Asuravadham Movie Review

June 29, 2018

2 minutes read

Review Overview

Performances

Story & Narration

Technical Effects & Music

A gritty, action-packed thriller.

Asuravadham is a flesh-and-blood product on the shelf of realistic revenge thrillers. Although not consistent entirely, it is bold and hair-raising. Maruthupandi delivers an important social message with a different approach.

Cast: Sasikumar, Nandita, Baby Avyga, Vasumithra & others

Cinematography: SR Kathir

Music: Govind Vasantha

Editor: Govindaraj

Art Director: Kumar Gangappan

Action: Dhilip Subbarayan

Promotions: White Bucket

Written & Directed by: M Maruthupandian

Produced by: LK Leena

Banner: 7 Screen Studio

Run Time: 02:09:00

Release Date: 29-06-2018

Director Maruthupandi’s Asuravadham is a no-holds-barred, all-action thriller that makes a way to complete fight flicks in Kollywood. The film is a power-packed revenge rampage with a strong emotional core that sets it apart from the films that its actor Sasikumar usually does. Right from the word go, Asuravadham brings you tension, restlessness and anger in the most raw and rustic forms depicted onscreen in recent times.

Sasikumar plays a returning migrant worker who plots revenge in a sadistic and brutal manner for the antagonist, played by Vasumithra (one of the dialogue writers of Kidaari). What makes the film different is the reason for Sasikumar’s anger, which is held back until the third act of the whole thing, where all the curtains are pulled up. As Vasumithra runs away from Sasikumar and escapes by a hair’s breadth every single time, many others cards and characters are pulled up by the director who puts more pace in his screenplay than dialogue or commercialization. Without getting too repetitive, the film keeps running from the word go, and with stunning cinematography (especially the night shots) and riveting music backing it, it’s a worthwhile ride.

Dhilip Subbarayan’s stunt choreography is the heart of the film. A 20-minute-long action sequence set in a corridor is the best scene of the film, where he uses Sasikumar’s minimalistic imagery in the best possible manner, with stunt scenes that extend the hammer and tongs out of the screen. We definitely wish for at least two more scenes of that fashion – the trailer seemed to promise that but the first half is more of little bam-boom snippets that are impressive, but not long enough.

SR Kathir’s pinpoint cinematography makes the film look real, even though it has just been shot amidst bushes and broken houses. He’s also ably supported by Govind Menon’s terrific Tamil debut as a musician, with the Ratha Aarathi song forming the backbone of the background score. It’s the technical finesse that adds more flavor to Sasikumar’s intentions.

Maruthupandi’s thinking and treatment to the script is what makes Asuravadham stand out as a finely crafted action thriller. Though the violence is definitely on the higher side and could have been curtailed (or the censors could have given it an A), the film mostly justifies the questions and answers as well. In totality, the film is a flesh-and-blood product on the shelf of realistic revenge thrillers. Although not consistent entirely, it is bold and hair-raising.