Asuran - movie review

Ever since was reading reviews about this movie, was on two minds whether to watch it or not. The reviews were making it sound like an art movie and some even pronounced it as a trendsetter. With politicians also digging into the aura around it, was almost certain it is yet another over hyped one and wouldn’t worth risking a watch. When it came up on Amazon Prime, with no other interesting movies watch, was thinking of giving it a try. One thing that became evident post watching it was that none of the reviews were honest and in all probability were all paid ones. Not that this is an earth shattering revelation that was inferred only after watching this movie. But off late I get a feel that irrespective of how his movies are, Danush movies are never panned by reviewers. They find something noteworthy or good to mention about the movie and if not anything else, his performances are always there to accolade. In this movie, he has donned the role of a 40 plus guy, father of two kids, one old enough to get married and other just at that right age to avoid juvenile imprisonment. He also has a flashback portion where he gets to portray a twenty something guy, a given case considering his other character is quite old. He has done absolute justification to his roles and has done as much over acting/under play both the roles deserve. The guys who have played the role of his kids are awesome and very natural in front of the camera. Never felt they were first timers on screen. Manju warrier was being praised heaven and earth for her performance. But felt her role was very limited in the movie and she was just about ok. Probably that was the success of that character? Not sure. But for all the controversy around Panjami lands and the politics behind it, to me it felt more like a revenge movie, where a common man takes on a rich man to avenge his son’s death and also protect his family. The part about his land being just an addendum. But my word!! The movie should’ve been A rated or V rated for the gore and violence that have been so explicitly depicted on screen. Blood is sprinkled like colored water during holi through the stunts. With the hero worshipping BGM tagging for any stunt sequences, it only glorifies all those violence. And the puny tiny hero, despite being pierced with any and every sharp weapon on earth, still manages to chop every villain out of their miserable life.

Gils verdict – not a movie for family watch. But there were unmistakable, edge of the seat sequences that sets your heart racing about what happens to the family and in GoT parlance, Dansuh’s family is the equivalent of Starks. Not an Asuran I would want to remember, especially for these reasons!!