One day in Chennai: how a single day's chaos defines a film
In short: In Alphonse Puthren's directorial debut, a single day in Chennai becomes a high-stakes race against the clock. A jobless engineer, a stolen chain, and a looming 5 PM deadline collide in this thriller-cum-black comedy that explores the profound significance of time in human lives.
Released in May 2013, Neram—meaning 'Time'—is an action comedy that originated as a 2009 short film directed by Alphonse Puthren. The feature film was shot simultaneously in Malayalam and Tamil, a process described by lead actor Nivin Pauly as both tough and challenging. While the Malayalam version was released on 10 May 2013, the Tamil version followed a week later on 17 May 2013. The production featured Nivin Pauly and Nazriya Nazim in their respective Kollywood debuts. Supporting actors included Manoj K. Jayan and Bobby Simha in both language versions.
The narrative follows Mathew (or Vetri in Tamil), a computer engineering graduate struggling with unemployment and debt to a moneylender named Vatti Raja. The plot is driven by a series of escalating pressures, including a 5 PM deadline to repay his debt and a 5 PM appointment with his brother-in-law. This frantic timeline is punctuated by coincidences, such as a man being hit by an auto-rickshaw and the death of the moneylender in a chase. The protagonist's financial struggles are exacerbated when his friend John lends him money to settle his debt. Tensions rise further when Jeena is kidnapped by Raja's associates.
The film was a commercial success, earning ₹81 lakh (US$84,000) from just 73 screens during its opening weekend in Kerala. Its non-linear screenplay and fresh presentation earned positive reviews, with critics noting its ability to surprise audiences. The film's influence extended beyond its initial release, leading to remakes in Telugu as Run (2016) and Kannada as Kismath (2018), with a Hindi remake also planned by Puthren. The film's soundtrack was composed by Rajesh Murugesan, whose promotional song 'Pistah' gained significant viral popularity. Distribution was handled by Red Giant Movies in Tamil Nadu and LJ Films in Kerala.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Neram
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