Film: Thuppaki (Tamil)
Cast: Vijay, Kajal Aggarwal, Jayaram and Vidyut Jamwal
Director: AR Murugadoss
Rating: ***1/2
Thuppaki is different. The difference is visible in every shot, every dialogue spoken and the amazing attention to detail. What stands out most in this incredibly entertaining film is that Tamil films have finally come of age — in so many interesting ways.
From costuming to a complete rediscovery of the talents of Vijay, this film is a treat to the eyes and a pleasure to sit through. What starts out as a patriotic film, discovers love and naturally humourous situations en route, finally ending in a climax that makes you want to sit around for the credits — just to see who the amazing people behind this film are (something, we can assure you, is hardly ever done with in Kollywood productions).
Thuppaki is a godsend for Kollywood in 2012. Consider the fact that this is the first watchable big budget movie this year and you can see why we’re so excited. Kalaipuli S Dhanu needs a pat on the back for finally choosing a sensible project and the money spent on this visual spectacle seems well spent. Santhosh Sivan proves his mettle as scene after scene unfolds, surprising you with the fabulousness of the image and the montage — some scenes look straight out of picture postcards. What a pleasure for sore eyes, this Thuppaki is!
Getting down to the storyline, the movie follows the life of Jagadish, an army officer who is also a secret agent with the DIA (Defence Intelligence Agency) and is on holiday in Mumbai, his home (yes... a Tamil movie about an Iyer family who live in Mumbai... finally!). While in Mumbai, he is forced by his family to meet a girl, who he doesn’t like at first and then falls in love with (Kajal Aggarwal) with similar reactions from the girl too.
Step in Jayaram as a senior from the same army battalion who is also wooing the same girl. Confusions and chaos obviously ensue and amid all the terrible songs and passable comedic scenes, rises the story of sleeper cells, suicide bombers and a huge network of terrorists and their allies in the country’s financial capital.
Jagadish now has to save Mumbai from an elaborate plan of multiple bomb blasts and also get to the brains behind the sleeper cell operations, before it is too late.
Simple story enough, what makes this film work is the elaborate detailing and planning and the fact that for once someone is shown willing to use the same ‘forfeit-all sensibility’ against the perpetrator.
What doesn’t work, however, are the songs in the film. A lot of money seems to have been spent on all the songs (and their picturisation) and other than the penultimate song, Vennilave and Google Google, most of the songs are boring to listen to and a pain to watch. The final number, Poi Varavaa, picturised on army folk boarding trains from Mumbai as they head back to their duty and call, manages to strike a chord with the audience, even leading to some final heart wrenching moments in the film.
AR Murugadoss has proven his love for crime all over again and his direction deserves applause. The movie is not boring, not even for a minute and true to his style, he’s ensured that unnecessary scenes are done away with.
This movie comes across as his tribute to the vibrancy and pace of life in Mumbai. Vijay is adorable in his new avatar and proves that he can be cast in serious roles too. Kajal acts as a pretty face mostly, but is pleasing and cute in many sequences. The true clinchers, however, are Vidyut Jamwal’s smouldering good looks and action sequences — reason enough to watch the film. Why, oh why, are villains in Tamil films so much hotter than the heroes, we continue to wonder. Watch the film, you won’t regret it.
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