Nanban (2012) User Reviews

Vijay returns with good performance ...this pongal all is well

[thyagarajanc · 9/10 · 15 January 2012]

Nanban:great movie:) :) after a long time impressed with vijay's performance and the credit should go to shankar for adopting a remake film to such a extent.Though i have seen 3 idiots over 100 times i don't wish to underrate nanban as it really lived up to the original...everyone did their roles neatly .thanks to shankar for reproducing the magic of 3 idiots for Tamil audiences.this film will be treat for those who have not seen 3 idiots.this is specially for Tamil audiences.i have rated this movie 9 stars for shankar's direction,vijay's much better performance,especially srikanth and for bringing the 3 idiots magic to a negligible level.vijay,sathyaraj and sathyan performance can never be equalled with original actors they were natural and at their best so i have not given the whole 10 stars FOR VIJAY HATERS(including me): Aamir khan and boman irani's performance can never be recreated.but vijay done a good job and i felt he has done his best in nanban...so this time we don't have any chances to disrespect him. All Izz Well...

Nanban is not only a treat for vijay fans this time, But it rocks for all good cinema fans !!!

[scarletpimpernal143 · 9/10 · 14 January 2012]

I would say that Nanban is one of the few remake movies which is emerging as a huge response from all sides it has been released.Shankar has done a great job of giving justice to the original version 3 idiots as he has transformed the movie adapting to Tamil fans without any of the plus points of the block buster Hindi movie.The message about education conveyed through this movie is really good and It is seriously an eye opener to many of the educational institutions and family !!!

Moving on to the performance of various characters. Vijay has given his best ever performance till date. He has given a massive come back after some critics against him and also his acting in this kind of movies rocks more than his mass commercial movies.And as Shankar said "After watching this film, even an antivijay fan would become his fan" has come true as i saw in most of my friends.

Jeeva too taking up the role of Sarman joshi, has acted nice in all parts especially in that humour sequences encountered with Sathya raj. Shrikanth has done justice to his character fitting into the shoes of Madhavan.

Ileana's performance looks a bit less compared to Kareena kapoor but has done good in some scenes.Sathyan as Silencer has completely satisfied his role compared to the Hindi version. Sathya Raj though in certain suitations imitates the Hindi version character but has really done a superb job in this movie as he is the best option to take up this role.

Of all the songs in the movie,"Askku laska" and "En frienda pola yaaru machan" seems to be the winners.Locations and camera works in the movie gives us a fresh look to the movie.This movie is the Best Option for celebrating Pongal With a Message.

Finally This will be Super HIT Block Buster movie for sure!!!

And a Hattrick For VIJAY !! PongALL IZZ WELL !!

an awesome remake finely executed.....

[karizmabadrinath · 9/10 · 14 January 2012]

"nanban" is an awesome movie remake flick made by "shankar".. "nanban" the remake of blockbuster"3 idiots" is superbly taken and is nicely executed.. the direction is superb and the effort "shankar" has taken to present it in a pleasant should be appreciated.. his making in the ask la ska and "irukaana" are outstanding.. vi jay after the flop of "sura" has given the hat-trick hit for his fans as "kaavalan", "velayudham" and "nanban".. his acting has been matured and his expression in all aspects.. the other casting are also good. the music scored by Harris is brilliant. the dance choreography in "irukkana" is good.. vi jay has fulfilled 90% of the "aamir" khan's acting even being a "mass hero". now vi jay is going in the right track and he will surely capture the crown for "the next super star"

Gr8 masterpiece for tamil audience!!

