Cast: G.V. Prakash Kumar, Samyuktha Hegde, Yogi Babu, Muneeskanth, Raj Arjun, Suman
Written & Directed by: Vijay
Produced by Arun Mozhi Manickam
Music: G.V. Prakash Kumar
Cinematography: Nirav Shah & Saravanan Ramasamy
Editing: Anthony
Release Date: 12-04-2019
Taking a break from the usual, emotionally driven films that he usually comes up with, AL Vijay delivers a thriller this time with Watchman. The film is a home invasion drive that does not adopt any emotional value, and just walks across with a simple conflict in hand.
Vijay’s films usually have strong women characters and an emotional core that we would care for. But in Watchman, both of these are absent as the director changes paths to provide a film that does not want us to invest in the lives of the characters, but only care for the problem that they have found themselves in. But even then, he takes a lot of time at the start to spoon-feed the plot to the audience, before we get to the actual fun. And the actual fun only begins when we are introduced to Bruno, the star dog which is the clear USP of the film. Here’s a really smart dog which is not just protective but also thinks and behaves like a human, plotting the right moves to save itself and its master. Watchman becomes a much better film when the events are limited within the house itself, with the characters playing hide and seek inside closed doors. The second half, despite some lethargic writing, works better than the first and would interest the kids in particular.
While he is good as an actor, GV Prakash’s score here is grand and stylish. At times, the music here is larger than the film and helps the proceedings very well. The runtime of 95 minutes is another asset, as it allows the proceedings to be crisp and to-the-point, even though they could have been better.
Overall, Watchman is an adequately satisfying drama that shines because of the dog Bruno. If you are a pet lover, you may like it even more.
Verdict: Watchable thriller