Rajathanthiram Movie Review

Cast: Veera Bahu, Regina Cassandra, Aadukalam Naren, Ilavarasu, Pattiyal K Shekar, Ajai Prasath, Darbuka Siva

Writer & Director: AG Amid

Producer: Senthil Veerasamy

Production Company: White Bucket Productions, Sunland Cinemas

Distributor: Fox Star Studios

Cinematography: Kathir

Music Director: GV Prakash Kumar

Background Score: Sandeep Chowta

Editor: Praveen Antony

Runtime: 135 minutes

Like horror films, con films do sell in Kollywood. If it was Nalan Kumarasamy’s Soodhu Kavvum in 2013 and Vinoth’s Sathuranga Vettai in 2014, we can safely say that it’s going to be AG Amid’s Rajathanthiram in 2015, irrespective of the box-office numbers.

No other Tamil film has been so aptly titled than Rajathandiram in recent days – literally. While Soodhu Kavvum and Sathuranga Vettai were propelled by free-flowing, non-chalant narration and intriguing, thoroughly entertaining con jobs respectively, Rajathanthiram is all about beating your opposition with fascinating, laborious mind-games. And boy, they are superbly absorbing.

Rajathanthiram is a remarkably written and tastefully staged con-heist thriller. It is also technically appealing and boasts a lovely cliffhanger of an ending. The way debutant film-maker Amid has put together the classic ‘con’ caper set-up with his tautly penned screenplay is genuinely groundbreaking.

Arjun (Veera), Deva (Ajai Prasath) and Austin D’Costa (Darbuka Shiva) are friends who do relatively petty, low-risk robberies to make ends meet. However, they team up for a final, high-risky heist job to rob a jewelry store knowing that they could spend the rest of their lives behind bars if they flunk. Looks like a familiar material for a heist film? Agreed. But what make Rajathanthiram unique from other heist films is Amid’s intrinsically written script and proper treatment of the genre. No namesake songs. No cringeworthy romance track. No bar scene. No schmaltzy. No saccharine-inducing climax. That’s the beauty of this small film with a lot of attitude and a big heart. Right from the start, the film stays honest to the genre without deviating towards the tempting crowd-pleasing moments. It is truly focused than most of the films made in this genre.

Rajathanthiram has its fair share of wit, black humor, deceit, trust, revenge and lies. And, a matured romance featuring Arjun and Michelle D’Mello, played by the gorgeously stunning Regina Cassandra. In the film’s best scene, Arjun impulsively assassinates Michelle’s character by spilling words harshly. In a majority of Tami films, this would have been the ideal situation for the heroine to have a dust-up with hero and make him beg for his act before she finally smiles back and runs away to New Zealand to flaunt her assets in the name of song. But what follows here is a matured conversation, some sort of a monologue from Michelle, explaining her stand and helplessness. Arjun duly apologizes and drops her home where the situation is even more awkward, but Michelle again manages here beautifully.

Veera, Regina, Darbuka Shiva, Aadukalam Naren and Ilavarasu are all brilliant in their respective roles. But the surprising entry in the film is Pattiyal K Shekar’s impressive, winning portrayal of Kanchi Azhagappan, the owner of the jewelry store. He has got a splendid screen presence and I would love to see him do more films in future.

Sandeep Chowta’s tone-setting arrangements make up for a groovy background score. Praveen Antony’s fluent editing work and Kathir’s exquisite frames to capture the film’s atmosphere in all its glory are another value addition to the technical strength. The sour, moralistic climax is the least disappointment in the film. Even the tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the same doesn’t vindicate its presence.

Toting up, Rajathanthiram is an intelligent caper, which reinvigorates a familiar premise by turning it inside out with its meticulous writing and near-flawless execution. Rightfully, a master-stroke!

Rajathanthiram Movie Review Rating: 3.25/5

Written by Surendhar MK

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