Sorgavaasal

Sorgavaasal (2024) is a crime drama that marks the directorial debut of Sidharth Vishwanath. The film stars RJ Balaji in a lead role, showcasing a departure from his usual comedic roles.

The film's premise is intriguing, revolving around a prison and the games played between the inmates. However, the execution falls short of expectations. The story struggles to establish a compelling connection with the characters, particularly Parthi, the central figure. His motivations and journey lack depth, making it difficult to empathize with his plight.

The performances are mixed. RJ Balaji is earnest in his portrayal of Parthi, but his performance is uneven, particularly in the emotional scenes. Selvaraghavan delivers a solid performance in a supporting role, but the other characters lack the necessary menace to create a truly gripping atmosphere.

The film's technical aspects are commendable. The cinematography by Prince Anderson is impressive, particularly the two-tone lighting that adds to the film's genre aesthetic. The music by Christo Xavier is effective in creating a tense atmosphere.

While Sorgavaasal is an ambitious attempt at a crime drama, it ultimately fails to deliver a satisfying cinematic experience. The lack of emotional depth and a somewhat underwhelming climax hinder the film's impact. Despite its flaws, the film showcases the potential of Sidharth Vishwanath as a director, and his future projects will be worth watching.

A movie that gives an insight on if jails can act as centers of rehabilitation or may pull even innocents into the world of crime n ruin their lives forever. Story revolves around an innocent person who is imprisoned in a case n how he gets into the loop of crime in the process of proving his innocence to get back with his family. Quite a raw movie! I could only thing if this is how jails function, then they are the real living hell for any. Didn't feel like an unwanted movie. Worth a watch. Originally a Tamil movie dubbed in all South Indian languages including Hindi as well. Available in Netflix, My ratings 7/10!

Rating - 4/5

A gripping dark action suspense thriller set on the backdrop of a central prison.

The crux of the story is on the fate of a hapless innocent guy who was put behind the bars being the scapegoat for the affluent race,whose life turns out to be a dilemmic locus when a new offficer imposes his ruthless and authoritative protocols creating turmoil and chaos inside the prison.

Robust screenplay has effortlessly set background for staging the characters effortlessly in the movie. The joint efforts of the writers and the director behind moulding the character arcs for the central characters in the movie giving avenues for performance is worth mentioning. The movie brilliantly exposes the inside politics,dramatic sympathy towards the underdogs and downtrodden and the significance of power and currency in a developing democratic system. The expectation the trailer gives holds true with the satisfaction and engaging experience of the audience.

Spellbound performances by RJ Balaji,Karunanidhi Sethu,Selvaraghavan,Sharafudheen & Hakim Shajahan. Impressive performances by Natarajan Subramaniam,Saniya Iyyappan,Samuel Abiola Robinson,Balaji Shakthivel & Ravi Raghavendra. The earnest efforts of the casting directors in bringing the subtle performances of jail inmates is to be well acclaimed.

Kudos to Prince Anderson, Selva RK & Dinesh Subbarayan Master in giving a cutting edge action thriller. Christo Xavier has proved his mettle in Kollywood with his distinct and iconic BGM's and the English lyrical song in the climax sequence elevated the visual experience. Hats off to you Sidharth Viswanath for the epic storytelling without leaving loose ends.

A must watch suspense thriller in big screens for an enthralling experience.

The film felt realistic, and the making was great. It's inspired from an event happened in the late 90s. I don't want to mention it here, as it can be a spoiler. It's good to see R. J Balaji in a serious role like this. There is good solid supporting actors from Mollywood to support him in this venture and I was surprised when I saw Sharaffudhin and Hakkim Shah on the screen.

The film is a bit slow-paced but it doesn't demand fast-forwarding due to reasons like- compelling screenplay, storyline which keeps the audience 100 percent on the screen, focussing on the dialogues of all the characters. Selvaraghavan also plays an important role in this film.

In Sorgavaasal, an innocent man, Parthi (R. J. Balaji), is wrongfully imprisoned, setting off a gripping investigation. When a violent riot erupts, Judge Ismail (Natty) takes on the task of uncovering the truth, but conflicting accounts from the inmates complicate his efforts. As the investigation unfolds, the identity of the person responsible for the riot slowly comes to light. Watch it in theaters to uncover the full truth.

The performances of RJ Balaji, Selvaraghavan, Hakkim Sha, Samuel Abibola Robinson, Balaji Shakthivel, Saniya Iyyappan, Natty, and Sharafudheen are all impressive, adding depth to the intense drama.

Ravi Raghavendra, known for his roles in Doordarshan dramas and as music director Anirudh's father, delivers a commendable performance that complements the rest of the cast.

The set design of Sorgavaasal is visually striking, capturing the gritty prison atmosphere. Prince Anderson's camera work brilliantly highlights the raw emotional tones, with precise and impactful framing that keeps the viewer engaged.

Anirudh is a prominent music director in Tamil cinema, and similarly, Christo Xavier is establishing himself as a key figure in Malayalam cinema. In Sorgavaasal, he created an exceptional background score (BGM) that elevates the film's intense atmosphere. Anirudh's performance of "The End" song is one of the highlights of the movie.

The non-linear screenplay by Sidharth, Tamizh Prabha, and Ashwin Ravichandran is captivating, with seamless editing that keeps the pacing tight. The first half builds slowly, but the second half shifts into a fast-paced, racy thriller.

The climax may resonate more with certain audiences.

Debutant director Sidharth Vishwanath has delivered a film with a strong social message, making Sorgavaasal an engaging action-crime drama.

Rating: 7.5/10.