[pravinsosweet · 10/10 · 15 January 2012]

First thing, I am not a vijay fan!!!Please stop comparing the Hindi version with Tamil version! If u are there to compare then it is your mistake in going to the movie.Hats off to the entire team for bringing out a great, colorful movie for Tamil audience. And regarding the performances,it is easy to comment from here. But to say the truth really an excellent job from all the actors.I feel only a director like shankar cud have done this remake so colorfully ,bringing out the best from everyone..Though it is a frame by frame remake,there isn't a single scene which makes you bore.vijay, you are great!!!! If he has copied the style of aamir khan,people would have said easily that vijay has imitated aamir.But he has tried the role in his own style suiting the Tamil audience. For those who have watched it already, you ll be eager to relate scenes and you ll find it interesting.And for freshers, this is a real treat for you. Finally to conclude, this nanban is a masterpiece and will surely remain in the hearts of everyone!!! All is well!!

A Poignant Movie by Vijay after a long time

[rocky2689 · 10/10 · 14 January 2012]

There were many apprehensions when everyone heard vijay will be doing the role made famous by Amir Khan. At the end, everyone who watched the movie realized that shankar was spot on with his castings. The same goes for Jiva, Srikanth, Sathyaraj and the rest of the cast. The story basically revolves around Pari(vijay) and how he transforms the lives of his friends senthil(jiva) and venkat(srikanth) and disappears after their college graduation. The two friends along with one of their old college mate, who has his own set of intentions, set on a journey to find Pari. Ileana, sathyaraj and sathyan all have done a neat job. The dialogues by Madhan Karky really standout and is almost flawless. Harris Jeyraj music may not be liked by all, but he has done a commendable job in satisfying a majority of the audience.

The bottom line is Shankar-Vijay combo has come out with this year's first blockbuster and make sure you watch it in Theaters.

Ilayathalapathy Vijay's Class movie for his fans:)

[noufalgp · 10/10 · 16 January 2012]

It has been many years since we saw a Vijay film sans heroism, fights and villains – a film that relies only on emotions, relationships and situations, where character is the hero. There was Jeeva of Kadhalukku Mariyadhai, Kutty of Thulladha Manamum Thullum, Bhoomi of Kavalan, but they were still avatars of Vijay who are heroes in their own right. But the hero this time is Panjavan Paarivendhan aka Paari – the hero Vijay has completely got into the skin of the character that you forget the hero in him. He is your friend, your nanban. Literature The script of the movie done by Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi has been beautifully adopted for Tamil audience such that you don't feel anything alien in the whole proceedings. The dialogs written by Madhan Karky and Shankar are crisp, youthful and fit in exactly with the mood of the scenes. The speech of Silencer, which was much acclaimed in the original, leaves the audience ROTFL much talked about song lyrics, especially Ask Laska and 'All Is Well', are well brought out in the visuals. Lot of intelligence has been put into the film and it has paid off. Chemistry The chemistry between the lead pair, though they appear together for very few scenes and couple of songs is really cute and they really make a good pair. Their subtle love that runs along with the story is a delight to watch. But what makes a bigger impression is the chemistry between the lead trio – Vijay, Jiiva and Srikanth. It has worked out so well, otherwise we would not have been on an emotional journey with them for 3+ hours.

If there is a backbone that supports the whole film, it is Vijay's role as Panchavan Paarivendhan, which I doubt anyone else would have done with such utmost sincerity and at the same time fitting perfectly for the character. Having played many physically powerful mass hero roles and sweet romantic hero characters, he has shed all his heroism and image to underplay the role of a mentally strong genius. As a naughty student wishing to see a change in education system, caring friend who wants his friends to get the best out of life, romantic lover who locks his emotions, daring youngster to challenge his dean, novice helping his lover's sister to deliver a child – Vijay's role has a lot of dimensions to it and shines in each of it outstandingly. From an uneducated local mechanic to a college topper, everything comes to him with ease and all it requires is a skilled director to use it in a powerful script. And this time, everything has fallen into place which gives every fan the delight of watching Vijay in the role of a lifetime. Thalaivaa! You are great! To sum up, Nanban is one of the best engineered remakes. Disliking a film like this definitely prescribes you a doctor appointment for psychiatric cure. You see it as a copy, you copy paste your comments of hatred usually made for Vijay films. You see it as a remake, you will end up making only comparisons. You see it as a Vijay film, your bias on Vijay will alter your opinions. You see it as an entertainer, it gives you loads of entertainment, more than what you expect. It is a beautiful journey of life that every movie lover will enjoy.

