Agilan - Jayam Ravi's performance and the harbour detailing stand out
Jayam Ravi fresh from the success of 'Ponniyin Selvan' has joined hands with his super hit 'Bhoologam' directed by Kalyanakrishnan for 'Agilan'. While this combo's first movie dealt with the politics behind boxing, this one goes deep into the crime and politics in the harbour. Whether this well intentioned, well detailed action thriller strike a chord with the audiences remains to be seen.'
Agilan ( Jayam Ravi) is one of the henchmen of a harbour gangster Paranthaman (Harish Peradi) who rises in the ranks as a ruthless criminal who has no qualms about murdering anyone. His aim is to meet and associate with Kapoor (Tarun Arora), the number one smuggler of the Indian seas. To do so he agrees to do human trafficking by extraditing a foreigner who is said to hold the state secrets of several countries. This brings Agilan face to face with a ruthless harbour cop Gokul (Chirag Jani). Meanwhile there is a subplot involving Agilan and his girlfriend Madhavi (Priya Bhavani Shankar) investing large amounts of the illegally gained money on some big scheme. What is that scheme and did Agilan outwitted all his legal and illegal enemies to emerge as the King of the seas is what Agilan is all about.
Jayam Ravi excels in an out and out negative shaded character with his kickass body language and casual dialogue delivery. He has worked really hard in the realistic fight sequences getting as many blows as giving them. He is especially very convincing in the climax when his large heartedness is revealed. Priya Bhavani Shankar initially seems out of place in the cop role but once her tryst with the hero is set she becomes an integral part of the story. Tanya Ravichandran is wasted in an insignificant role while Harish Uttaman, Harish Peradi, Mime Gopi, Tarun Arora and Madhu Sudhanan do justice to their respective characters. Chiraj Jani as Gokul is the perfect foil for Jayam Ravi's Agilan and most of their confrontation scenes work well.
The biggest strength of 'Agilan' is the harbour setting of the story where we feel ourselves immersed in the functioning of such a mammoth machinery that is integral to the economy of the world. A lot of detailing has gone in to elucidate how the illegalities happen in the harbour and the nexus between the smugglers and the lawmakers. The idea of using the shipping industry to feed impoverished countries around the world is laudable even though its feasibility is questionable. The sequence where Jayam Ravi hoodwinks the authorities to smuggle the international criminal is one of the highlights of the film.
On the downside the detailing also becomes too much after a point and the repetitive loading and unloading scenes makes the viewers more weary than those laborer's. The screenplay is very interesting till Jayam Ravi's character is villainous and unfortunately once his good intentions are revealed at an inappropriate place the film starts going downhill. The backstory involving another Jayam Ravi and Tanya is too pedestrian considering some of the good work put in. Another problem is that none of the villains pose any real threat to the anti hero and due to that their tug of wars are not very interesting as we already know who will emerge the victor every time.
There is only one song sung in a gruff tone that is ridiculously placed at a very serious place in the story that almost dilutes Agilan's character. The usual Sam C.S. template background is neither a plus nor a minus. Vivek Anand's camera work is commendable capturing the length and the breadth of the harbour, the functioning of the giant cranes in lifting and placing the huge containers and the boat scenes at mid sea. Screen Scene Media has bankrolled the project with high production values. Director Kalyanakrishnan has provided several engaging as well as educative moments much like his mentor, the late S.P. Jhananathan for whom there is a strong tribute in the film as well. However it cant be denied that the overdose in the narration causes fatigue.
Verdict : Go for it for Jayam Ravi's powerful performance and the detailing of the politics and illegalities in the harbours.
