Seems Kamal Hassan's Raaj Kamal International is back into low-budget films made on tight schedules ! Jointly produced by RKF & Sree Gokulam Films on a shoe-string budget and almost shot entirely inside a dance pub,Thoongavanam is a realistic thriller sans any over the top action,unwanted songs,heroic dialogs and other gimmicks that we usually associate with an action thriller from Kollywood Industry.
The movie started slow but reached top gear within few minutes with Ulaga Naayagan giving out a top-notch performance alongside Prakash Raj who stole the show at times with his funny counters and one-liners.Neatly packed and utmost realistic,the racy first half went pretty well and ended on an impressive note giving still higher expectations about the second half in store.
Unfortunately,the second half in contrary couldn't match the brilliance of the first and was rather snail-paced and over-drawn without much to cheer of,the major reason why the movie doesn't classify for repeated viewing unlike many Kamal films in the past.The climax too was pretty ordinary and easily predictable for one who is into the genre for sometime.The sensible but gripping action choreography by French stunt-men Gilles Conseil, Sylvain Gabet and Virgine Arnaud deserves a special mention in an otherwise lackluster second half without much to rave about.
An official remake of critically acclaimed french thriller Nuit Blanche A.K.A Sleepless Night,Rajesh.M.Selva's directorial debut manages to keep entertained with its Hollywood-style narration,technical perfection and a brilliant performance from Kamal Hassan but still gives that feeling of 'something missing' once we are out of the cinemas,which could have been avoided had the second hour been presented better.I haven't watched the French counterpart based on which the movie is made,so at present a comparison is impossible.
If there is one simple reason why I would recommend this movie that will be Ulaga Nayakan Kamal Hassan who once again mesmerizes with a brilliant performance as Narcotics Control Officer Diwakar who's desperately on for saving his son from the hands of the drug mafia.Prakash Raj was another pick from the cast and gave an impressive act as Vital Rao,the menacy yet funny drug mafia leader.Trisha Krishnan made her presence in a role unlike that of a usual Tamil heroine.Kishore,Sampath and Yugi Sethu etc too did their part well.
The association between Ghibran and Kamal seems here to stay and the young musician manages to give full justice to the narration with a powerful background score that ranges from almost-silent hummings to loud techno beats.The title song towards the end credits came as a big surprise.
Overall, Thoongavanam is a sensible one-night thriller that classifies for a strictly average one-time watch.