Good Remake

[AnanthaKumar · 8/10 · 15 January 2012]

I watched the Hindi version of this film 5 times, as I'm a crazy on the novel "Five Point Someone – What not to do at IIT!", and "Nanban" was an exact resemblance of "3 Idiots", with an added song.

Found very hard to got a ticket, even in the second day!! (Mentioning this as the film was released in more than 15 theaters in Chennai)

Casting and acting were superb, and none would have seen such an acting from our "Ilaya Thalabathy" Vijay, with Srikanth, Sathyan and Jeeva.

"Aska Laska" song was catchy among others. Another combination of Shankar and Harris Jeyaraj has worked out very well.

A different Shankar's film, compared to his other films with technical boons, like with Enthiran, Boys.

"Nanban" -- A good film.

Nanban.

[stangerjoe · 14 January 2012]

Nanban.. Though its a remake of the Hindi movie 3 idiots. This movie has its unique charm. This is really gonna be a treat for all vi jay fans. Shankar has handled all the casts well and good. Its exactly a replica of the original Hindi movie.. the screenplay,acting and most of the dialogs are just translated the same. except for a few punches. Sathyaraj has tried to imitate the same as in Hindi version, and it has came out good.Music for both BGM and Songs are good. Illeana mesmerizes with her cute looks.No Mass dialogs or unwanted songs or any acts that spoils the movie.For those who haven't watched the Hindi version, its gonna be a fun filled treat.... Really a good come back for Vijay and hope he's going in the right track now.Good Job Vijay and Shankar. My Rating----> 7.5/10

Nanban - A feel good movie. Nothing more. Nothing else.

[prasad2505 · 7/10 · 16 January 2012]

Shankar's 3 idiots is a good watch. Having said that, its no different from the original. Its just the same flick. We all know the story so no point in writing all these. Vijay has done well i must say. But the guys who score are Jeeva, Sathyan, Sathyaraj and Illeana in the same order. Sreekanth is as usual a big let down. I hate that guy's so called acting and his feeble voice. Songs are good but nothing extraordinary. Harris seems loosing his touch. First half is quite boring whereas second half is better with some quirky dialogues and pjs thrown here and there. Logic takes beating in many scenes. Illeana is as pretty as any Shankar's older heroines. Its just a feel good movie you can watch once. Nothing like new wave of tamil cinema, vijay's fabulous performance as most people say IMO.

Nanban - A Fantastic movie

[onewithsomethingspecial · 9/10 · 15 January 2012]

"Thalaiva.... You are Great..!!!" Nanban - A Fantastic movie. With all due respect to 3 Idiots and Aamir Khan, Illayathalapathi glitters with his performance. Couldn't have asked for more... A must watch for all those who missed 3 Idiots, others go there to watch Vijay & Co., succeeding in remaking a legendary movie. Shankar should be given credit for his grandeur in making something big -bigger, Harris improves by every movie - BGM good, Manoj Paramahamsa plays subtle and Anthony adds beauty to it, Jeeva - Humorous, Srikanth - sensible performance, worth watching Sathyaraj, S J Surya and Anuya.. Oh did miss Ileana..?? She's a diamond pendant on a Platinum string. Overall a wonderful movie, the 1st thought that strikes me is - my Tamil audience will have a quality movie to watch, cherish and celebrate this Pongal. All is Well.!!!

Nanban movie Review(Contains Spoilers)

[vazhavandan · 7/10 · 19 January 2012]

Saw Nanban movie in kamala theater (known as kamala cinemas now) 11:00 Am show.Thank god the Theatre has good parking facility and had a decent parking cost of 15 bucks unlike the theaters in the malls where you are charged about 20 ~ 25 bucks per hour.Sometimes we may spend more on parking ticket rather than the movie ticket itself.The sound system in the theater is not so good.I was sitting near the wall in the front set of rows. The speakers has caused me a headache . Also the movie theaters should stop frisking people and install metal detectors or something.The movie was not such a bad one considering vijay acted in it.

