Pencil

Pencil is a Tamil murder mystery film released in 2016, directed by debutant director Mani Nagaraj. The film features G.V. Prakash Kumar and Sri Divya in lead roles, with Shariq Hassan playing a significant character. Pencil is a hybrid of the thriller, romance and coming-of-age genres, with high school life in India as its backdrop.

The plot of Pencil revolves around the life of students in a go-to school with a brand name that the city can't stop talking about. G.V. Prakash Kumar plays the role of Shiva, a twelfth grade student who is an unusually normal adolescent boy lost in textbooks and mild confusion. Shiva is depicted as an average student, trying to balance his academics, aspirations, and crush on Maya (Sri Divya), who is his classmate and the school's respected headgirl. Maya is a serious and discipline-focused young girl who takes her responsibilities as a student and headgirl equally, providing an interesting contrast to Shiva's character.

The introductory part of the movie fosters an admiration for the cuteness of school life, while also establishing the rivalries, friendships, and character idiosyncrasies. The film's backdrop is filled with regular students, topper outliers, sports hotshots, and so forth. The dynamics between them, and the high school culture they portray, are remarkably relatable for audiences. G.V. Prakash Kumar and Sri Divya successfully portray their simple characters and their nuanced emotions with natural grace and ease.

The story receives a sudden upheaval when a student, Nilesh Sabharwal (Shariq Hassan), is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Nilesh isn't any ordinary student. He is the school's bad boy and Shiva's chief enemy, making Shiva a produced suspect. With barely any evidence, the school vicinity is turned into a crime scene, and Shiva, along with Maya, decides to solve the mystery. Their quest gives the film a thriller twist, with incidents unfolding into a bewildering array of secrets lying beneath the polished exterior of the prestigious institution.

The director uses Nilesh's murder to magnificently weave the intense and dark theme of crime into the light fabric of school life. The murder investigation process introduces each character in a new light, unearthing unexpected traits and secrets that complicate the plot. These multiple threads of events add twirls to the story, keeping the viewers on the edge of their seats.

As they dive deeper into the investigation, the bond between Shiva and Maya also deepens, subtly cultivating a delicate layer of romance. Despite the mystery that engulfs the narrative, the director has beautifully integrated this romantic subplot in an unassertive way, making it a genuine depiction of young love. It is an interesting narrative to see how their relationship develops amidst all the chaos and how the two manage to maintain their courage through unexpected and nerve-wracking situations.

The cinematography of Pencil captures the ambiance of high school and the suspense elements perfectly, successfully encompassing the movie's vibrant charm. The music provided by G.V. Prakash Kumar, who apart from being the lead actor, is also an acclaimed music director, further enhances the feeling and narration of the movie.

The movie’s major theme deals with the dark side of certain institutional systems, and the forms of prejudice that students can face within them. It sheds light on how the ambitions and mistakes of adolescents are impacted by societal pressure and the educational system's flaws. It also touches on the concepts of prejudice, bullying, and manipulation, providing the audience with food for thought.

In conclusion, Pencil is a delightful mix of mystery, romance, and youthful energy. The director, Mani Nagaraj, commendably explores an array of concepts with equal focus on suspenseful storytelling and eventful drama. Despite being a murder mystery at its core, and depicting the dark realities of over-ambition and industrial rivalry, the film beautifully maintains its youthful vibe resulting from the innocence and confusion of high-school days. The unexpected turns, realistic portrayal of characters, and seamless weaving of various elements contribute to making Pencil an engaging and entertainment-filled experience.