VALIMAI movie review

Valimai, directed by H Vinoth, opens with a series of chain-snatching incidents and smuggling by masked bikers in Chennai, leaving the police force clueless and the public furious. In an internal monologue, the police chief Selva wishes for a super cop to tackle the crimes. The story then shifts to Madurai, where ACP Arjun, played by Ajith Kumar, is introduced amid scenes from a temple procession, rising up like a God held up high in a whistle-worthy hero-introduction scene.

Vinoth seems to have done away with the mandatory fan service, given Ajith Kumar's star status, and gets around to making the film he intended. Arjun gets posted to Chennai and starts investigating a suicide case that seems connected to the earlier chain-snatching and drug-smuggling cases. The director throws his research at us, much of which we have seen before in films like Metro, Chakra, and Marainthirunthu Parkkum Marmam Enna. While the detailing is impressive, there is a sense of deja vu, and the sentimentality of showing the fate of the victims feels redundant.

As Arjun goes after the leads, the gang's mastermind, played by Kartikeya Gummakonda, realizes that the cop is on to him, and a dangerous cat-and-mouse game ensues, with Arjun's family becoming pawns. The film becomes a clash between stunts and sentiment, somewhat engaging but overlong, hiding its simplistic writing with elaborate action set-pieces.

We get a sense of Vinoth trying hard to balance making a gritty action movie and satisfying the demands of a star vehicle with message, sentiment, and 'mass' moments. However, he is content with treating the action scenes as standalone set-pieces, rather than rooting them in emotion, despite the story having scope for it.

The film's secondary characters are mainly one-note, with caricatures of corrupt cops, the villain's girlfriend sporting tattoos, and a dejected brother who goes rogue driving the plot in the second half. Huma Qureshi's character, refreshingly not a romantic interest, gets only one kickass moment and is relegated to being a sidekick.

Vinoth tries to make up for this with the stunts, superbly choreographed by Dhilip Subbarayan, which are undoubtedly the film's highlight, with a bike chase and a chase involving a bus, a truck, and many bikers. However, the director could have put in as much effort into the other scenes, as some, like the police conference room scenes, appear amateurish.

Ultimately, Valimai is a battle between good and evil, with clear analogies to Batman. Ajith Kumar's character doesn't believe in killing criminals to eradicate crime, often dressed in black with his face hidden under a helmet, taking on the bad guys. He is up against an anarchist who doesn't believe in society, and he faces a situation where he has to choose between saving his loved ones and the public's lives.

Ajith Kumar plays this role like a superhero, and the other characters look at him like one, lending credibility to the stunt scenes and elevating the other scenes with his star power. His presence holds together the two jarring tones of the film.

However, even with Ajith's star power, the film falls short in terms of character development and depth. While there are moments where we see glimpses of Arjun's personal life and struggles, they are not explored fully, leaving us with a superficial understanding of his character. The same can be said for the other characters in the film, who are often one-dimensional and stereotypical.

Despite its flaws, Valimai manages to hold the audience's attention with its intense action sequences and thrilling stunts. The film is visually stunning, with impressive cinematography and editing that create a sense of urgency and excitement. The score by Yuvan Shankar Raja is also noteworthy, elevating the impact of the action scenes.

In conclusion, Valimai is a mixed bag of a film that has its moments of brilliance but falls short in terms of character development and writing. It is a film that relies heavily on its star power and action sequences, which may appeal to fans of the genre but may not satisfy those looking for a more nuanced and thoughtful film. Overall, while Valimai may not be a perfect film, it is a decent effort by director H Vinoth and a solid addition to the action genre in Tamil cinema.