DCP Karthikeyan (Arjun) is given the task to investigate a gruesome murder in Chennai. One fine day, Prabhakaran (Vijay Antony) surrenders at the police station and confesses to committing the crime. However, the case isn’t as open-and-shut as it seems and a determined Karthikeyan sets out in search of the truth. Has Prabhakaran committed the murder or is he innocent? To know that and more, you need to watch Kolaigaran.
The film largely revolves around four characters and the lead actors in Arjun Sarja and Vijay Antony have done an impressive job in carrying the film on their shoulders. For most parts of the narrative, it’s a duel between the two actors and their contrasting performances give the film the much-needed boost.
In a thriller genre, it’s vital that the protagonists are on top of their game and that’s precisely what the duo do. If Arjun is spot on with his depiction of a shrewd police officer, Vijay’s mysteriously passive reactions keep you on the edge of your seat. The latter seems to relish enacting roles that are set in such genres. Though Lakshmi and Ashima Narwal play small yet crucial roles, they do It with total conviction while veteran Nassar chips in with an inimitably-efficient cameo.
The plot is loosely based on the Japanese novel The Devotion of Suspect X, and Director Andrew Louis has managed to weave a plot that’s intriguing and holds the viewers’ interest almost through the entire duration of the film. When the writer of the film is also the director, it does help in maintaining the consistency of vision in terms of the output and Kolaigaran enjoys that advantage here.
Louis’ screenplay is brisk and at 110 minutes, the duration fits the genre perfectly. The songs, despite being nicely composed by Simon King, prove to be speed-breakers in the film which otherwise paced well. The background score, another key element, works big time in Kolaigaran with certain BGMs upping the ante of the respective scenes.
The only minute minus is that the end seems a little too rushed although the logic works out. Louis has opted to mix rhetoric without compromising on the rational side of things and it works though it could have been a wee bit better. Nevertheless, the final product is still impressive. The cinematography from Mukesh Vydes exudes the mood of the film well and Richard Kevin’s editing is as crisp for a racy thriller.
It’s been an excellent 6-8 months for Tamil cinema, particularly in the thriller genre with the likes of Ratchasan, Thadam and the recent Vellai Pookkal being the picks. Kolaigaran, with a slightly better execution at the end could have been in the category of these films. Still, the film is still quite a good watch, particularly for those who love viewing this genre and the screenplay ensures that you stay curious till the final scene – a crucial criteria for a well-made thriller.
My Verdict: Good