Nayanthara is a rarity in an industry dominated by men. A “lady superstar” who achieved success through hard work and overturned many established showbiz norms, she has featured in many big South Indian films over the years, based on her crowd-pulling ability.

This self-made Netflix documentary attempts to depict the rise and rise of Nayanthara despite many setbacks. It is not an objective account, but despite the limitations of its format, Nayanthara: beyond the fairy tale Is entertaining and informative.

The release date of the documentary coincides with Nayanthara’s birthday – the actor was born forty years ago on November 18. It is a celebration of his life and career. Needless to say, it is not common for a female star to receive the full documentary treatment in India.

Nayanthara: beyond the fairy tale A good, if somewhat incomplete, job of presenting an assessment of his successes as an actor and a star with a fan base that could rival, if not surpass, that of any major male A-lister. Can’t get out.

Documentaries, on the other hand, are like two different films. Half of it focuses on the transformation of an industry outsider, a casual actress, into an authentic power player in an industry where female artists have to deal with extremely limited shelf lives.

The second half of the film is an intense take on Nayanthara’s “dreamy” marriage with Vignesh Shivan, who directed her in Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015). The two fell in love, remained in love with each other for many years, got married and are now parents of twins. This part of the story is told largely in the couple’s own words.

A film crew was allowed to film preparations for the wedding and what they recorded was given plenty of screen time. As a result, the documentary doesn’t seem to go “beyond the fairy tale” as far as it could.

However, the wedding – the culmination of Nayanthara’s search for true love, which, according to her, is “the hardest thing” in the world – is not entirely different from what the film wants. But it is at its best when it highlights Nayanthara as a true-blue, never-say-die professional woman.

A major part of the 82-minute film is based on the ups and downs of Nayanthara’s two-decade-long journey in films. Co-actors and directors have shared their experiences with the star-actor who, through consistent work, has achieved a position where she has the kind of power that is usually off limits to female actors.

The film features the memories and opinions of actors Rana Daggubati, Vijay Sethupathi, Parvathy Thiruvoth, Tamannaah and Nagarjuna, directors Vishnuvardhan, Krish Jagarlamudi, Atlee and Nelson Dilipkumar (one of Vignesh’s closest friends) and Nayanthara’s mother Omana Kurien.

They help director and editor Amit Krishnan craft a story that holds special significance at a time when women artistes (especially in Kerala) are in the midst of a battle for gender equality and safety.

An actress at the forefront of Kerala’s Women in Cinema Collective emphasizes that Nayanthara took steps to establish herself in the film industry at a time when “being a powerful woman was tantamount to witchcraft”.

Another contemporary of hers points out that Nayanthara denied us the notion that a female actor’s status is determined by the male actor with whom she is paired. Since the mid-2010s, Nayanthara has carried a series of films on her shoulders that highlight female power of an unprecedented type and degree.

The respect given to him by the industry and his fans absolutely tells a story. But he did not get it served on a plate. Had to do something to earn it. But it fits the bill for an actor who has weathered many storms – brutal criticism, a messy break-up, a forced sabbatical after one of the most memorable peaks of his career, and mistakes that almost cost him his life.

But not only did she persevere through these challenges, but also used the disappointments as opportunities to change the direction of her career to her and the industry’s benefit.

It would be impossible for such a long documentary to make space for all or even most of his 75-plus films. Nayanthara: beyond the fairy tale Only a few of his superhit films are mentioned, with directors and co-actors providing fleeting inside information about the films’ genesis and execution.

The story, of course, begins with her birth in the family of an Indian Air Force officer and his housewife-wife (whose role in Nayanthara’s life is repeatedly emphasized) and ends with a grand wedding in which Tamil And many stalwarts of Hindi film industries were present.

As already stressed, this film needs to significantly expand the segments focused on her professional achievements to fully showcase the enormity of what Nayanthara has achieved, and what In-depth information can be given about what makes them a powerhouse.

not that Nayanthara: beyond the fairy tale Does not give a glimpse of important turning points in the actor’s career. These are just fleeting flashes, not a constant spotlight. But all is said and done, the extended glimpse into the actor’s home, life and love story will definitely be a big draw for fans of the star.

After being seen and featured in a print advertisement by Malayalam director Sathyan Anthikad Mansinakkare (2003), a film he was passionate about and thought would be a one-time release, but it took him no time at all to find more buyers. Films starring Mohanlal, Rajinikanth and Nagarjuna fell into her lap and she soon established herself as a leading female star in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu cinema.

The documentary highlights the personal setbacks he faced in the first decade of his acting career, one of which almost cost him his career. The following steps threatened to stop him in his tracks but each of them ultimately took the form of an encouragement for him to re-invent himself.

By his own admission, his lowest point was the film Ghazni. The documentary pauses to read us a sentence from a particularly damning review of her performance in the film: “A disturbing, overweight Nayanthara, whose fat appears like a Mexican wave at her waist in a song sequence. ” Ouch!”

The shameless body shaming strengthened her resolve. Over the next few years, she appeared in a bikini scene badgeIt was an issue for everyone, she recalls. Nayanthara claims that it was necessary, so she did it. She wasn’t, she insists, trying to prove a point. If nothing else, the act of defiance was a testament to her confidence as a professional who was willing to do anything to do justice to herself and her work.

The two banners behind the film – Rowdy Pictures and WikiFlix – are owned by Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan. The result could have easily been a dull biography. From the actor’s fans’ point of view, the documentary serves its purpose to perfection. So, expect him to stick to whatever he has to say about Nayanthara and her place in the industry.