Natchathiram Nagargiradhu trailer: Everything is politics and love is no exception

On Friday, the makers of the upcoming Tamil film Natchathiram Nagargiradhu, directed by Pa Ranjith, released the trailer on social media. It shows glimpses of people from all walks of life expressing what love means to them. The trailer also focuses on heterosexual to queer relationships and how society perceives them, too. Natchathiram Nagargiradhu, which will hit the big screens on August 31, appears to have multiple important characters and is set against a theatrical backdrop.

The film features a slew of actors, including Kalidas Jayaram, Dushara Vijayan, Kalaiyarasan, Hari Krishnan, Vinoth, Subathra Robert, and Shabeer Kallarakkal, among others. It has cinematography by Kishor Kumar and editing by Selva RK. Tenma composed the music.

Bankrolled by Yaazhi Films and Neelam Productions, Natchathiram Nagargiradhu, wrapped shoots in December last year and is Ranjith’s return to the romance genre after Attakathi, his debut venture, which came out 10 years ago.

Perhaps there has never been a better time for queer characters in global cinema. Beyond narratives of visibility or affirmation, the lines between upliftment and victimhood have been delectably blurred, allowing LGBTQIA+ characters to take their rightful place in the cinematic world.

The streaming platforms also changed the entire representation of the LGBTQIA+ community whether it is Masoom, Modern Love or Inside Edge. According to Sridhar Rangayan, filmmaker, queer activist, and director of the KASHISH queer film festival, the streaming platforms are free from the marketing constraints of big-budget mainstream films and can offer a niche platform where ones with diverse storylines, mainly because the audience doesn't have to buy tickets for these films/shows.

Sridhar, in an interview, points out, that we still see caricaturish or villain portrayals of transgender persons, be it in Laxmi Bomb or Kanchana (Tamil). He feels it is high time that we sensitised the screenwriters and directors to tell more nuanced and realistic stories that go beyond the angst of who they are, why they are coming out, accepting them, and so on.

Pa Ranjith's unwavering attempt to depict simple life stories, simple truths, and common man politics is one of his most impressive qualities. This is ingrained in all aspects of the filmmaking process, which is why he has consistently been able to commercialise such powerful political scripts.