Review Overview
Performances
Plot & Narration
Technical Aspects and Music
A watchable thriller
Despite an oscillating momentum in the screenplay, director Lakshman's Bogan ends up as a watchable thriller spearheaded by a sterling performance from Arvind Swami.
Cast: Jayam Ravi, Arvind Swami, Hansika & others
Cinematography: Soundar Rajan
Music: Imman
Editing: Anthony
Stunts: Dhilip Subbarayan
Written & Directed by: Lakshman
Produced by: K Ganesh & Prabhu Deva
Banner: Prabhu Deva Studios
Release Date: 02-02-2017
Run Time: 02:28:00
Director Lakshman’s Bogan is a partly enjoyable, partly unexciting thriller which thrives on its soul-swapping concept, a promising, not-so-oft explored premise in Tamil cinema. Lakshman nicely positions the basic plot line in the minds of audiences with a believable, interesting back-story.
The first half is owned by Arvind Swami, who once again proves his mettle as an ace performer. His smashing screen presence, inimitable swag and effortless nonchalance make him an absolute delight to watch. Despite the run-of-the-mill romance sequences between Hansika and Jayam Ravi, Arvind Swami steals the show from everyone in the first half and keeps you glued to the proceedings with his amusing antics.
The interval block surely sets the stage for the second half and Jayam Ravi’s character. But, Lakshman loses his storytelling focus post interval and things go on the downside with uneventful, tiresome flow of sequences. Lakshman’s slick movie-making is evident on screen, but the mundane screenplay in the second half lets the film down.
Jayam Ravi has churned out an earnest performance, but he’s not able to be in the same league as Arvind Swami, who’s definitely a class apart and carries an electrifying aura. Hansika, as usual, gets a toothless role and manages to do justice as much as she could.
Technically, the film is packaged brilliantly by cameraman Sounder Rajan and master editor Anthony, who expertly flaunts his dexterity in Sendhoora song, which pushes the envelope in song editing, one of Anthony’s core strengths. Imman, who is majorly confined to village-set dramas by our filmmakers, has once again proved that he’s an underutilized composer in the films set against urban backdrops.
Bogan could have been a great, gripping thriller but the tedious turn of events in the second half make one feel that Lakshman bit off a bit more than he could chew in his sophomore outing. Despite an oscillating momentum in the screenplay, Bogan, overall, ends up as a watchable thriller spearheaded by a sterling performance from Arvind Swami.