Thaindian News

By Arvindan DI
Film: “Yudham Sei”; Cast: Cheran, Deepa Shah, Jayaprakash, Y. Gee Mahendran, Lakshmi Ramakrishnan and others; Director: Myshkin; Producer: Kalpathi S. Agoram; Music Director: K; Ratings: *** Myshkin has come out with “Yudhdham Sei” and the film seems similar to his earlier venture “Anjathay” in the thrill department. The Cheran-starrer is the story of a CB-CID cop trying to unravel mysterious killings in the city.

The story is about how Chennai city is being rocked by a series of crime ranging from abduction of girls and gruesome attacks on people whose chopped hands are found in cardboard boxes in busy areas. Unable to solve the case, the local police refers the it to the crime branch.

J. Krishnamoorty (Cheran), a boorish cop, is entrusted with the job of solving the cases. JK starts working on the case along with his aids Tamizh (Deepa Shah) and Judas (Jayaprakash).

Being a victim of the crime as his sister is missing for few weeks, JK is determined to unmask the gangsters. He sniffs around for possible clues and in the process manages to uncover dirty secrets of rich and powerful who are treated as VIPs in the city.

JK and his team’s efforts in nabbing the real culprits (including some bad elements within the police department) has been narrated in gripping manner by Myshkin and the incidents manage to hold viewers’ interest throughout the 150-minute of the movie. There is a sense of dejà vu in the second half.

The fighting sequence filmed atop a bridge has been stunningly executed. The fight looks real. However, the actual intentions of the culprits as revealed in the climax are not convincing. Myshkin’s screenplay loses its grip here.

Among the cast, Cheran, who plays the disinterested, sleepy looking cop who speaks very little, has done a wonderful job. The director-turned-actor has put in a matured performance and deserves kudos for agreeing to be part of a ‘thriller’, which is a marked deviation from his earlier films.

Comedian-turned-character actor Y. Gee Mahendran as the vigilante doctor appears to be sleep-walking through his role, while Lakshmi is very good in the climax.

Jayaprakash as Judas has put in a commendable show and seems to be improving with every film. Delhi-based model Deepa Shah has hardly anything to do other than running around as Cheran’s deputy.

The much-hyped item song featuring Neetu Chandra and Ameer is not impressive.

Sathya’s camera work, especially the night effects, is quite nice and is diametrically opposite to K’s background score, about which less said, the better.

Despite slow second-half, the films does impress as a smart and realistic detective story.