Story:
Kathava Raayan (Dhanush) is a fast food center owner who single-handedly raises his siblings, each with their unique struggles and aspirations. Durga (Dushara Vijayan) manages the household, Muthuvel (Sundeep Kishan) is in a romantic pursuit with Meghala (Aparna Balamurali), and Manickyaml (Kalidas Jayaram) is dedicated to his studies. Their individual journeys intertwine with Raayan’s, leading to a tumultuous turn in his life as he becomes embroiled in a world of deceit, chaos, and violence.
Performances:
Dhanush consistently impresses with his acting and directing skills, making him one of Raayan’s standout talents. A prime example of this is the character portrayed by Sundeep, who adds depth to the storyline with his solid acting. Dushara Vijayan is a stunner who dominates everyone in crucial scenes in the latter half. Selva Raghavan was decent in a supporting role. SJ Suryah delivers a restrained portrayal in a typical role, adding a unique touch. Prakash Raj demonstrates his expertise in a conventional character. Aparna Balamurali has limited opportunities to showcase her acting skills, whereas Kalidas Jayaram falls behind numerous talented performers. Varalaxmi Sarathkumar is confined to a handful of ordinary scenes.
Analysis:
In Raayan, Dhanush constructs a universe, or a network, where each character influences another’s destiny. As the characters switch their loyalties and relationships sour, the narrative begins to stumble when the audience finds themselves lost amidst the characters’ intentions. For instance, Raayan, who dedicates himself to his three siblings, possesses the strength to obliterate a village. Yet, when entangled in the world of criminals and brutality, the film loses the emotional resonance it had painstakingly built. Some characters remain enigmatic, with limited depth for comprehension. We are introduced to rival gangs led by Durai (Saravanan) and Sethuraman (SJ Suryah), a police officer (Prakash Raj) seeking to “cleanse” the neighborhood while harboring a personal vendetta, and Sethuraman’s first wife (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar), who resents her husband’s attention towards his second wife. These narrative threads serve a purpose and lead to eventual pay-offs, but Raayan utilizes them as mere stepping stones toward the ultimate conflict. A more thorough exploration could have enriched these characters’ portrayals and motivations.
Positives:
Handling the regular scenes most poignantly is the best point in Raayan. During a pivotal moment in the film, Durga and Raayan casually drink a glass of milk after dealing with a man who had wronged them in unimaginable ways. The significance of this scene lies not in the violence of their actions but in the calmness displayed by the siblings, even in the face of adversity. In a separate scene, when Manikyam expresses his frustration to Raayan about being attacked by his college rivals to force him out of the college elections, while Raayan is shown calmly sewing with a needle and thread and explains to him the repercussions of getting into a tussle with the people who possess power. The scene describes how Raayan values the lives of his family members. The film Raayan is elevated by the transformative contributions of AR Rahman’s background score, Om Prakash’s cinematography, and Jacki’s production design. Their work ensures that Chennai becomes a living, breathing character in the movie. Rahman’s music, in particular, plays a significant role in shaping the narrative, almost as if he were a writer and actor in the story.
Negatives:
Ambiguity and contrivance hinder the narrative of the film, preventing the full development of several characters, who are ultimately removed before their potential can be fully realized. The key sequences and turns that change the principal character’s life could have been handled with more perfection.
Rating: 3/5