Pluses of the movie:- ==>Sathyaraj acted well,he had done his homework and was good as the college principal.Jeeva and Srikanth essayed the roles of Vijay's friends very well. ==>The story line was nearly water tight but not air tight. ==>It is not the typical shankar movies about corruption etc: ==>The movie I believe is a faithful reproduction of the original "3 idiots". ==>Message of the movie "asking youngsters to apply themselves in areas of their interest" instead of going down the well trodden path is laudable. ==>Not a typical hodgepodge Vijay movie :-).

Minuses of the movie:- ==>There was absolutely no chemistry between the lead pair.The lead pair (Vijay , Ileane)could not show much of facial expressions.Ileane looked a little anorexic. ==>The songs did not gel well with the movie.The lyrics were not catchy. Shankar did not pay much attention to the songs in this movie which I find is quite unusual. ==> People poking fun of srivatsan(sathyan) all the time was getting too tiresome to watch.The fart related jokes was a little retarded. ==>Old wine in new bottle.The age old urban legend that, "NASA spending a large amount of money to develop a pen that would write in the conditions experienced during spaceflight",has been retold through this movie.There is no point of including that story in the movie.

Story:-

Sathyan calls up Vijay's friends ( Jeeva and Srikanth) and asks them to meet him lying to them that he is with their dear friend Vijay and he is waiting to meet them.Instead he shows them a presentation of his achievements in life . After not being able to meet their dear friend who in this case happens to be Vijay start looking around for their long last friend.Vijay it seems doesn't keep in touch with them after their graduation from college . During their search for Vijay , the college days when the trio spent their times together is shown . It was shown as to how Vijay was really smart and was down to earth and witty .The flashback fails to explain as to why only these two were attracted to Vijay whereas the rest of the students did not interact a lot with vijay . Sathyaraj did a commendable role as the college principal . Back in the present,when they finally thought that they had nailed their dear friend's location that they find that their friend has impersonated another person (S.J.Surya) and did college on behalf of him.

Jeeva and Srikanth come to know about the marriage of Ileana and her finance.They gate crash Ileana's wedding and tell her that she not betray her feelings for Vijay and marry a "Mr no good" / "cold hearted"' person like her would be husband.When they finally catch up with Vijay they realize his noble objective of starting a school where each student can realize his/her hidden potentials.

Conclusion Though nothing new has been explored in this movie it can be watched once.It has a few good scenes.

Mindblowing Picture after a long time in Tamil cinema

[Selvaragav · 10/10 · 16 January 2012]

