’s wrong about a woman looking for true love, if that love is all she means?

Thanks to all the pre-release drama, a lawsuit from a certain male superstar and gossip-obsessed internet trolls, the murmur was on all our lips Nayanthara: beyond the fairy tale As a star couple’s attempt to ‘commercialise their wedding cassette’. And in a way, it is just that; I mean, right from the beginning, we see a stage re-enactment of an anxious Nayanthara who opts out of discussing wedding plans to calm herself down. This, in retrospect, is a technique adopted to introduce Vignesh Shivan in the latter half of the documentary – to say how he is the man she always yearned for; Someone who can calm her nerves and reassure her that things will be okay.

But then again, there is enough and more in this story to underline that statement that such theatrics only bring a sense of skepticism, a disbelief that this could set off as yet another PR-driven display of arrogance. Thankfully, though, the stars are aligned for Nayan and Vicky, as the rest of the documentary manages to move beyond that trouble to tell a deeply personal and real story about the inner life of a female superstar and her true quest of a lifetime. Is. The love for which she is now famous.

The first part of director Amith Krishnan’s documentary traces the journey of Diana Kurian, a young woman from Thiruvalla, Kerala, to become ‘Lady Superstar’ Nayanthara. Sathyan Anthikad, prolific Malayalam film producer, who introduced Nayanthara in 2003 MansinakkareTells how he cast this young woman after seeing her in a popular magazine. Through interviews with the star herself and eminent personalities including director Fazil and producer Pushpa Kandasamy, we trace Nayanthara’s surreal evolution in Malayalam and Tamil cinema in the early 2000s.

Next, we look at the landmark moments of her career in Tamil – from the controversy that followed her bikini scene in Ajith Kumar’s film. badge Her second comeback as a leading heroine in the 2010s – to tell us what was the driving force behind the making of this superstar. Where the documentary scores high is in bringing out the right kind of guests, helping Nayanthara show us the ropes of making it big in an industry dominated by men. For example, Tamannaah Bhatia tells us a thing or two about how you have to show versatility to hold your ground, and how to break a pattern you have to be a part of that pattern. It’s interesting to see how these interviews have been structured to strike a balance between what was going on in Nayan’s career and personal front. Telugu superstar Nagarjuna opened up about his co-star’s temperament during 2006 OwnerAnd we immediately begin to hear the personal turmoil she was going through. While talking about your post-king queen Stardom, Tiruppur Subramaniam has mentioned how Nayanthara’s presence in a project would have increased the value of the film by ₹80–90 crore.

Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan on their wedding day. Photo Credit: Netflix

Halfway through, the documentary shifts its focus entirely to Nayanthara’s relationship with director Vignesh Shivan and not to how love blossomed while working on their 2015 film, Nanum Rowdy PaddyTill their wedding on June 9, 2022. The way they talk about how the other changed their life, or how they manage small setbacks when two souls are in love, we get many heartfelt moments that leave an impression. However, some things feel artificial and plastic, like the team dinner at a restaurant (is this the restaurant that has been serving ‘Japan Chicken’ ever since the couple expressed their fondness for it?).

It’s also strange how the film fast-forwards over the coming months. Nanum Rowdy PaddyWhen their relationship evolved beyond the superstar-director equation. Of course, Vicky quipped that she couldn’t believe it was true, but what was really going on in his mind, in his circle and among his friends was that he was actually dating Nayanthara. Was? How did he feel about Vignesh’s career, especially during the failure of his second film in 2018? Of course, the freedom to say what they want to say is up to the couple, but without the candor we saw at the beginning, the document falls short.

What really keeps you glued to the screen, apart from Vicky’s humor, is the feeling that someone finally got what she always aspired for. How the film shifted its focus entirely to her relationship is a statement in itself – one that underlines that even after achieving superstardom in films, she continued to build a kingdom for herself and her true love. Wanted to do.Nayanthara: beyond the fairy tale It’s beautiful when it tries to say the same thing.

Freshly written and composed ‘Kannana Kanne Nee’ that plays at the end of the film – because Dhanush has the rights to it Nanum Rowdy Paddy Song of the same name – Icing on the cake: Where there is love, there is a way.

Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale is currently streaming on Netflix