2018, Tamil, Amazon Prime, 74./10 IMDB, Directed by R. Ajay Gnanamuthu
Director Ajay Gnanamuthu is all set to strike gold this time- with his casting and story line. The strengths of the movie are unmistakably the casting combo, hawk eyed Nayan, pretty (yes) Atharva and intriguing Anurag Kashyap.
Fully packed theater just jolts with cheers as Nayanthara’s name crops on the screen, a true ‘Girl Power’ moment. She deserved it for her role pick and role design as she works on giving each of her roles a uniqueness right from the costume to body language to hair dressing. She is turning into an inevitable icon and happy for her.
The movie takes off with a cat and mouse chase of a serial killer Rudra (Anurag) and a CBI investigator Anjali (Nayan) and one is intrigued throughout why he targets to tease Anjali’s efficiency. You start to question the ability of Nayan’s character with a weird displeasure over the director even. The monotonous chasing is later justified.
Atharva’s introdcution, his love failure saga does fatigue ones thriller appetite but acceptable as the audience just cheer away our handsome dude and the ‘Madras Cafe’ celluloid Raashi khanna. (cinnemapaiyan / openpanna S.Abhisek in a tiny role as a model, a sheer lag, but again the director passes all lags as audience roar with laughter)
The layers on Nayan and Anurag’s characterisation is made to unfold in the second half making it a decent thriller. The revelation of each’s motive does pull one to the edge of the seat.
Cameo by Vijay Sethupathi (shame Vijay looks too heavy and unhealthy) just doesn’t add magic that it ought to have as his opposite is a pinnacle of beauty in the wedding attire (meticulous in handling Nayan’s bridal look as never seen in her precious roles). Love sure is blind, ain’t it.
Atharva rocks his role in second half, making one jealous of his toned body, sharp eyes, crisp stunts, suave looks (I can hear my friend beside me commenting on his Burberry shirt). Kudos to the boy and wishes for him to take home plenty laurels including his late dad’s share.
Coming to Anurag, initially one is offended with his dub, but a while later you forget it all. We are transported to his world on wondering who he is throughout the first half and taken by surprise in the second half even though one could guess, revenge is in store with Vijay’s voice played to his daughter by nayan. He is no wonder toping the chart in bringing the best of his artist in his direction. His psycopathic stare scary yet balanced as not to give away suspense. Content he didn’t overdo it and kept his uniqueness till the last frame.
How could I leave without congratulating hip-hop tamilzha for arriving with a bang in a strong casted movie after his K. V. Anand’s Kavan. His BGM’s for Anurag’s scenes were phenomenal and it paced up the thriller quotient of the movie.
R.D.Rajsekaran from Rajeev menon’s school took the movie to an elite class through vibrant colours and glossy lighting.
Credits to novelist Pattukotai Prabhakar, for his dialogues (cliches in the love sequences could be forgiven).
The length was a major concern since the director was safe guarding himself from not leaving behind any loose ends. Too many loose ends to tie without compromising on his crowd pulling gimmicks does sags the movie causing concerns but he is saved by the masses.
Theres always a next time for amendments. Kudos team.
Fantastic review Lathu Keep it up