What’s it about?
The story takes place in an Andhra Pradesh village close to Vinukonda during the pre-Independence era. The forefathers of the villagers constructed a massive temple in the village. Still, the local ruler (Jayaprakash) refused to allow them to enter the temple because of their caste status. Among these villagers is Agneeswar (Dhanush), who is fed up with discrimination based on caste.
Sivanna (Shiva Rajkumar), the brother of the Agneeswar, is engaged in a fight against the British colonial regime. In order to evade discrimination in his village, Agneeswar enlists in the army under British leadership, where he is subsequently given the name Miller.
When Miller is instructed to fire upon the nonviolent freedom fighters, he fatally shoots the British officer and flees the scene. The British authorities have officially identified him as a fugitive and have declared him as the most wanted person.
However, he subsequently returns to his village and consents to pilfer a valuable hamper that was confiscated from the temple by the soldiers of the British governor. The subsequent events comprise the remainder of the story.
Analysis
“Captain Miller” begins with an artistic approach, reminiscent of Dhanush’s acclaimed films like as “Karnan” and “Asuran,” as it explores similar themes of caste discrimination and oppression. Regrettably, the film swiftly deviates and follows the pattern of action flicks like “KGF” and “Vikram,” where the main characters initiate their battles using firearms and rocket launchers. It is not surprising that “Captain Miller” not only evokes a sense of deja vu but also causes boredom.
The film consists of two narrative threads. One thread depicts a group of individuals employing many strategies and approaches to combat British oppression and attain freedom. The second thread centers around the protagonist’s quest for liberation from local lords who prove to be more tyrannical than the British. On paper, it appears to be a great idea. However, the storyline becomes disorganized and, in an effort, to conform to the prevailing trend of mindless action dramas, the director not only fails to achieve his planned purpose but also creates a chaotic and disordered film.
Ultimately, the film proves to be a tedious and unremarkable experience, leaving us perplexed about the director’s intended message. The ultimate disclosure is completely ordinary and tiring.
It is absurd to witness villagers, including the protagonist, who live in extreme poverty in little huts, acquiring rocket-launchers, huge firearms, and weaponry modeled after machine guns. One wonders if the movie is set in the British or modern eras.
Dhanush consistently delivers his sincere performance. Priyanka Arul Mohan and Nivedhithaa Sathish perform their roles proficiently. Shiva Rajkumar’s role doesn’t make much impact except in the final portion. Sundeep Kishan is wasted.
Of all the technician’s contributions, GV Prakash Kumar’s background score is exceptional. The cinematography, particularly the filming of the initial execution of the freedom fighters, is very remarkable.
Bottom line: “Captain Miller,” although addressing the important issue of caste injustice, is a monotonous film to watch due to its incessant and protracted action sequences. While striving to emulate the action-packed intensity of “KGF,” this film ultimately falls flat and becomes a tedious experience.
Rating: 2/5
By Jalapathy Gudelli
Film: Captain Miller
Cast: Dhanush, Shiva Raj Kumar, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Sundeep Kishan and others
Music: GV Prakash Kumar
DOP: Siddhartha Nuni
Editor: Nagooran
Art Director: T. Ramalingam
Stunts: Dhilip Subbarayan
Producers: Sendhil Thyagarajan and Arjun Thyagarajan
Written & Directed by: Arun Matheswaran
Release Date: Jan 26, 2024
