If you have been oblivious to the massive fandom of Ajith Kumar, H. Vinoth’s latest film Thunivu introduces you to the allure of the Tamil superstar. And stops there.
When actors like Ajith Kumar, Vijay, Rajinikanth, Salman Khan, Dhanush, or Mahesh Babu headline a movie, people watch it solely for the actor’s sake. It is a tradition that has continued across film industries through the decades. And when two massive stars of the Tamil film industry go head-to-head against each other at the box office after eight years — Ajith in Thunivu and Vijay in Varisu — it warrants a celebration among the die-hard fans.
Thunivu — which translates to ‘fortitude’ in English — is a visual treat for Thala Ajith’s fans.
Muddled, confused plot
The plot of Thunivu goes something like this: A dreaded gangster and his men attempt to rob a bank, only to find another gang doing the same. The latter group is led by a mysterious man named Darkdevil (Ajith Kumar).
Vinoth tries to keep the tension alive by not showing the audience who Darkdevil and his partner, Kanamani (Manju Warrier), are. At one point, while fighting mercenaries, he tells her to remember who they were. Hearing this, Kanamani, who has just been shot with a bullet, gets up almost instantly and shoots down the assassins in seconds. But Darkdevil’s remark hangs loose — to the point that it confuses the audience.
And flashbacks used to piece the plot together don’t help much. They do little to evoke any emotion. While the premise is entertaining — thanks to Ajith’s swagger — and you don’t get bored, you hardly remember the story when you exit the movie hall. Any thrill, emotional connection, or engagement with the heist film is entirely missing at the end of the 86-minute-long film.
The screenplay, too, is hasty at best. Thunivu tries hard to redeem its alpha male hero with his grey undertones and questionable notions of justice but ends up becoming a sermon in his glory. Darkdevil passes off as any superstars we might have seen on screen creating their own brand of justice, albeit distorted, in the name of helping people.
Going by the scale and pitch of the film, it is evident that producer Boney Kapoor has spared no expenses. A special mention must be made, though — cinematographer Nirav Shah has made the action sequences worth the audiences’ money.
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Ajith rules the screen
Throughout the movie, Ajith remains a nameless gangster with a make-do Michael Jackson baritone and conversing with the police. And, when he isn’t doing that, he is just moonwalking on the dance floor with much panache.
From dialogue delivery to bashing people left and right, Ajith is a visual treat. “No guts, no glory,” his character says. Despite a wobbly plot, director Vinoth has managed to create an entertaining treat for Thala Ajith’s fans.
Though Warrier has a lesser screen time, she aces it. If only she had more to do than playing second fiddle.
All in all, Thunivu is an entertaining watch with Ajith dancing his way into his fans’ hearts.