It seemed director Pa Ranjith could do no wrong. Since his debut, 2012’s ‘Attakathi,’ he has consistently released films which were both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, and managed the impossible by shifting the paradigm of the Tamil film industry. His two most recent ventures, 2021’s ‘Sarpatta Parambarai’ and 2022’s ‘Natchathiram Nagargirathu’ were both released on streaming platforms, which saw the director further hone his craft, being visually singular and novel for Tamil audiences. ‘Thangalaan’ is Ranjith’s latest feature, teaming up with actor Vikram and composer GV Prakash Kumar for the first time.
It seemed director Pa Ranjith could do no wrong. Since his debut, 2012’s ‘Attakathi,’ he has consistently released films which were both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, and managed the impossible by shifting the paradigm of the Tamil film industry. His two most recent ventures, 2021’s ‘Sarpatta Parambarai’ and 2022’s ‘Natchathiram Nagargirathu’ were both released on streaming platforms, which saw the director further hone his craft, being visually singular and novel for Tamil audiences. ‘Thangalaan’ is Ranjith’s latest feature, teaming up with actor Vikram and composer GV Prakash Kumar for the first time.
The plot follows Thangalaan Muni, played by Vikram, the leader of a tribe who riles up his clan to join Daniel Caltagirone’s Lord Clement, a British man committed to making an expedition to the surrounding lands in search of gold. Their biggest obstacle appears in the form of Malavika Mohanan’s Aarathi, a sorceress who protects the apparently cursed land. On paper, this plot seems like a surefire success, full of adventure and excitement. However, thinly written characters, shoddy special effects and an unwillingness to dive into the genre leaves ‘Thangalaan’ a tepid film.
The central performance by Vikram is great, with the actor returning to a physically demanding role which instated his reputation as one of the finest actors in the industry. His mannerisms, intensity and gait make the character believable on the outset. However, this is not a film that requires a one-man show. There are snippets of well written characters and performances that are let down by other factors. Parvathy Thiruvothu’s Gangamma plays a different but familiar shade of Ranjith’s headstrong female characters. Pasupathy plays Gengupattar, one of Vikram’s tribesmen who adopts Vaishnavism in the hopes of attaining moksha at the end of his life. Daniel Caltagirone’s Lord Clement, although being present in most of the film, is not able to leave his mark on the film due to a paper thin portrayal. All these characters could have been more impactful with fully realised arcs and more screen time. The most affected of all is Aarathi, who does not come across as the threat she is made out to be.
The best sequence of the entire film happens five minutes before the climactic reveal, where fantastic jump cuts and bold directorial choices are made to bone-chilling effect. These moments could have been better set up with further focus on the magical realism that is hinted throughout, but instead ultimately feels out of place.
GV Prakash Kumar's soundtrack also leaves a lot to be desired. The composer’s work seems to align with a trend of matching the quality of the film itself. This is also the case with ‘Thangalaan.’ The highlight of the soundtrack is the opening song ‘Aruvadai’ which acts as an introduction to the tribe as well as indicates towards the key themes of the film. The song ‘Minikki Minikki’ and its accompanying visuals are an unnecessary addition to the film, which slows down a film which was already beginning to outstay its welcome.
In conclusion, ‘Thangalaan’ is Pa Ranjith’s first miss in his otherwise stellar filmography. Despite it failing to meet the benchmark of his earlier films, it is a noble failure. There is no doubt that Ranjith will return to form in his future films, and although ‘Thangalaan’ may be a career lowlight, it would be a highlight in almost anyone else’s catalogue.
Krishna's rating: 3 stars
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Official trailer for film below.