Title: Nidradevi Next Door, Producer: Jayaram Devasamudra, Director: Siraag Sagar, Cinematography: Ajay Kulkarni, Music: Nakul Abhayankar, Cast: Praveer Shetty, Rishika Naik, Shine Shetty, Sudharani, K.S. Shridhar, Shruti Hariharan, Srivatsa, Anup Davann, Karthik Pattar, Aishwarya Gowda, Master Sujay Ram, Master Anurag Patil, Master Saanghavi, and others.
Cinema should offer a new experience while also entertaining the audience. This is precisely what this week’s release, Nidradevi Next Door, attempts—though in a somewhat tedious style. The effort is commendable, the concept is solid, and the artists and technicians have lent excellent support to the film.
Nidradevi Next Door revolves around the subject of sleeping disorders. While sleeplessness can arise from various medical conditions, in this film, the protagonist Dhruva (played by Praveer Shetty) is haunted by recurring dreams of Adhya and his mother. Dhruva, a cricket coach by profession, ironically needs a ‘coach’ himself to correct the imbalance in his life. His sleep disorder leads to frequent anger outbursts, making him unpopular and misunderstood.
As the story progresses into the second half, Dhruva’s childhood trauma comes to light. Bullied as a loser and having lost someone he loved deeply, these emotional scars continue to haunt him. Meanwhile, psychologist Ridhimma (Rishika Naik) steps in to untangle his mental complexities. At one point, she even consults Shruthi (Shruti Hariharan), a senior doctor, as the complications deepen.
Enter Vikram (Shine Shetty), an app developer. When Ridhimma’s soothing, motherly voice becomes part of his app, things take a more twisted turn. Vikram becomes obsessively infatuated with her, drawn in by her voice and presence.
With multiple threads to resolve, the last 30 minutes of the film ramp up the tension. The introduction of Vikram’s boss (played by Sidlingu Sridhar), a one-eyed character, brings in a dramatic shift in the narrative, adding another layer of intrigue.
What happens to these mounting complications? Is Dhruva’s sleeping disorder finally cured? Does Vikram’s passionate pursuit of Ridhimma succeed? And how does the sinister boss affect the already fragile lives involved? All these questions unfold over the course of this 136-minute narrative on the silver screen.
Praveer Shetty, in his second outing, shows considerable improvement. He looks good on screen, performs action sequences convincingly, and understands the emotional depth of his character. Shine Shetty truly shines in his role, while Rishika Naik is endearing—she’s someone audiences are likely to fall in love with in her future films. Shruti Hariharan has a powerful and dignified presence. Sidlingu Sridhar delivers a striking performance in a unique role.
“Baa Nanna Olave… Hrudaya Ninage Sothide…” is one of the standout compositions by Nakul Abhayankar—melodic and memorable. Ajay Kulkarni’s cinematography captures the mood and tone effectively, giving Nidradevi Next Door a distinct visual identity.
This is an interesting and layered film that demands extra attention from the viewer to fully grasp and enjoy. It may not be a breezy watch, but for those who invest themselves in its narrative, it offers a rewarding cinematic experience.