Naina (2002 film)

Naina (transl. Father) is a 2002 Indian Tamil-language comedy horror film directed by Manobala. The film stars Jayaram in a dual role and Manya, with Vadivelu, Ramesh Khanna, Bhanupriya, Kovai Sarala, and Rajan P. Dev playing supporting roles. The film, produced by V. Santhakumar, was released on 30 August 2002.^[1]

The ghost of Annamalai is trying to communicate with his son Pasupathy. The latter, a taxi driver, is in love with the lawyer Vaanathi. Aavudaiyappan, a con medium, becomes the only one who can hear Annamalai. After being annoyed by Annamalai, Aavudaiyappan finally decides to help him. They meet Pasupathy, but Pasupathy seems to hate his deceased father.

In the past, the widower Annamalai was a wealthy man and womaniser. Every time there was a good news in his village, he tonsured Pasupathy's head. He later got married a second time with Azhagu Nachiya, and they had a daughter. During a ceremony, a person pushed from behind in Yajna. The villagers thought that the innocent Pasupathy killed his father, so he ran away.

Annamalai does not know the person who killed him. Pasupathy decides to go back to his village. He wants to prove his innocence at all costs and wants to find the one who killed his father. When Azhagu Nachiyar meets Velu, who is Annamalai's brother, she becomes unconscious. Annamalai regains her consciousness and makes her overhear Velu's conversation. It turns out that Velu had killed Annamalai to grab his property and blamed the murder on Pasupathy. In the climax, Pasupathy will performs the last rites of his father, while Velu tries to disrupt the rites. Velu gets burned and also becomes a ghost. In the end, Pasupathy joins his father's position in the village.

The film was shot in Chennai, Ottapalam, Nelliampathi, Thrissur and Alappuzha.^[2] Jayaram played dual roles, that of father and son.^[3] It was the last film directed by Manobala before his death in 2023.^[4]

The soundtrack was composed by Sabesh–Murali, with lyrics written by Pa. Vijay, Viveka, and K. Subash.^[5]

Malini Mannath of Chennai Online wrote, "The film probably would have turned out better, if the director was clear as to whether he wanted the film to be a comic caper or a sentimental, suspense thriller. An injudicious blending of both, has resulted in a film that fails to satisfy".^[6] BizHat wrote that Jayaram was miscast, Bhanupriya was wasted and criticised the music but appreciated the graphics.^[7] The film was also reviewed by Sify.^[8]

• Naina at IMDb