Agilan Movie Review: Jayam Ravi’s acting  is the only holy grail this film got!

11th March, Mumbai: Agilan movie starring Jayam Ravi, Priya Bhavani Shankar, and Tanya Ravichandran was released on 10th of march in the theatres. The plot revolves around Agilan (Jayam), a cunning crane operator, who would do whatever it takes to rule supreme over the filthy underbelly of the Indian Ocean. His unexpected past, though, gives his sinister activities a completely new dimension as his twisted trip progresses.

We don’t often get to travel to strange places in Kollywood, but Jayam Ravi’s Agilan, which is set in the Chennai port, does a good job of capturing the daily life there. It stands out because of the realistic setting and the addition of gaudy elements, typical of every other commercial entertainment film.

The second half of the movie, however, falls short of the high standards set in the first. The first part of the movie introduces us to the cargo activities at Chennai’s harbour as well as the organisation in charge of overseeing illegal maritime trade. Agilan, a cunning crane operator played by Jayam Ravi, ascends to the position of “King of the Indian Ocean” after carrying out a risky transaction for renowned kingpin Kapoor.

Using intriguing setup scenes, director Kalyana Krishnan effectively depicts daily life at the port. Unfortunately, as Agilan’s personal history and objectives are revealed, everything begins to fall. The film’s initially high level of excitement is lowered by the predictable moments that come next. The second-half plot points’ pacing is the primary flaw in the movie. The political backdrop shown in the movie is his motivation to employ ships for charity to address the problem of world hunger, but it is not compelling enough. The film’s flow is ruined by the backstory’s early entrance.

The dialogue is sharp and captivating, and Priya Bhavani Shankar’s portrayal of the cop who aids Agilan in pursuing his goals gives a convincing performance. She has limited opportunities to perform, yet her presence is still felt. Tanya Hope and Harish Uttaman, among the other actors, also gave their all.

With great effort put into his body language and line delivery, Jayam Ravi’s performance shines out as he single-handedly propels the movie. He elevates the typical plot with his presence as a tough crane operator. Although having the typical commercial clichés we’ve seen before, Agilan’s setting adds a little bit of interest. Although the movie is watchable, the second half falls short of what the audience was hoping for.

It was a technical team effort to shoot an entire movie in a harbour, and they should be commended for that. A special mention should be made of Sam CS’s background soundtrack because it enhances the movie nicely. Without detracting from the storyline of the movie, the staging and shots also move easily. Given its extensive production, the film’s scale is amazing, and its creators deserve praise for partially pulling it off. Though it may have been better, Agilan is a one-time watch.