It's been 9 years since Jigarthanda was first released and people still love it to this day. It's considered a modern cult classic of sorts with a noticeable following, and for director Karthik Subbaraj to announce a sequel to one of the industry's most successful movies in a time where sequels exist simply to leech off name recognition, one might have some reasonable reservations about it. Well, this is where I disagree.
The original Jigarthanda was to me an extremely overrated movie. And as much as the word is frowned upon, I can't seem to find a word that describes my feeling towards it better. It was an ugly movie, with not a single likeable character, and where the conflict kept sinking to insufferable lows. It's still beyond me how this movie was ever considered anything more than mediocre. Well, thankfully we have a sequel that takes the same premise as the original and rectifies any and all faults I had with it.
Karthik Subbaraj is now 9 years the wiser, and with his naturally great eye for dramatic storytelling only refined, he finally finds good use for the premise; this time with likeable characters, clearly defined and compelling motivations, and while the occasional ostentatious tendencies do show, it's forgivable as it never impedes with the movie's impressive flow. With a breakneck first half and a resolute second, Jigarthanda Double X ends up being an arresting and fun cinematic experience. Try not to miss it!
