Vikram Review: Ulaganayagan Back with a Bang!
Rating: 3.75/5
***TLDR (Summary) AT THE BOTTOM
For Kamal Hassan, this is his true comeback to the screen. Despite doing small projects here and there, he’s officially announced himself again by uniting with one of the finest directors in the country, Lokesh Kanagaraj, in a star studded action flick. With massive hype, it hit the screens this weekend. Let’s see how it is.
Plot:
Amar (Fahadh Faasil) is called about to investigate some high profile crimes that have happened, among which Karnan (Kamal Hassan) is affected. These crimes, which are involved from the drug business spearheaded from Santhanam (Vijay Sethupathi), eventually have a spiral of reasons that have led to the crimes. What is this spiral and what it leads to for the three leads results in the rest of the story.
Performances:
Vikram rests on the shoulders of 3 people, and those 3 people have done what is needed of them in abundance. Ulaganayagan Kamal Hassan makes a comeback to the screen after a while and is a riot in the action scenes and emotional scenes. His screen presence has been correctly utilized by Lokesh Kanagaraj who properly brings forward every ounce of effective action and expression from the veteran actor. While his English is a bit forced, overall the needed impact comes forward with a bang as a good return for the Ulaganayagan. More than that, for the level of actor Kamal is, he hasn’t done any interfering in the script and has given space to his Costars quite generously. Next, Vijay Sethupathi gets his villain role that has been well written, and he has knocked it out of the park again. Apart from the raw beastly manner which he executes his role, the amount of variations that he brings forward in a role that has many shades with some classic Kanagaraj touches is something only he could have done. Sethupathi is redefining mass by the movie and he does it again. Fahadh Faasil gets a role that takes center stage for most of the first half and he does well. Nothing legendary as he has done in the past, but nothing bad as he brings believability to the first half. Chemban Vinod Jose is good as a corrupt cop, while Kalidas Jayaram shines in a small role with some scope. (LITTLE SPOILER) Apart from everyone, Suriya in his small cameo is menacing and amazing as ever; cannot wait with what he brings for this entire setup that Lokesh Kanagaraj is bringing to Tamil cinema. (more on that later!)
Writing/Direction:
Lokesh Kanagaraj is one of the most promising directors in Kollywood when it comes to taking a movie as a movie and letting it shine in the cinematic field without any commercial elements. While his Maanagaram and Kaithi proved this immensely, with Master it felt like another talent who became engulfed in a commercial trap whose writing took a significant hit in the name of tributes and fan service despite a decent setup and a fantastic villain character. Here, Kanagaraj’s writing returns back in full form with a sleek action movie that has plenty of Kanagaraj stamps as I call it, allowing the movie to transcend with no sense of lag or confusion at the proceedings. While the core story of the movie is a quite simple and predictable one, especially with all of the twists running one after the other in somewhat predictable fashion, his writing of the scenes and the arcs is really good. From letting the movie slowly simmer into the audience with carefully written details and scenes through every single twist and turn, eventually he lets these details pay off in a redeeming sense in the second half. The threads and various different storylines in the movies, including subplots, are written with pomp and pay off very well. Admittedly, since the main story itself is predictable, some elements are cliche and dont serve the purpose of the movie much other than to provide some token connect. Additionally, the scenes are written sometimes conveniently as per the movie to either increase the pace or create some tension, adding onto the cliche and predictable elements of the movie. But key angles such as the action scene progressions and the emotional connect has been written with intensity and subtlety when needed which itself is a win for the movie; in the midst of intense action, nice subtle emotions with simple threads provide a deeper connection . Additionally, the 3 characters of the main leads, each one terrific actors and well established in their own right, have been written with depth and connection throughout the movie with each point and thread being written with depth and significant shades, particularly Vijay Sethupathi’s character. They each balance each other quite perfectly and often complement each other when it comes to the story going forward, with each character presenting a different angle to bring quite the contrast amidst scenes.
The best thing about Kanagarajs writing is how seamlessly he creates a cinematic universe of his own with his previous worn Khaithi; nothing seems forced or sudden in the movie, everything has a flow and a rational of events that gives the movie its impetus to create another world of its own. This is clearly seen in the way Kanagaraj subtly connects scenes and characters from the Khaidi universe to Vikram amidst a universe that is realistic and quite promising (take notes, Marvel)! The connections are just superlative and insane without many logical skips. The best part is, he sets up a universe that can be visualized in real life with our favorite stars is contemporary! Overall, through Kanagaraj’s firm writing throughout, it keeps the movie crisply written with action, emotion, and development through each of the scenes despite some predictability.
