Movie: 24
Rating: 3.25/5
Banner: 2D Entertainments
Cast: Suriya (in triple role), Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Nithya Menen, Ajay, Saranya
Ponvannan, Girish Karnad, Sathyan, Harsha Vardhan and others
Dialogues: Shashank Vennelkanti
Music: A R Rehman
Editor: Prawin Pudi
Production Design: Amit Raym Subrata Chakraborty
VFX Supervisor: Julien Troussellier
Producer: Suriya
Written and directed by: Vikram Kumar
Release Date: 06 May 2016
When the director of 'Manam' Vikram Kumar announced that he was going to direct Suriya in a time-travel movie, expectations around the movie started taking shape. They reached to the pinnacle after the trailer came out.
Vikram Kumar is one of the few directors in South India who has been making movies with novel storylines and themes. From “Ishq” to “Manam”, he has proved that he goes on different path. Even the trailers and publicity material of “24” have promised so much. So, does the film lives up to the expectations? Find out.
Story:
A scientist Siva Kumar (Suriya) lives with his wife (Nithya Menen) and his toddler son. He devotes his life to experiments in the lab and is on mission to invent time-travel watch known as 24 Project. His evil twin-brother Athreya (Suriya) eyes this watch and he is out to kill the scientist but in the ensuing incident he himself lands in coma.
The scientist’s son grows up to be a handsome man Mani (Suriya) who is in love with Satya (Samantha). Mani has the watch from childhood and miraculously he also finds that the watch has option of traveling in time for 24 hours. Athreya who has been in coma for 26 years wakes up suddenly and is out to grab the watch from Mani. Will he succeed?
Artistes' Performances:
For the first time in his career, Suriya has played three roles. In three roles, he appears in several getups. Among the three roles playing the role of a villain Athreya is very challenging for him and he gives stupendous performance in this evil role. He is fabulous in this role. Entire movie revolves around him and in all three roles he has excelled and has given knockout performance. The movie ranks easily as one of his best.
Samantha appears as a girl-next- door. Their chemistry is cool though the scenes between them are not appealing.
Nithya Menen is outstanding in her brief role. Ajay has given his best performance. Saranya, Girish Karnad, Harsha Vardhan and Mohan are also okay.
Technical Excellence:
Stunning visuals, superb visual effects, great production design and beautiful frames have made the movie eye-candy. Thiru’s colors and visuals are almost like a Hollywood movie. His camera work is a major asset.
The movie has many computer generated shots and all the VFX work is first rate. Oscar award winning music director A R Rehman has given dull songs but his background score has elevated the movie. Makeup for “Athreya” character is superb. Sound design is also first class.
Highlights:
- Concept of the movie
- Suriya’s performance
- Stunning VFX
- Technical values
- Time-freeze shots
Drawback:
- Dull romantic thread
- Slow songs
Analysis:
The film starts off with a bang as credits sequence is so creative and sets the movie’s theme. We witness some unusual story unraveling on the screen in the first 40 minutes. Then the story focuses on romance of the hero and heroine. When we start feeling bored with this episode, the director then comes up with an interesting interval block.
Whenever the story focuses on time-travel, Athreya and his menacing ways, the drama is arresting. We keep marveling at the overall visuals and technical values. Concept wise, “24” is one of the best ever sci-fi thrillers in India. Visually and technically too it is very good.
Where the movie works is with its theme and story. Then the director’s fusion of elements of sci-fi, action and sentiment with technical brilliance is outstanding. And Suriya’s performance throughout the movie has worked. The VFX in the film is on par with international standards.
The initial moments like introduction of two brothers - the scientist and the villain Athreya, the villain's battle for the watch is awesome and glues you to the seats. There are many thrills too. The pre-interval episode of Mani entering into Pheonix Watch company is so nail biting.
The movie has its share of drawbacks - romantic episode shot on Suriya and Samantha is so dull and the length is an issue. The movie requires you to watch it carefully. It may not go well with B and C Centers as it seems a bit complicated for them but it might work in A centers for its freshness in the story.
All in all, the “Manam” director has once again come up with a film with a different concept though not completely convincing. It works intermittently. Should appreciate Suriya and the director for attempting a novel movie.
Bottom-line: Unique And Novel Attempt
(Venkat can be reached [email protected] or Twitter)