I had watched 3 Idiots a couple of times at the time it was released. And was frankly apprehensive how the Shankar version would pan out. I went to the movie telling myself that I should not be influenced by the Hindi version. The first few scenes where Venkatakrishnan and Senthil are introduced the comparisons with the original seemed inevitable. And so it was when Pari is introduced leading intothe electrified spoon scene. However all comparisons disappear as the film progresses and at the end of the movie what remains is Shankar's Paari and the friendship with Venkat and Senthil. A brilliant and highly refined performance by Vijay of Paari. You have to watch this movie to believe it. Nothing is overstated. The warmth of Paari's friendship with Venkat and Senthil is simply overwhelming. Nothing about the performance of the three leading male characters is out of place. The easy acceptance of Paari by Venkat, the tentativeness of Senthil, the quiet confidence of Paari! Simply overwhelming. Shankar deserves the utmost praise for bringing out the characters so beautifully. Some scenes that standout: 1. Vijay with Sathyaraj at the funeralof the funeral of Vijay Vasant. The utter despair is so beautifully expressed. 2. Vijay with Sathyaraj at the principal's office post the funeral, where Vijay says he is expressing dissatisfaction with the educational system. 3. The three friends walking out of Jeeva's house joking about Jeeva's family. So brilliantly natural. 4. Vijay expressing his love to Anunya! 5. Vijay and others in the hospital trying to cheer up a comatose Jeeva.Beautiful. 6. Srikanth pleading with his father to allow him to be a photographer. Highly intense, emotional and outstanding performances. 7. Jeeva's conversation with Ileana to have her walk out of the marriage function. 8. Ileana in conversation with Sathyaraj about the elder brother's suicide. 9. The final few scenes where the Jeeva, Srikanth and Ileana trio meetVijay! Vijay laying on the beach sand, getting kicked and beaten up by his buddies, with an accepting smile on his face! Such genuine warmth at meeting his friends! Performances wise, Vijay stands tall!He looks and plays the part of Paari to perfection. So subtle, clean and thoroughly enjoyable is his performance that Aamir Khan is swept out of the mind! Next I have to mention Srikanth. Right from his voice modulation (that can particularly frustrating to hear most times) to his rather excellent performance. The scene with his parents pleading to allow him to be a photographer is quite genuine. Thankfully I can now put Madhavan and his too oft repeated trademark toothy smile out of mind now. Jeeva is excellent. The only reason why I am putting him after Srikanth,is purely due to Srikanth's surprisingly good performance and voice modulation. Sathyan in his best role to date. A little loud and squeaky at times. But gets obliterated by the majesty of Vijay and his buddies performances. Sathyaraj most of the times. Would have been outstanding had he pulled of the cameo dance that Boman Irani does for his daughter! Thankfully it was not Prakash Raj in this role as some reports had suggested when the film was announced. Ileana. Has done well in the few scenes where it was required. Overall a majestic film. Vijay at his supreme best. Go watch it in a movie house, multiple times.

Not a bad remake

[Dolchi · 7/10 · 6 June 2022]

Many said this was a dud and an ill-made remake of "3 idiots"

However, this films has its own unique points and is enjoyable throughout. The songs are different and grandly shot like in any Shankar films.. The lead trio are full of charisma and wits, never letting you have a dull moment

While believable, one cannot feel the artificiality in some scenes. The reality hits hard so much that one does not buy into such romanticised depictions of college life anymore. Any-who, this is a fun ride to relive all your technical university days and live those days vicariously once again.

The movie dwells around the story of three friends and their life in one of the most celebrated institutes in the country.

[rjtkrishnan · 1/10 · 18 March 2012]

Even though the movie is a remake of the much celebrated Hindi movie "3 idiots",based on chetan bhagat's bestseller "five point someone",the cast delivers a pathetic performance on screen. Yet,the reason for the movie's success can only be explained by the expert direction of the movie by Shankar. But,however, if you are a vijay fan, you'll love the movie just like you loved velayudham or kaavalan. The chance of you liking the movie is even higher if you haven't seen 3 idiots. Like i said earlier,the movie is an exact copy in story and script only. The performance by the cast including vijay is depressingly pathetic as the full crew is failing consistently in creating a good quality sequence or giving justice to the quality of the story. So in a nutshell, the movie sucks.

Too Good to Miss

[zarinafreddy · 10/10 · 15 January 2012]

Nanban, as all know is the remake of 3 idiots. Though it is a frame to frame remake, Shankar the man with Midas touch has seen that the movie's charm is not lost at any part of the movie. You don't even feel the movie is 3hrs 10 minutes. Vijay carries it all with so much charisma.Full justice done to Aamir Khan's role. His energy, his charm, his youth perfectly fits the bill. He is so adorable and a delight to watch. Jiiva and Srikanth also as the 2 pillars supporting him have done their characters so nicely. Sathyaraj, Srivatsan sorry Sathyan, SJ Surya also have nothing to be complained of, PERFECT CASTING. Ileana is an eye- candy and carries that oomph character. The scene where she enters the hostel drunk is such a roar. Songs are 1000 times better than 3 idiots. What picturisation of En frienda pola yaaru machaan. Asku Laska is the best number in the album. A real treat to the eyes and ears. Buckingham locale was awesome. Aalap Raju's Endhan kan munne song totally rocks emotionally. Irukaanaa is a peppy number and VJ proves nobody can beat him in his dance moves. Heartiley battery is another youthful song and with all those huge lips, lorry caps, huge biceps were different and shows Shankar is Shankar. Overall, don't miss Nanban even if you have watched 3 idiots. Shankar has recreated magic once again and Vijay is a total stunner. Nanban rocks big time. ALL IZZ WELL....

