AYALAAN (2024)

Critic No. 319

Director: R. Ravikumar

Written by: R.Ravikumar

Produced by: KJR Studios. Phantom FX Studios, Aadhi Brahma Productions

Casts: Sivakarthikeyan, Siddarth (alien voice), Rakul Preet Singh, Sharad Kelkar, Isha Koppikar, Yogi Babu, Karunakaran, Bala Saravanan

Music: A.R.Rahman

Language: Tamil

Genre: Sci-Fi, Comedy

SYNOPSIS:

Tamizh (Sivakarthikeyan), a nature warrior with a rebellious streak, finds his city dreams grounded by an alien on a crash landing. Earth's fate hangs in the balance as they join forces with a quirky team to battle a ruthless tycoon who craves the planet's lifeblood. Can laughter and ingenuity defeat lasers and greed in this eco-thriller?

REVIEW:

"Ayalaan" ventures into the cinematic landscape with a grand display of groundbreaking visual effects that reflect six years of dedicated craftsmanship. The meticulous attention to detail in creature design, textural elements, and vibrant landscapes sets a new standard for Indian cinema, showcasing a visual spectacle that is undeniably impressive.

The first half of the film successfully establishes an entertaining camaraderie between the protagonist and the alien, complemented by playful and whimsical jokes that cater to a younger audience. However, the initial promise begins to diminish as the narrative unfolds, revealing a disappointingly generic storyline. The film, surprisingly, succumbs to a predictable plot about an alien on a mission to save Earth from an industrialist's destructive plans. This narrative simplicity is a departure from the director's nuanced debut in "Indru Netru Naalai," leaving the audience yearning for more originality and depth. Everything feels convenient and predictable with an occasion revists to the concept lines of  the Bollywood classic, ‘Koi…Mil Gaya’

Unfortunately, the performances, including Sivakarthikeyan's, fall short of expectations. The charismatic lead appears somewhat out of form, and the antagonists portrayed by Isha Koppikar and Sharad Kelkar are abysmal, lacking the depth and nuance needed for compelling adversaries. Rakul Preet Singh's character, while not poorly executed, is forgettable, adding to the overall mediocrity of the film's character dynamics.

AR Rahman's music, for the first time, feels underwhelming. Both the songs and the score fail to capture the magic associated with Rahman's previous works. The musical composition, particularly in the score, resembles a rough version of Shankar's "2.0," lacking the originality and innovation that audiences have come to expect from the Oscar winner.

As the film progresses into its second half, pacing becomes a notable issue, and the initially engaging narrative loses steam. The music, while not necessarily a flaw, fails to leave a lasting impression, often fading into the background rather than enhancing key moments. Yes, there is a couple of crackles catered for the kids who might end up loving this flick but at the time and age where many innovative attempts have been made in the sci-fi arena, ‘Ayalaan’ fails to stand out. 

Despite its groundbreaking visuals (thanks to the VFX team and ever dependable Nirav Shah), "Ayalaan" struggles to rise above its shortcomings, ultimately making it a film that doesn't quite live up to its potential.

VERDICT:

Despite the groundbreaking visual effects for an Indian film, ‘Ayalaan’ falls short in giving a fulfilling watch due to its lazily written screenplay, mediocre performances and underwhelming music.

CELLULOID METER- 2.75/5: