Thunivu

From the onset itself I have to say I was way more invested in this storyline than Valimai. There was almost a mundane treatment to Valimai that eventually got exhausting but H Vinoth really made sure to make the treatment of this heist film spunky and more importantly, more fun. The film focusses on a group intending to rob 500 Crores from a bank, only to further realise that those in positions of power are hiding way more money than the public can imagine. As the heist gains attention from various sections including political parties and the media, one gets to the bottom of how the common man is being taken for a ride by these financial institutes. The element leading the charge of this narrative is the confident, smug and capable Ajith Kumar. I have to from the onset state that Ajith Kumar absolutely has a ball in this film. There is this carefree and childlike attitude to his demeanour that seems relaxed even though the circumstances around him life threatening. This was the most refreshing to see and one cannot discount the fact that seeing him in his element was an absolute treat. One of my biggest gripes about the film was even if its a star led action film that has little to do with the plot and more to do with the celebration of the star, at least stage his elevation moments with a roaring background score well, but that is not the case in this film at all! Ajith with his swagger deserved a better introduction, the lacklustre score and the basic staging almost takes his star presence for granted. The two aspects that especially work for Thunivu are the comedic gags with a constable Anthony whom is surprised through most of the running minutes for being handed over responsibilities, the king of pop being referenced during negotiations from the bank and the media constantly wanting a bite from the police by blackmailing them with airing out their dirty laundry. The biggest problem of H Vinoth’s direction and especially the editing of this film is that it is so haphazard, so sped up and so abrupt that eventually it becomes nauseating to keep up with the events. Sequences almost are incoherent and the movement of characters are fast forwarded throughout its running minutes so incessantly that it almost becomes the vibe of the movie, always in a rush and never giving full conviction to the scene at hand. H Vinoth with Ajith Kumar delivered brilliantly with the action set pieces in Valimai but its an absolute travesty to see the final execution of the set pieces in Thunivai. Other than a marvellous 360 degree shot where Ajith Kumar shines in his physicality, most action set pieces are filled with jump cuts that lend it a haphazard quality. One of the main reasons why Thunivai probably won’t be remembered in the coming weeks to come is because of the rushed screenplay that never allows any emotion or moment to sit with you, almost as if it has anxiety to move on to the next thing! This is especially true in a terribly edited sequence in Bangkok to showcase the origin story of Ajith Kumar in his team as Chilla Chilla also plays abruptly in the middle. The second half of the film takes a bizarre turn, having one incoherent and sped up action set piece after the other that even steers away from the otherwise comedy filled and rather enjoyable first half. Ajith Kumar tries his best in elevating the lacklustre plot with his comic timing but it can’t salvage a poor and rushed treatment of a storyline that doesn’t even have the ability to get its social message across with conviction. More than anything I was just left thinking, this film could have been so much better if it was just edited and paced better.