Thriller is the best in decades
DIRECTOR Vishnuvardhan and actor Ajithkumar reunite after their 2007 megahit Billa to deliver another Diwali cracker in the explosive Tamil thriller Arrambam .
The film opens with Ashok Kumar issuing a warning to the authorities about bombs in three buildings in central Mumbai, setting the scene for a terrorismthemed thriller.
The cast includes Arya, Nayanthara, Taapsee Pannu, Kishore, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ashritha Gowda, Atul Kulkarni and Suman Ranganathan, and there is a special guest appearance by Telugu star Rana Daggubati.
Ajithkumar is in a polished, powerful role as Kumar, and Nayanthara delivers yet another strong performance. Arya is in one of his most impressive roles to date with a character so well portrayed that it remains in one’s memory for days after seeing the film.
Om Prakash’s cinematography matches the stylish excellence of the film. Apart from capturing the splendour of the locations — including Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Dubai, Hyderabad, Mahabaleshwar, Jaisalmer, Leh and Ladakh — there are some very creative angles and styles.
As in Vishnuvardhan’s other films, the script is slick, witty and crisp and the story is beautifully supported by Yuvanshankar’s music in a stunning and varied soundtrack. The title song, as well as Stylish Thamizhachi and Yen Fuse-um Pochu, have become popular locally, but my personal favourite remains Hare Rama Hare Krishna, which is, sadly, not in the film.
Vishnuvardhan takes Tamil and Indian commercial cinema to a new level with his stylish presentation, taut screenplay, believable characters and incredible eye for detail.
Arrambam is one of the best action thrillers I have seen in decades. The pace is unrelenting, the story absorbing and thoughtprovoking. With its brilliant songs, talented cast and stunning cinematography, Arrambam is a film that nobody should miss on the big screen.