Thiagarajan Kumararaja had debuted way back in 2011, with the neo-noir flick Aaranya Kaandam, which was critically acclaimed, winning awards. It has taken 8 years for the man who strives for perfection, to return with his next on screen, the most anticipated Multi-starrer Super Deluxe. With a promising huge star cast and interesting characters, Super Deluxe promised to be something different. So what's it all about? Let's see.
A transgender Shilpa, Vaembu - Mugil - a couple who meet with a trouble, a pornstar Leela, a priest Arputham, four friends - Gaaji, Vasanth aka Mutta puffs, Thooyavan and Soori, Jyothi and her son Raasukutty - different people leading different lives, the people and experiences they encounter as they are connected in different ways and how they learn the secret of life, is what Super Deluxe is all about. Sharing anything more on the plot and the character connects wouldn't be fair, for this is a unique cinematic experience to be witnessed sans spoilers.
Vijay Sethupathi proves his versatility and his knack of choosing unique roles, as he's lived as Shilpa on screen. The affection, the longing, and the rage are perfectly portrayed by this man who definitely deserves to be applauded for his guts to take up Shilpa and make us love her. Fahadh is a natural, and he delivers any emotion with utmost ease, be it his views on the society and system, or the way his anger transforms gradually into love, and beautifully complementing him is Samantha, who's played the role of her life, and amazes with her impressive act with multiple dimensions. As Arputham, Mysskin fits like a glove, and Ramya Krishnan delivers a memorable performance proving herself as a powerhouse performer, especially in her sequences with Soori, towards the end. Bagavathi Perumal, with a whole new angle he hasn't portrayed so far in his career, is a revelation, and he delivers an act that makes you hate him for real. Gayathrie effectively conveys the pain, while the 4 boys are perfectly cast. Master Ashwanth is an adorable addition to the list of cute kids who can make us fall for their lovable performance. Not just these central characters but even the ones appearing in a single sequence (for instance, the kid who's terrified by Vaembu) make a mark.
Yuvan Shankar Raja's terrific background score elevates Super Deluxe to a whole new level, and one must definitely laud Kumararaja's usage of vintage numbers at the right places as well. Nirav Shah and PS Vinod's cinematography gives a unique tone and presents the contrasting lives and the worlds of the different characters beautifully. Sathyaraj Natarajan's editing is mostly good, except for some places in the second half.
While the first half of the movie presents the unconventional characters, their conflicts, the changes that happen in their lives over a day, the second half dives into emotions, as each of the characters gets to learn the secret of life, with one or the other character's influence in the life of the other, beautifully connecting them.
Thiagarajan Kumararaja's thirst to deliver quality, perfect movies, with the focus on delivering what he conceived sans any compromises, is yet again proved in Super Deluxe. Several characters, no routine hero-heroine, romance, action tracks, song - dance routines or punches, but Thiagarajan Kumararaja hits a sixer out of the park, with his exciting take on life, beautifully aided by the screenplay support from Neelan, Nalan Kumarasamy, and Mysskin. With a premise that cannot be limited to a one-liner plot or a particular genre, Thiagarajan Kumararaja has presented how lives can change over a day, and how the characters start 'living', rather than merely existing. The maker touches upon various aspects of life - religion, caste, sex, politics, science, gender, marital issues, and effectively conveys his thoughts without getting preachy at any point. The extension of several episodes beyond a few minutes in the second half won't go well with few, but that's negligible. The movie offers you fun, laugh-worthy moments, moistens eyes at the perfect points of the screenplay, strikes you with philosophy in the most unexpected manner and makes sure you leave with a content smile on your face. With great music by Yuvan and stunning visuals by Nirav and Vinod capturing the terrific performances, Thiagarajan Kumararaja and his team of writers gift us an addictive cocktail, that's a heady mix of emotions and entertainment. Super Deluxe is an unforgettable, not to be missed top-notch cinematic experience that deserves to be celebrated.
Verdict: The secret of life, in an addictive cocktail!
