What’s it about?
Karthavaraya, also known as Raayan (Dhanush), is left without his parents when they fail to return home after leaving for a work-related trip to a town. When the local priest attempts to sell his young sister, Raayan decides to flee to the city.
In the city, he receives assistance from a benevolent person (Selva Raghavan), who offers him employment and lodging. Raayan with his sheer hard work and diligent efforts successfully maintains a food joint. He, along with his sister Durga (played by Dushara Vijayan), and his two brothers leads a decent life. As their lives are going well and Raayan arranges a marriage alliance for ‘Durga’, a conflict between his older brother Muthu (Sundeep Kishan) and the son of local gangster Durai turns their lives upside down.
Sethu, Durai’s rival, is astonished to witness Durai being attacked. As Raayan tries to protect his family from these criminal bosses, he is betrayed by one of his own men. Who betrayed him and why? Will Raayan be capable of ensuring the safety of his family amidst all this?
Analysis
During a particular scene in the movie, the protaganist’s sister questions him about his consistent choice to keep a Gundu (shaved head). In response, he describes it as a matter of personal ‘style’. The only justification is ‘style’. When observing numerous proceedings in the latter portion, we experience a similar feeling: they are highly stylized sequences, however they lack logical justification.
Dhanush, as a filmmaker, successfully creates a mood piece. The somber theme, slum backdrop, and carefully chosen color palettes have effectively established an intense atmosphere. They engage us in the proceedings. With minimal dialogue, the stylised action sequences generate and profound effect. With the assistance of Rahman’s superb background score and cinematographer Om Prakash’s consistent camera work, the first half of the film effectively captivates the audience. However, as mentioned previously, the film fails to elicit the same impact on emotions and logical thinking. Following the initial setup, the it experiences many shortcomings. The rationale behind the betrayal lacks coherence.
Dhanush consistently provides a compelling performance. He is succinct in his dialogue but his expressions speak volumes. He excels in action episodes. Dushara Vijayan’s portrayal as Dhanush’s sister is superb. In a specific episode in the second half, she fully demonstrates the extent of her abilities.
Sundeep Kishan’s portrayal of Dhanush’s brother is excellent. He adeptly embodies the intricate role. Kalidas Jayaram’s part and his performance lack vigor. Prakash Raj, Selva Raghavan, SJ Suryah, and Saravanan perform their roles with precision.
The background score by AR Rahman is of exceptional quality. The title tune “O Raaya” is similarly remarkable. The cinematography and production design harmonize effectively. The editing lacks precision.
Dhanush demonstrates his style as a filmmaker in various aspects, yet his script writing lacks effectiveness.
Bottom line: Although the first half is engaging, the lack of a compelling narrative weakens it in the second half and thus ‘Raayan’ ends up as a regular action drama.
Rating: 2.5/5
Film: Raayan
Cast: Dhanush, Sundeep Kishan, SJ Suryah, Kalidas Jayaram, Dushara Vijayan, Aparna Balamurali, Varalakshmi Sarathkumar, Prakash Raj, Selvaraghavan, Saravanan, and others
Music: AR Rahman
DOP: Om Prakash
Editor: Prasanna
Action: Peter Hein
Production Designer: Jacki
Written and Directed by: Dhanush
Release Date: July 26, 2024