Feel Good Entertainer

[gobinathm · 9/10 · 15 January 2012]

A Feel Good Entertainer ... Shankar did not kill the essence of original & made this sincere remake .. Vijay did a good job by doing this normal guy next door ,without any heroism, I liked him on screen after 5 yrs. Jiva/Srikanth did their job well... Satyaraj was at his best as VIRUS.Definitely Shankar & Karki needs a special mention for their dialogues... Harris was OK as their no extra-ordinary BGM on few important scenes, the songs where nice.Apart from the hero-in everyone did justification to their roll.

Some people might cry that this movie is a scene by scene remake. According to me shankar & vijay have done justification to their job & did not spoil the essence of original. They have got the original as is to Tamil audience

A feel good movie with a perfect star cast

[kailashsankar · 10/10 · 15 January 2012]

A great movie. everyone who says why shankar does frame by frame remake.here is the answer EXCEPT shankar no other director can make these many star cast act perfectly and if the changes the script then it would have not been fine.Film is lengthy but Sathyan's character make everyone enjoyable than anything.He is perfect fit for Silencer role.He was awesome. Then Vijay's performance was too awesome which no one expected.He was perfect with his character. and jiiva as-usual rocked the show and surprise good thing is from srikanth.shankar has made srikanth also act good.but negative thing is Music songs were not good like other vijay movies.Tamil film directors please stop using harris and put G.V for a good album and bgm. Film is running for 3 hours but that is not a negative thing. Ileana was very bad she was not even good looking why shankar used ileana for this movie i don no seriously. Vijay,sathyan,jeeva,srikanth,sathyaraj all were excellent and movie totally rocks.Please stop comparing the original and watch it and enjoy rather than telling some mistakes..

'Nanban' is extremely faithful to the original, and definitely worth watching!

[rshankar309 · 9/10 · 17 January 2012]

The Tamil remake of Rajkumar Hirani's blockbuster Hindi film '3 Idiots' based on Chetan Bhagat's 'Five Point Someone...' novel is the first of its kind in Kollywood history. Helmed by superstar director Shankar (his very first remake), a top team of technicians including Anthony, Resul Pookutty and Harris Jayaraj, and an ensemble cast that includes Illayathalapathy Vijay, Jiiva, Shrikanth, Satyaraj, Sathyan, Ileana and several others, 'Nanban' is indeed a must-watch.

Like its original version, the story points out the discrepancies in India's educational system which emphasizes cramming and good grades above knowledge and passion for one's chosen field. Told through flashbacks, the film follows Venkat (Shrikanth) and Senthil (Jiiva) as they search for their college friend who disappeared from their lives after changing them for the better. Panchavan Pariventhan (Vijay), Venkat and Senthil are engineering students who are unable to cope with the system due to their individual flaws. While Paari scores high with his love of machines and lateral thinking, his two friends have a tough time; Senthil is put under extreme pressure to graduate and help his poverty-ridden family, while Venkat has no interest in engineering, his true love being wildlife photography. It is Paari's unconventional thinking and his mantra 'All is well' that helps both of them succeed in life.

But where has Paari gone after graduation? Further details of their college life are revealed, including the trio's never-ending war with Principal Virumaandi Santhanam aka Virus (Satyaraj), an eccentric educator who is determined to make sure the three "idiots", as he calls them, don't come up in life. Also added to this colorful cast are Silencer (Sathyan), a bookish nerd; Riya (Ileana), Virus' daughter and Paari's love interest; Swetha (Anuya), Riya's elder sister; and Panneerselvam (Vijay Vasanth), a senior who loses more than just his degree to the pressures of the educational system. Also, a surprise awaits-- in the form of S. J. Suryah.

