Sethupathi

My review: Sethupathi

After the immensely satisfying and critically acclaimed movie like "Pannaiyarum Padminiyum" it takes guts from S.U.Arunkumar to try out a totally different type of movie as his second one. "Sethupathi" is an out and out commercial cop masala yet Arun has done justice to the movie the almost in the same manner as he did in his debut. He seem to be the kind of person who would give his sweat and soul in whatever he feels convinced about. And certainly he seem to have believed in this script and comes out with a power packed family-action-thriller with all guns blazing. 

The feel, look and the making of the movie just transforms to the 80's -90's era. Most of the movie i had this dejavu feel of watching the cop movies from the late 80's-early 90's era, especially the manner in which the protagonist interacts with his wife, who is a demure housewife religious in her duties towards her husband and children and who paints in the leisure time! Nonetheless these family scenes and the family bonding are the ones which also make this movie feel a bit realistic unlike the other superstar driven cop movies we are accustomed to in the recent years. 

The usual plot, conflict, cat and mouse game between the honest cop and the rogue goon and the final resolution, all follow the routine tamil cinema cop movie template with some interesting twists and turns here and there. Though the movie don't have much to offer as far as novelty is concerned, one should applaud Arunkumar for keeping the screenplay lively and racy that keeps the viewers engrossed throughout. In spite of all the mundane and oft repeated templated proceedings, at the end of the movie you get a satisfied feel of having watched an entertaining movie.

Vijay Sethupathi's cop is one of the better cops of Tamil cinema. He exudes the typical charisma of a superstar but at the same time he also make it more real. For example, towards the climax in the scene in which his family is in danger he is able to portray both the vulnerability of a family man yet at the same time the confidence and arrogance of a policeman all at the same time. Also the subtle changes in his body language and attitude through the period in which he goes through gamut of emotions right from the interval twist to the point he gets redeemed of it is just sheer brilliance. Remya Nambeesan plays a perfect counterfoil for the fiery protagonist. The support cast, especially those in the police station have done good work while the antagonist is just a typical cop movie villain. 

Nivas K.Prasanna's music is one of the pillars of the movie. Be it songs, brilliant "Hawa hawa" and "Konji pesida venam" and the ebulient " Hey mama" or the background score he is just terrific. 

On the whole, "Sethupathi" doesn't pretend in its intention, derail in its execution and fail in its evocation of unabashed entertainment.  

Bottomline: "Idhuthaanda Police" reboot 

3.5/5