A THRILLER WITH A RUNNING SUSPENSE
(By Subbaram Danda)
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| Nayantara as Anjali |
“I love killing. I just love killing. I am a psycho”– these words of bravado of serial killer Rudra, as he proceeds from one ruthless murder to another, reverberate right through the film “Imaikkaa Nodigal” (unblinked moments), one of the latest Tamil releases. He challenges CBI officer Anjali investigating the cold-blooded slayings, “Stop me, if you can. Good luck.” Anjali retorts with a cool refrain, “He thinks he is smart, but he is not. He will be caught soon.”
The thriller, set in Bengaluru, revolves around a new modus operandi of kidnap and murder. The killer’s signature style is to abduct a high profile person, demand Rs.2 crores, receive the ransom and still kill the victim. And this goes on without any change in the method of operation and let-up.
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| Anurag Kashyap as Killer Rudra |
Intertwined with the main story is a love affair between Arjun, brother of Anjali, and a ravishingly beautiful girl Krithika. Rudra’s evil designs entangle them too.
The role of Rudra is played brilliantly by Anurag Kashyap of Bollywood fame and Anjali is portrayed by serious-looking Nayantara. Rashi Khanna as Krithika and Atharvaa as Arjun add mascara and masala to the film. Vijay Sethupathi’s short role as husband of Anjali is ornamental. Anurag easily outshines Nayantara in performance.
It is a film, which makes good use of the modern technology with computers, smartphones and cyber linkages. The police and the villain vie with each other in employing the technology to play their own game.
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| Rashi Khanna as Krithika |
Director Ajay Gnanamuthu has done a good job in making the audience watch the film from the edge of their seats. The flick is fast paced. There are, however, some patches where it drags. The film runs for nearly three hours, which is too much considering contemporary standards. Numerous flashbacks, twists and turns tend to confuse the people and make them lose track of the main story. Comic scenes are noteworthy by their absence. The cinematographer R. D. Rajasekhar has chosen excellent lighting settings and angles to capture the true action of the actors. Music is by HipHopTamizha.
There is a little girl, daughter of Anjali, who puts up a scintillating performance in her limited but remarkable role.
The real suspense of the film lies in the question, “Who is Rudra?” There was a serial killer by that name, who was finished off by the Police some years ago, according to their records. Is somebody currently masquerading as him? The needle of suspicion turns to Arjun too. And Anjali as well !!!
(Ends)
September 04, 2018
