In recent years, Kollywood has been churning out a steady stream of films set in the bustling, gritty neighbourhood of North Chennai. Many of these movies aim to capture the raw energy and street-level authenticity of the area, but not all of them succeed. That’s why Lokesh Kumar’s latest effort, N4, with a story that links different lives in Kasimedu, is such a welcome surprise.
The film follows the interconnected lives of several characters in the Kasimedu district, a tight-knit community bound together by shared struggles and hardships. At the centre of the story are two brothers, Suriya (Michael Thangadurai) and Karthi (Afsal Hameed), who work at the local fishing harbour, and lead happy lives with their respective partners. They are orphans who have been raised by a godmother (Vadivukkarasi) since childhood.