Last updated: 24 Apr 2026


Tamil · Drama
2h 26m · 4 Oct 2018
Music: Sam C S | DOP: Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran | Writer: Shan Karuppusamy
Ratings
Our Rating
2.5
Nota is a political thriller that revolves around Arjun (Vijay Deverakonda), an unemployed youth who unexpectedly becomes the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu due to a series of political conspiracies and manipulations. The story explores his transformation from a carefree individual to a responsible leader who takes on the corrupt political system. The narrative delves into themes of governance, power dynamics, and the challenges of bringing change within a flawed system.
Nota attempts to blend political drama with a coming-of-age story, presenting a fresh perspective on leadership and responsibility. The screenplay is ambitious, with a focus on the protagonist's journey and the political intrigue surrounding him. However, the pacing is uneven; the first half is engaging with a mix of humor and drama, while the second half tends to drag with repetitive sequences and predictable twists.
The film's content is topical and relevant, addressing corruption and youth involvement in politics, but the execution lacks subtlety and depth in certain areas. The songs composed by Sam C S are situational and complement the narrative without overpowering it. The background score effectively heightens the tension during key moments, although it occasionally feels overbearing.
Cinematography by Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran captures the urban and political settings well, adding to the film's gritty tone. Overall, Nota is a decent attempt at political storytelling with strong performances but is let down by inconsistent writing and pacing issues.
Vijay Deverakonda: Delivers a convincing and charismatic portrayal of Arjun, balancing youthful recklessness with emerging maturity.
Mehreen Pirzada: Provides solid support as the female lead, though her role is limited in scope.
Sathyaraj: Stands out with a commanding presence, adding gravitas to the political narrative.
Nassar: Offers a reliable performance in a pivotal role, enhancing the film's dramatic weight.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Anand Shankar's direction shows ambition in tackling political themes and character arcs, but the writing lacks consistency. While the film has moments of impact, the narrative sometimes feels stretched and could have benefited from tighter editing and more nuanced storytelling.
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Our Rating
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| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 40% |
| Neutral | 30% |
| Negative | 30% |
Critics appreciated Vijay Deverakonda's performance and the film's topical premise but criticized the uneven screenplay and pacing issues. The political message was noted as relevant but delivered in a somewhat heavy-handed manner.
Final Box-Office Result
Nota released on 4 October 2018 (2018).
Nota is declared a BELOW AVERAGE at the box office.
Nota is available on Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads. OTT date will be updated soon.
Nota directed by Anand Shankar. Produced by K. E. Gnanavelraja.
Nota stars Vijay Deverakonda, Mehreen Pirzada, Sathyaraj, Nassar, Yashika Anand.
Tollybo rates Nota 2.5/5. Verdict: BELOW AVERAGE.
Music for Nota composed by Sam C S.
Nota — Genre: Drama, Runtime: 146 minutes, Language: Tamil.