Tamil cinema is notorious for having the 'law-abiding-smart-police officer up against corrupt officials/terrorists' storylines but after Kaakha Kaakha, Goutham has introduced a breed of slick, suave and scintillatingly intelligent cops that are as much powerful as they are human. Kamal Hassan steps into the khaki uniform after a long time as Raghavan, a city bred cop that knows how to deal with all kinds of criminals, yet all the while, trying to forget a troubled past. We begin with Raghavan investigating the disappearance of his colleague Arokiaraj [Prakashraj]'s daughter. With limited information, he tries to piece the puzzles together only to find her brutally murdered. With Arokiaraj and his wife Chitra [Rajshri] shifting base to America to find peace, Raghavan continues his search. But peace isn't all they get as he is hit with the news that his colleague and wife have been killed too.
Off home turf maybe but still determined and true to his instinct, he travels to America where with the help of NYPD detective Anderson [Lev Gorn], he finds clues to the killer and has a chance encounter with another tortured soul of the living variety, in the form of Aaradhna [Jyothika]. Plagued by her past like Raghavan, Aaradhna finds a hero and a shoulder to cry on in the stranger she meets at their hotel. While Raghavan is concerned, the case takes he and Anderson down a twisted path that takes their family killing case into a serial killing. The path leads them to several more victims and their culprits. But the encounter doesn't go smoothly to say the least. What proceeds is a race against time as its up to Raghavan to think one step ahead of the killers before the body count rises.
Off home turf maybe but still determined and true to his instinct, he travels to America where with the help of NYPD detective Anderson [Lev Gorn], he finds clues to the killer and has a chance encounter with another tortured soul of the living variety, in the form of Aaradhna [Jyothika]. Plagued by her past like Raghavan, Aaradhna finds a hero and a shoulder to cry on in the stranger she meets at their hotel. While Raghavan is concerned, the case takes he and Anderson down a twisted path that takes their family killing case into a serial killing. The path leads them to several more victims and their culprits. But the encounter doesn't go smoothly to say the least. What proceeds is a race against time as its up to Raghavan to think one step ahead of the killers before the body count rises.Kamal Hassan needs no introduction and whats more, he surprises yet again. Stripping the images of his previous khaki characters, his shows intelligence, determination and poise of a sophicated urban cop without being a lifeless brick. Jyothika is a favourite for Goutham and is elegant and simple as Aaradhana. Timid and troubled, she emotes in just the right quantity and how anyone in the real world, in her circumtance would, leaving her performance natural. No loud or brash to the point baffoonic, expressions here. Even is his miniscule role, Prakashraj adds raw appeal to his role, as does Lev Gorn, Rajshri and Kamalini, which only adds to the storytelling without cluttering. Now those who have seen Daniel Balaji can vouch for me in that it doesn't take this guy much to look evil. But add him to Saleem Baig , who hasn't been seen much before or after, and you have some nastiness you dont want to cross. Utterly absorbed into the role, Daniel overtakes Saleem alot but you dont see one without the other. Editing by Anthony is crisp and precise while Ravi's camera work is a delight as always. Polished and oozing with finesse. The charts have always been favourable to Harris and once again, he strikes a bulls eye but the extra bonus is his re-recording. If Goutham had everyone glued to the screenplay, Harris made them jump, scream, sigh, cry all in tune. In all honesty, Goutham isn't the kind of person I see doing a village backdrop but in his defense sophistication never looked this cool before. But this game has a flip side.
Contemporary aspects of life are essential to make things believable and while the concept of serial rapist/killers isn't something that has much exposure in Tamil cinema, the homosexual quotient that Goutham infuses into the story doesn't get a valid reason to be there. More over the visible gore in the film makes this a leave-your-kids-at-home kind of film. The catalytic point of the story is hampered by Daniel doing an verbal vomit. In the story it is crucial stage but so very tiresome to watch. Where the director is poetic with Kamal's flashback, he dwells way too much on the one for Daniel and Saleem's. As mentioned, Daniel overtakes Saleem on several occasions but he also goes overboard as well. Yes, he's a psycho and its obvious from his actions but did he really need to be so verbous about it? Also, if you're a non-Tamil watching the flick with subtitles, I warn you the language Daniel uses is foul. While the audio has been beeped out, the subtitles haven't been censored. Given that a lot of English flicks swear without blinking, some maybe used to it. But I personally find it a hinderance when its excessive. In all other situations though the dialogue has a finesse to match the visuals.
in short, the suspense of the movie will drive it home but the basic premise is something not all will be used to and take a liking to.
Rating: 3/5
Contemporary aspects of life are essential to make things believable and while the concept of serial rapist/killers isn't something that has much exposure in Tamil cinema, the homosexual quotient that Goutham infuses into the story doesn't get a valid reason to be there. More over the visible gore in the film makes this a leave-your-kids-at-home kind of film. The catalytic point of the story is hampered by Daniel doing an verbal vomit. In the story it is crucial stage but so very tiresome to watch. Where the director is poetic with Kamal's flashback, he dwells way too much on the one for Daniel and Saleem's. As mentioned, Daniel overtakes Saleem on several occasions but he also goes overboard as well. Yes, he's a psycho and its obvious from his actions but did he really need to be so verbous about it? Also, if you're a non-Tamil watching the flick with subtitles, I warn you the language Daniel uses is foul. While the audio has been beeped out, the subtitles haven't been censored. Given that a lot of English flicks swear without blinking, some maybe used to it. But I personally find it a hinderance when its excessive. In all other situations though the dialogue has a finesse to match the visuals.in short, the suspense of the movie will drive it home but the basic premise is something not all will be used to and take a liking to.
Rating: 3/5
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