"Thadam" Movie Review

Introduction:

Arun Vijay and Magizh Thirumeni, the duo behind the highly acclaimed action thriller 'Thadaiyara Thakka,' have returned with a gripping murder mystery that stands out from the usual fare in Tamil cinema. Thadam features Arun Vijay in a dual role with a storyline that is full of psychological twists. While it remains to be seen how the audience will respond, the movie promises to leave a strong impression.

Characters:

The movie revolves around two identical-looking men, Ezhil (played by Arun Vijay) and Kavin (also played by Arun Vijay), who are very different in their personalities and lifestyles. Ezhil is a decent construction businessman who is in love with Deepika, who works in his building. In contrast, Kavin is a thief and gambler who is always looking for a quick buck, often with the help of his accomplice, Surali (played by Yogi Babu). Meanwhile, Anandi (Meera), an innocent girl, is in love with Kavin, even though he uses her for money. When a young man named Akash is murdered, the police investigate, and Inspector Vijayan (FEFSI) plans to pin the crime on Ezhil, with whom he has a score to settle. However, Kavin also ends up in prison, causing trouble for the Inspector and the sub-inspector Malar (Vidya Pradeep). What follows is a game of cat and mouse as the two men try to trap each other while the police are left stumped.

Performances:

Arun Vijay shines in his dual role, putting in a lot of effort to differentiate the characters with minute mannerisms. His action sequences are particularly noteworthy, especially the one in which his two characters face off against each other. Tanya Hope and Meera, who play the love interests of the two Arun Vijays, make a strong impression despite having limited screen time. Vidya Pradeep, in the role of the sub-inspector, gives an excellent performance, while Sonia Agarwal, Yogi Babu, FEFSI Vijayan, George, and Meera Krishnan deliver solid performances in their respective roles.

Plot:

The second half of the film is where it really shines, with many twists and turns leading to a satisfying climax. The backstory of the two Arun Vijays is convincing, and the psychological angle to their characters adds depth to the plot. The filmmakers have clearly done their research, and the legal aspects of the story are accurate.

Critique:

While the movie has many strengths, it also has some weaknesses. The commercial elements, such as the bar song and duets, and over-the-top heroism in the police station sequences detract from the film's overall attempt to be different. Additionally, the first half of the movie meanders, taking a long time to get to the real story. The reasons for FEFSI Vijayan's revenge on Arun Vijay and Tanya Hope's fate are not entirely convincing, given that the entire screenplay rests on these two elements. Moreover, Vidya Pradeep's physique and her designation do not match the buildup given to her character.

Technical aspects:

Arunraj's songs lack recall value, but his background score is in sync with the mystery genre. Shakti Saravanan's cinematography, lit in dark shades, sets up the mood well, while N.B. Srikanth's editing tries its best to convey the story's twists and turns.

Plot Overview:

The movie revolves around two identical-looking characters, Ezhil and Kavin, both played by Arun Vijay. Ezhil is a decent construction businessman who is in love with a girl named Deepika (Tanya Hope), who works in his building. Kavin, on the other hand, is a thief and gambler who is always on the lookout for opportunities to make fast money, along with his crony Surali (Yogi Babu). Anandi (debutante Meera) is an innocent girl who is in love with Kavin, though he uses her only to extract money.

A young man named Akash is murdered, and the inspector (FEFSI) Vijayan, who has an old score to settle with Ezhil, plans to pin the murder on him without an investigation. However, Kavin also ends up in prison, causing a great headache for the inspector and the sub-inspector Malar (Vidya Pradeep). A cat and mouse game ensues as the two men try to get each other into a trap while the police are stumped. The climax of the movie is unexpected and answers the questions of who the murder victim is and who killed him.

Performances and Characters:

Arun Vijay has done an excellent job in portraying the dual roles of Kavin and Ezhil. Since the characters are identical, he has put in a lot of effort to differentiate them with minute mannerisms. Arun is a livewire in the action sequences, especially in one in which his two characters rip each other apart, making it riveting to watch. The two love interests for each Arun Vijay are played by newcomers Tanya Hope and Meera, and both of them impress in the little screen time they get.

Vidya Pradeep has a meaty role as the straightforward sub-inspector of police who pursues the case and gives a good account of herself. Sonia Agarwal, Yogi Babu (in a serious role), FEFSI Vijayan, George, and Meera Krishnan are the known faces who do justice to their roles.

Cinematography, Music, and Editing:

Shakti Saravanan has lit the film in dark shades to set up the mood well, while N.B. Srikanth has tried his best to convey the confusing story through his edits. Arunraj's songs do not have recall value, while his background score is in sync with the mystery genre.

Analysis and Final Thoughts:

What works best in 'Thadam' is the entire second half, which keeps the audience interested with many twists and turns leading to a satisfactory climax. The back story for the Arun Vijays is quite convincing, lending a psychological angle to the characters. A lot of research has gone into getting the legalities and the basic theme of the film right.

On the downside, commercial elements like the bar song, the duets, and the over-heroism in the police station sequences mar the film's attempt to be different. The first half just meanders along, and it takes a long time for the real story to begin. The reason for FEFSI Vijayan to take revenge on Arun Vijay and Tanya Hope's

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