“Iraivan” is a Tamil-language psychological action thriller movie released in 2023, directed and written by I. Ahmed. It is produced by Sudhan Sundaram and G. Jayaram under Passion Studios and features Jayam Ravi and Nayanthara in lead roles.
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Plot
A police officer urgently pursues a psychopathic killer responsible for the deaths of his close ones.
Iraivan (2023)- Movie Review
Tamil cinema often explores psycho-thriller themes, but breaking away from conventional tropes is essential for a fresh perspective. While Jayam Ravi’s “Iraivan” offers a compelling narrative and engaging characters, it struggles due to its dark content and the antagonists’ unconventional ideology. Additionally, the film becomes somewhat predictable in the second half, transforming into a cat-and-mouse chase.
The movie opens with Arjun (Jayam Ravi), a fearless cop known for his unconventional approach to delivering justice. He’s unafraid to confront criminals, even if it jeopardizes his career. His close friend Andrew (Narain), also a cop, advises him to control his temper, fearing that Arjun’s methods could put them at risk. Meanwhile, Andrew enjoys a content family life with his wife Jasmine (Vijaylakshmi), sister (Nayanthara), and daughter Sophia.
Their seemingly perfect lives take a terrifying turn when they face a horrifying case involving a psychopathic killer named Brahma (Rahul Bose). Brahma abducts and brutally murders young girls during the night, escalating the body count. The police department discerns a sinister pattern in these killings. While Andrew and his team manage to locate and apprehend the killer, tragedy strikes as Andrew loses his life during the operation.
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Arjun, deeply affected by his friend’s death, makes the tough choice to leave the police force and commit himself to Andrew’s family. Together with Andrew’s sister, he opens a coffee shop in pursuit of a peaceful life. However, their tranquility is shattered when Brahma escapes police custody, resuming his murderous spree.
Can Arjun succeed in recapturing Brahma and delivering justice, or is there an even more sinister psychopath lurking in the shadows? The film takes us on a suspenseful journey as Arjun races against time to unravel this chilling mystery.
While the initial premise of the film, introducing the menacing psycho-killer Brahma (Rahul Bose), is excellent, the writing loses its momentum as the story progresses. The first half keeps us on the edge of our seats, and we appreciate the unconventional screenplay approach, as it defies the usual conventions of a psycho-thriller. Ahmed takes his lead characters to locate and confront the killer within the film’s early minutes, a departure from the typical pre-climax revelation. This style of storytelling piques our curiosity about what’s in store for the remaining two hours.
As the film reaches its midpoint, our engagement starts to wane. While introducing a new adversary for the protagonist is a reasonable concept, the second half fails to captivate. The script redundantly reiterates information we already know, rendering events surrounding these incidents less interesting. Introducing another new character alongside Rahul Bose’s psycho-killer feels unnecessary.
The director’s choice to personalize all the losses for the protagonist doesn’t bring much depth and turns it into a conventional narrative. Jayam Ravi’s performance is a saving grace for the film, infusing believability into his character and evoking empathy for his struggles. Characters like Priya (Nayanthara) and Andrew (Narain) also contribute to the script. Other technical aspects, including Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music, enhance certain sequences, particularly the early ones.
“Iraivan” is a competently crafted psycho-thriller featuring strong characters, yet it falters in terms of its motive and writing in some areas, resulting in an average viewing experience.
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