THOONGAVANAM (2015)

THOONGAVANAM  (2015)

Director: Rajesh M.Selva

Casts: Kamal Hassan, Trisha, Prakash Raj, Kishore, Yugi Sethu
Music: Ghibran
Language: Tamil
Genre: Action Thriller

After delivering two critically acclaimed films, Kamal is in full form this year with ‘Thoongavanam’ making it third on the strong list. Despite being adapted from a French film, ‘Sleepless Night”, Kamal has obviously added his maiden touch to it with his usual wit and technical innovation. Did Kamal manage to in over the audience this Deepavali?

Synopsis

Diwaker, a senior officer in Narcotics Control Bureau, executes an exhilarating drug heist, stealing 10kg of cocaine. However their joy is short lived when Vittal Rao (Prakash Raj) kidnaps Diwaker’s son. The rest of the story is all about how Diwaker overcomes the numerous hurdles to save his son in one night.

Story – Screenplay

Kamal’s racy screenplay is the biggest strength of the film that flows with intense moments sparked by twists at every direction. . If you have to point out one thing that differentiates a good film from an ordinary one in this genre, it must be the smoothness with which the narrative transitions from the set-up point to the payoff. In Thoongavanam, this progression is almost invisible.  The pay offs are seamlessly staged in an infinite maze of store places, cooking spaces, restaurants, pool tables and corridors, almost in every nook of the nightclub.  A very well thought out game plan that brutally and unexpectedly blows out into a quagmire of chaos. That chaos is what makes us seat at the edge of the seat expecting the next twist every 10 minutes.

Be it the emotional yet subtle dialogue exchanges between Kamal and his son or the ‘Crazy Mohan’ style of word play, dialogue writer Suka sparkles with wit and realism.

On the flipside, one might think that if certain cops in the films have acted fast enough or Vittal Rao who is in charge the entire nightclub enforced his control over the place, the film plot might have be ended by intermission. However, the racy screenplay, interesting characters and back-to-back twists, keeps us away from cracking our logical nerves and just enjoy the edgy thriller.

Casting & Performance

After taking up movies sided to paternal love in his recent releases, Thoongavanam is another strong addition to the multi-talented Kamal. Hat trick indeed! He plays it subtle and gels as a common man in this, oozing with charisma. His dialogue delivery is relatable and realistic yet massy! Kamal also makes us seat up at dangerous raw fight scenes that are riskily choreographed. Kudos to the ever-young Kamal!

Prakash Raj as usual steals with his comic-villain role that breaks away from a typecast antagonist you see in edgy thrillers like this. Kishore and Sampath also have performed well but one might feel their full potential are not utilized here due to their limited character arc. Trisha looks elegant, classy and apt as a sincere cop.

Other characters like Yugi Sethu and Chams also have their bright moments when they boost the speedy plot with comic one-liners.

In overall, Thoongavanam gets lifted through the teamwork of brilliant performances by the star cast ensemble.

Technicality

Technically, Thoongavanam offers us fresh perspective through the innovative work by the entire technical team.

From first frame to the final frame, cinematographer Sanu John Vargeese (Vishwaroopam fame) brings us into symbolic, perpetual frames that aid the mult-narrative structure to fully immerse the audience. Be it the handheld shots during fight scenes and car chase sequences, Sanu Vargeese earns our lauds. Shan Muahammad’s crisp and fast cuts of visuals further accelerate the bullet train screenplay.

Despite a film that doesn’t have a song, Ghibran makes his presence felt in every scene with his majestic, cool, edgy BGM that intensifies the narrative even further. The theme music will ring in your ears even after you leave the cinema halls. Undoubtedly, Thoongavanam, is his best in terms of BGM. The audience will certainly root for more combination of Kamal-Ghibran after this.

Sound designer Kunal Ranjan brings the scene closer to our senses with such a meticulous work. Breath taking stunt sequences by French stunt directors; Gilles Conseil, Sylvain Gabet and Virgine Arnaud raise our adrenaline rush, in every 10-20 minutes.

With a great teamwork and intense planning led by Kamal and Rajesh M.Selva, the audience will be able to catch a film that looks and feels internationally rich.

Bottomline

Kamal takes the commercial route after some time that succeeds most of the time with an airtight screenplay and sleek treatment

Verdict:

Rating :  3.5/5