Kanagaraj’s screenplay is also quite good, bringing forward the movie with a flow that allows each payoff to be meticulously established and then letting the movie explode with high octane action while keeping each thread with a sturdy arc. The flow of events in the movie is not linear as it follows a predictable yet satisfactory arc of setting up the movie with all of the various payoffs and arcs that can be established. Often times in the first half, Kanagaraj bides his time in the first half and sets up every arc that he can possibly set up throughout to bring forward an amazing payoff with the layered screenplay in the second half. With the simple plot that Kanagaraj has going forward in the movie, he makes it as long as possible without overstaying the movies welcome by giving us tidbits in the first half and then gradually revealing every element in a blockbuster manner with a lot of pomp. Every scene has an expected detail and payoff that involves us to set forward expectations on what the arc will turn out to be, and Kanagaraj’s screenplay does not disappoint. Kanagaraj’s very different method of establishing the scenes that take place is effective, while slightly confusing at parts to the flow of the movie, to bring forward a new perspective on the same plot. It definitely also keeps the movie moving by introducing many different elements possible and tying them together in a neat fashion without letting the flow of events get affected negatively. Granted, it is a bit confusing, but overall the structural integrity of Vikram with the flow of the movie always remains. Kanagaraj’s direction and narration is very effective and a huge positive in that it always keeps the movie on its toes and entertaining. The narration keeps true to the different attempt at screenplay and narrates the events in a initially slow yet blockbuster finish at the end, making sure to simmer every element and have a justification. In doing so, thankfully it keeps the pace moving while developing each of the characters. The direction of the movie is focused and accomplishes its purpose of keeping the plot established while establishing connections to every other movie.
The first half of the movie is focused on setting up the movie in simmering fashion so that it can eventually lead to a very effective second half, and that it does in style throughout the movie without leaving any scope for any holes to come through in the movie. The movie starts in a standard Kanagaraj fashion before leading to Pathala Pathala, shot well but true to the fashion of establishing many random elements in the first half to tie them all back eventually. Before long, after some pivotal events, Fahadh Faasil’s character is introduced and the entire movie is set forward in his eyes. Elements are introduced slowly in the movie through a very gradual fashion in order to let the audience be fully connected to the world of Vikram. Amidst the various elements, there is also the elements that are a bit predictable such as the emotional stream of the movie, but it still adds to the various elements that get eventually simmered. Fahadh makes the movie very believable and immersive in these parts, but it still is a gutsy move to have Kamal Haasan and Vijay Sethupathi feature for very little time, but it reaffirms the fact that this is a story and character, not heroism, motivated movie. There is definitely convenient writing and some sequences that could have been shot more effectively, but overall the movie moves at a solid pace without much lag and commercial elements, with Kanagaraj a strong and focused direction. Eventually, the movie leads to a well positioned sequence to lead to the pre interval and interval portions which are shot spectacularly. Crisp action, good development of characters and story, and the first of many twists that help tie the movie in grand fashion; its everything that could be wanted and furthers the expectations for the second half immensely.
The second half shifts mainly into a fast paced commercial action movie without any of the slow simmering parts of the first half, which works with the tone of the movie well to tie together everything with little lag before a truly blockbuster climax. Eventually, the second half starts with the gradual tie in of some threads before another twist that is predictable, yet works in the story element of the movie overall. With the proceedings hitting their turn, Kanagraj drops in his preaching moment which can be seen in Master and even Khaidi which doesnt work, but its only for a little bit before the movie moves forward. The action scenes are truly spectacular here, with a small but incredibly effective twist in then characters that helps to bring the movie forward even more. The movie progresses with a quick narration and screenplay leading to some action sequences shot well, before eventually leading to a grand pre-climax shot. The emotional threads in the movie here are predictable and seen many times, often times subjecting to some sort of tropes because of the writing, but overall it works to further whatever emotional connect there is. All the threads begin to tie together and work to set up a blockbuster finish, which it delivers in grand fashion without any stops. The best part is yet to come though, with a brilliant cameo from a fantastic actor that ties together every thread, brings together a cinematic universe of some sorts, and finishes the movie in style and perfection. Overall. Despite a simple plot and predictable tropes, Vikram impresses throughout on every front. This is the Kanagaraj we know and love, not the one from Master.
Technicalities:
Anirudh has done 4 movies in the last 2 months, including Vikram. While every movie except Beast benefitted significantly from his work, with Vikram he takes it next level. The songs are sheer perfection to the entire movie, furthering what is a good screenplay with melodious and hype songs, but the BGM. What is Anirudh taking? How is he making this good of background music? Anirudh has walked in and made music out of a moan and combined EDM beats with local Tamil flavor to produce an out of world music experience. The BEST tamil album of the year; Kanagaraj and Anirudh, after another similarly brilliant Master, seem to be THE combo. Cinematography by Girish Gangaradhan is cool and immersive, while art direction does well with the sets. Dialogues are a mixed bag, mostly good, while editing is a bit sharp and sudden in scenes. It is forgivable overall but does hurt the movie in places. Production values are set very well.
Final Verdict/TLDR:
When I hyped Master to the next level because it was Kanagaraj and came out with disappointment, my friends ridiculed me as to how I could already set expectations on a 3 film director. This is why. Vikram is why. Kanagaraj has the talent and execution to not only make a supreme action movie with cinematically beautiful elements, but also has the talent to connect movies into a blockbuster universe. Positives are performances, developed characterizations and arcs, fresh and layered screenplay, focused and energetic narration and direction, production values and cinematography, music and BGM (as always), and last 10 minutes and setup of a cinematic universe. On the flipside, simple story and plot, predictable threads throughout, rough editing, convenient and routine writing at times, and a preaching scene in the second half hurt the movie. To sum it up, Vikram is the best senior hero movie since Petta; Aandavar Kamal Haasan has come and shown the others how it’s done in style!!
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