JOIN USThuppakki
Tamil (U/A)
Cast: Vijay, Kajal Aggarwal, Jayaram, Vidyut Jamwal, Sathyna, Anupama Kumar, Manobala, Deepthi Nambiar
Director: A R Murugadoss
Though the title means gun, our hero is no 007 nor the Man with the Golden Gun or Licensed To Kill unlike the eponymous British spy who wowed his audiences with his latest do in Skyfall.
Our Jagadish Dhanapal is not on any of Her Majesty’s Service or Mission, though he unwittingly engages in thwarting the evil designs of terrorists waging a war on Indian citizens.
If you are one who trooped in with high expectations that the Kollywood’s man with Midas touch A R Murugadoss is going to give you yet another taut and tension-filled thriller, then simply forget it folks.
Despite the deadly combination of Vijay and Murugadoss, their latest Thuppakki sadly dashes all dreams of a deadly outing at cinemas, given that Ilaya Thalapathy is seeking a hat trick after Nanban and Velayudham.
Thuppakki’s Captain Jagadish, an armyman and secret agent of the Defence Intelligence Agency, arrives in aamchi Mumbai on a lease to tie the knot with the girl his parents have chosen. Initially reluctant to say ‘I do’ to a demure Nisha, he has a change of heart when he finds that she is a female version of boxer Mary Kom and as doughty and daring as himself.
In the course of his jig and jive dos with her during courtship, our Jaggu dada, with the aid of his army pals, spoils the serial bomb blasts planned by terrorists, whose leader only swears revenge.
The first half goes about in a snail-paced and lethargical manner in establishing the necessary meat and masala for the action-packed second half. However, by that time, the audiences’ patience is sorely tested to no end. Despite a dash of novelty in his narrative, Murugadoss’ screenplay comes a cropper, besides its 165-minute length which is even more frustrating.
While Vijay gives it all to live up to his fans’ expectations, Kajal Aggarwal is just a pretty prop to pep up the proceedings. Despite boasting of ace cinematographer Santosh Sivan and Harris Jeyaraj as the music composer, this Thuppakki is not the Deepavali dhamaka it had promised with its promos.