'Nanban' extracts top performances from all the lead actors. Vijay has undergone a complete makeover and shines in the humorous and emotional scenes. Jiiva, Shrikanth and Sathyan are perfect for their roles, while Satyaraj does a good job alternating from menacing villain to clown. Ileana does nothing memorable when compared to Kareena Kapoor in the original, but she is suited to the song-and-dance sequences that abound.

The film is slightly longer than warranted- Anthony could have done a sharper editing job! Manoj Paramahamsa provides the right feel as cinematographer. Harris Jayaraj has rendered some wonderful situational songs, with 'Asku Laska' (commendable lyrics by Karky!) and 'En Frienda Pola' being the picks of the album. The "Irukaanaa" number seems to have been added in to appease Vijay's fan following, and there's no harm in that! As for Shankar himself, it is best to follow his advice and "watch the film without any expectations". 99% faithful to the original, the director has crafted another memorable classic.

NANBAN: Must-watch!

An ordinary remake of an ordinary film

[durgadada001 · 6/10 · 14 January 2012]

After watching the original (3 Idiots ), the only reason I watched Nanban (2012) was for the director - Shankar. A talented visionary who has a penchant for grandeur and extravaganza, both in the right dosage so as to make you feel great and at the same time take home a social message worth pondering.

Only this time, it seems he has missed his mark. First of all, 3 Idiots needs to be viewed as an 'entertainer' that is mostly show with little substance. As long as you keep it simple that way, there is no need for argument. It was a light-hearted comedy with good music and tolerable acting. The script, cinematography and dialog were created to suit the "formula" rather than the other way round. Nanban (2012) is a scene-by- scene remake and does not consist of any improvisation or most importantly, not an ounce of the director's personal interpretation. Although I was very skeptical of Shankar attempting a remake, I did expect him to create something more than just playing out the same scenes with different actors.

Having said all that, the actors have thankfully not done a horrible job (which most of them have so in the recent past). Vijay, Jeeva & Srikanth are not exactly as charming as Aamir, Madhavan and Sharman, but still deserve a pat on the back. The scope of the female lead is limited as usual, so no point discussing that. However, the biggest disappointment in the acting department is Sathyaraj, especially when you compare him with Boman Irani. A clichéd character who made me cringe for every single moment that he was on screen.

Its not often that Shankar fails, but he was attempting to remake a very ordinary script in the first place, so I am not surprised. I was actually hoping that the Vijay-Shankar combo would be reasonably successful, well, critically at least. Go watch this popcorn-special, its totally worth it if you are watching it on your TV/Computer while doing a random household chore.

Nanban-Enlightening ,Emotional And Entertaining

[sura-reka · 10/10 · 16 January 2012]

I liked it. Performances are great. It was very nice to see Vijay in such a different role. Is this the 1st Vijay film without an action sequence ? I really can't remember any other. Only after watching nanban I've realized how hard it is to write dialogs for a remade film and when dialogs are so important unlike other remade films like ghilli, siruthai and all. There is nothing much to complain except for the look of the film which really wasn't as great as the original. I know how big"bollywood" is, compared to the tamil industry but if it was someone else other than Shankar I wouldn't have mentioned this. And I would have loved it better if Vijay had tried doing role the being himself rather than playing a role played by Aamir . The Ghillli Vijay in his house is what was required fully in this movie except for the fact that here he is a genius. If you haven't watched 3Idiots there is no way you can spot even a single fault, you'll fall in love with this film.More than I can appreciate Nanban or even 3 Idiots as a film, the script is the winner. This is what films were invented for. This relaxation I haven't found in a film in a very longtime. Great writing!

Nanban (2012)

[santhosh-10290 · 7/10 · 7 April 2018]

The movie was so good only because this is a remake of 3 Idiots. But the movie was not upto the level of 3 Idiots. Songs and BGM in the movie were somewhat good. Everybody acted very good in the movie.

