Kaappaan

K.V Anand's formula of concocting mass entertainers needs some fixing. He fails to realize that throwing elements randomly into a screenplay (this one co-written with Pattukottai Prabhakar) to cater to every segment of the audience doesn't work in 2019. For starters, he plants red herrings in the first half-hour to make the audience think that the character played by Suriya might be a baddie. (Why go the Ajith route? Just for the heck of it?) Also, why forcefully insert 'farming issues' into a plot that already has plenty along the lines of SPG officers, double agents, corporate bigshots, the PMO, and more?

As a result, Anand is unable to commit himself to make a movie that talks in-depth about farmer problems, which has been the plot-driver for most 'mass entertainers' these days. Neither does he capture the lives and day-to-day functionalities of SPG officers well enough. Everything has a half-baked feel. The PMO is played by Mohanlal, who does a very serviceable job in the role. He can do infinitely better, we all know that. It's Anand's subpar writing that does him no good. What saved Anand in his earlier outings was the deliberate raciness added to his screenplays by writer-duo Subha.

The action set-pieces are nicer when their scale is not the largest. By scale, I mean the consequences. For instance, the fight sequence in a ramshackle house in Kashmir is done superbly. The shots are crisp, the lighting is sharp, and the punches/kicks seem like they land well. Any set-piece involving an explosion? Just the opposite. The train sequence would probably be the most disappointing among the lot.

Arya plays the role of the PMO's son who cares more about alcohol, pizza, and parties. In other words, he's supposed to be the comic relief. In all fairness, some of his lines do tickle the funny bone but for the most part, one gets the feeling that his character belongs entirely in another movie. Sayyesha plays the quintessential big-film heroine with some interesting shades that aren't fully explored. The songs (and their placement) are the standard entertainer fare, nothing out of this world.

And finally, let's get to the man himself - Suriya. After NGK, one wonders what was going through his mind when he was listening to this script. Probably the action bits intrigued him, and the blatant addition of the 'farmer' element meant it would appeal to the masses. Well, too sad that none of it worked out well enough. It's time for Suriya to prioritize scripts that bring out the 'true actor' in him, not the 'mass hero'.

When you watch movies because of a director, then you are hoping for a quality experience. Because of their past track record with good story, screenplay, dialogue and direction. KV Anand's past movies have been a mixed bag in terms of quality.

Does the movie have issues with story, character arc, screenplay? Absolutely. Does the movie entertain you at the end of it? Well it depends on your movie taste. Did it entertain me? Absolutely. Will I recommend you watch it? Yes, but only once.

One of the well known movie critic once said "when you review a movie, you review on it's own merits and not according to the standards you as reviewer set or benchmark the movie against the director's past movies or other movies in it's genre"

Sexually explicit double meaning dialogues, sex scenes at club, violence. Should be rated 18+. Average action movie

On the positive side, the film boasts an impressive cast, with performances that are solid if not extraordinary. The lead actors bring a certain charisma and credibility to their roles, and their efforts do add some weight to the story. The production values are decent, and the film manages to capture a few visually engaging moments, particularly in its action sequences.

However, the film struggles with several issues. The narrative feels overly familiar, treading a well-worn path that doesn't offer many surprises or fresh angles. There are elements of the plot that seem predictable and derivative, lacking the originality that could have set it apart.

The pacing is another problem, with certain stretches of the film dragging on and diluting the impact of its more intense moments. Additionally, the film's attempts to delve into deeper themes often come off as heavy-handed and underdeveloped, failing to fully resonate.

In summary, while the film has a capable cast and some visually appealing aspects, it ultimately falls short of making a significant impact. It's a decent watch if you're in the mood for something familiar, but it may not leave you with much to remember.

Honestly disappointed in the film. Weak screenplay as evident by flashing of various scenes without much continuity. The plot was fairly decent , but as i mentioned, let down by weak screenplay. Personally felt like it lacked the magical touch of KV Anand.

The best part of the movie were the actors themselves : Suriya was a delight to watch, Mohan Lal is amazing as well (though restricted by weak plotline) ,Arya and Sayesha did their job well. The BGM was not upto the mark (only one song was very good, and that itself sounded similar to a recently released Spanish song) .

Overall I feel mad that a wonderfully talented actor like Suriya has been restricted by the film standard. 5 stars for Suriya + 1 star for the other actors.