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Raayan Review: A Massy Picturesque Entertainer with Thrilling Second Half
Story
Karthavarayan, Muthurayan, Manikyarayan, and Durga are three brothers and a sister abandoned by their parents in their childhood. Karthavarayan takes on the responsibility of caring for all his siblings. After a fake monk tries to sell his sister, Karthavarayan kills the monk and moves to a new place in search of a fresh start. Although life seems to settle, their new area is controlled by two local goons, Durai and Sethupathi. Karthavarayan remains calm and avoids conflicts to keep his family safe, while Muthurayan, his opposite, constantly starts conflicts and brings trouble home. Prakash Raj, a police officer seeking revenge for his father’s death and aiming to clean up the city, manipulates events to ignite a war among the goons. Unaware of the hidden schemes, Muthurayan gets entangled in this chaos. To protect his family, Karthavarayan takes drastic measures. Will his family be what Karthavarayan expected? What will be the fate of the siblings?
Performances and Characters
Dhanush’s storytelling and character development are impressive. He starts from childhood, gradually leading the audience through the story with meticulous screenplay. Every frame is rich in detail, showcasing Dhanush’s refined movie-making skills. Dhanush plays one of the ensemble cast, setting the stage for an explosive second half.
Sundeep Kishan’s portrayal of Muthu is one of his best performances to date. His character evolves from a naive persona to a fighter, offering a broad acting scope. Sundeep, who previously received praise for his role in Prasthanam, delivers a similarly commendable performance here. Aparna’s portrayal of a woman from the slums is realistic, maintaining authenticity even in romantic sequences and songs. The screenplay stays true to the story without deviating into fantasy.
S. J. Surya stands out with a glamorous appearance and engaging performance, bringing charisma to the screen. Kalidas Jayaram, usually seen in lover boy roles, takes on a different character, possibly chosen by Dhanush after his performance in Por. Dushara Vijayan surprises with her portrayal of Durga, evolving from an innocent, sweet girl to a complex character. Selva Raghavan’s role is also a departure from his usual performances, offering a sweet and soft portrayal.
Music and Visuals
The music by A. R. Rahman is exceptional, particularly the resonating background score that elevates every scene. The visuals are brilliant, with every frame meticulously crafted by the DOP, Om Prakash, and Dhanush’s vision for the screen.
Critique
The story of Raayan is outdated, suggesting that people in slums haven’t progressed from past generations. The plot point which kickstarts the otherwise mundane lives of the Raayans, is overused since the birth of story writing. Dhanush seems to have taken inspiration from numerous films with similar plots but changing the characters’ reactions to fit his story.
Despite the strong character development, the story is weak, outdated, and lacks logical coherence. Varalakshmi Sarathkumar, known for her diverse roles, does not shine in this film. Similarly, Aparna is also wasted, her character is limited to crying, wasting her potential. Both actresses, who have earned significant reputations in cinema, do not benefit from their roles in Raayan.
Symbolism and Themes
Raayan and his sister Durga, along with brothers Muthu and Manikyam, resemble Ravanasura, Surpanakha, Kunmbhakarna, and Vibheeshana, respectively, but there are no Ram and Sita in Raayan. It explores the strong bond between brother and sister is reminds us of Ravanasura and Surpanakha. Ravanasura does anything for his sister Surpanakha and she reciprocates the same with her eldest brother.
Verdict
If you’re a fan of massy, hero-elevated action sequences with excellent visuals, and want to experience A. R. Rahman’s background score in theaters, Raayan is a one-time watch this cool rainy season. Due to an elevated level of violence, it is advisable to avoid taking children.
Sarkar Rating: 2.25/5
Read Also: Pekamedalu Review