Gem of a Movie A Cult Classic in Tamilcinema

[vasanthiwedsgopi · 10/10 · 18 January 2012]

The movie is SO great with all right mix of Emotions, Comedy, Love and Messages. First of , I thank Director Shankar for the Perfect Casting Vijay as Panjavan Parivendhan reprising Aamir, Jiva as Sevarkodi Sendhi reprising Sharman Joshi and Srikanth as Venkatramakrishnan reprising Madhavan! A great performance from the Trio! Vijay at his Best. He looked young, handsome, brilliant in acting and comic department. jiva was perfect sync. Srikanth was superb. Satyaraj was OK while Ileana is Amazing actress. The major plus is Cinematography and Music from Manoj Paramahamsa and Harris jayaraj respectively.. Director Shankar-Thank you sir for passing great gems like this for TAMIL CINEMA which none of the directors made previously in Tamil cinema.. Overall this movie is Miles ahead for 3idiots and way better than it. My rating - 100/10 Verdict- exceeding all your over-expectations and you will come out WITH A GOOD FEEL once you watched it.

good but not the best remake

[akshay-potter2896 · 7/10 · 25 January 2012]

JIIVA:the best performance in the film.the only character to outshine the performance of the Hindi movie's character.he has done an exceptional job.his Best performance till date.

satyan:good performance.he suited the silencer character extremely well.

vijay:good performance..but could have been much better.he didn't suit the character completely..though this performance stands out as this is his Best performance till date..a fair performance overall.

shrikanth:good....bt not too good.

Ileana:worst character of the film...and she just did not suit the character at all.

sathyaraj:a fair performance..not better than original virus..he could have done better.

Shaker:a well directed film..bt the sets for the song are the worst part...they have no link with the movie..he has spent lot of money...which is very disappointing.....

on the whole a good remake....bt could have been better....u dnt gt the feel of 3idiots after watching nanban.....

vijay acting is bad !!!

[suryas-439-494668 · 2/10 · 2 August 2012]

I watched the Hindi version of this film !! i loved it Found very easily to got a ticket, even in the first day!! Vijay, with Srikanth, Sathyan and Jeeva.

are tried there best ...

Jeeva's conversation with Ileana to have her walk out of the marriage function Sathyaraj has tried to imitate the same as in Hindi version Srikanth has tried hard & comes out unscathed shanker

Editing was good... Song visualizations were cool... Music was good and well placed The cinematography is brilliant while background score is amazing.sir u did best ...

All iz very well...A must watch...

[ArunPandiyan · 10/10 · 16 January 2012]

The much awaited movie of 2012...

Before getting started, Nanban is a CRYSTAL CLEAR COPY of "3 Idiots" sec by sec...so no complaining,as it is a National award winning,Highest grosser movie of India,and any changes wud spoil the meal...

PROS:

Ilayathalapathy Vijay,Jiiva,Sathyan,Songs

I have found tat Ilaythalapathy is in the movie,only by the title card...Wat a performance man...Rocking in Comedy and Emotion...a total conversion from mass to class movie... -> No Fights -> No Punch Dialogues... -> No Gravity defying stunts...

The next place goes to Sathyan and then Jiiva...Sathyaraj is gud only @ climax...Srikanth is fine...

CONS: The first half an hour without vijay... -> The Movie is a bit lengthy...(190 mins)... and no other negatives found.

Thalapathy's acting is awesome but not upto the mighty Amir khan...But Vijay is the best choice in tamil...Undoubtedly...

Vijay is a mass actor in tamilnadu and has so many anti jerks,so they try to pull off the movie...but UNBIASED PEOPLE will luv it...

Finally, Nanban is a Enjoyable,Wholesome family entertainer for this pongal...and persons who haven't seen "3 Idiots" will luv it like Hell... ♥ and other guys can 2 enjoy it for Vijay and Shankar...

A must watch movie of this season...Thalaiva u r great... :)