Taanakkaran Movie Review

Over the course of many years, we have seen films in Tamil cinema that explore the happenings that take place inside a police training camp, as episodes. But for the first time, we get a film that takes it by the horns and presents an unflinching portrayal of the events that happen inside a PRS (Police Recruits School).

Taanakkaran’s director Tamizh has worked as a cop for more than a decade, before making his way to the film industry. And it is this experience that helps largely as his film feels very honest and realistic in putting forward the facts and minute details that are present in such a setting. The film showcases the events that take place when Arivazhagan (Vikram Prabhu) lands into the PRS for his training to become a cop, and what happens to him and his friends as they compete through tough trials and the blazing heat of the camp.

Director Tamizh ensures that he has a bullet point structure for his script, and does not go off into needless territories. With 90% of the film happening in the camp itself, Tamizh makes it interesting by making us invest in his characters, feel the heat of the tension between the trainees and the trainers, and also place some hair-raising moments into the screenplay. The only grouse in the otherwise intense film is the presence of the love track which does not harm the film but acts as breathers here and there which may be a bit of a turn off.

Taanakkaran’s best parts are in the portions where Vikram Prabhu and Lal face off, as the events that take place between the two act as those that seem to have come straight out of Tamizh’s episodes in the police camp. The unusual climax is also a positive to the film, pulling off a surprise that many would not see coming.

Vikram Prabhu delivers a class act in the film, with a performance that brings out his talent to the T, after a long time. It is evident that the actor has gone through a lot physically for the role, and it has paid off superbly in the film. Watch out for Lal’s menacing show, which is another reason why Taanakaaran will be remembered for a while in memory. The film also has good performances from its support cast that has names such as Pavel Naganeethan, MS Bhaskar and the others.

Ghibran’s music is not as impactful as it ought to be, barring a song that helps the film move forward well. The rest of the technicalities in the film are impressive including the camera work which finds many ways to capture a single ground.

On the whole, Taanakkaran is an impressive debut from Tamizh, who openly showcases the troubles and travails of the events that take place in the police training camp. It will go down as one of the most peculiar police films made in Tamil cinema, for sure.  Taanakkaran Movie Review by Siddarth Srinivas

Taanakkaran Movie Review Rating: 3.5/5

Click here to watch Taanakkaran Movie on Hotstar