Despite being attached to five projects in the last two years – as well as directing two – actor Dhanush certainly has been busy. However, he has not managed to land an outright critical and commercial success with any of these ventures. For his latest feature, he has collaborated with director Vignesh Raja. ‘Kara’ is Raja’s sophomore film, following his 2023 hit film ‘Por Thozhil’. Also starring Mamitha Baiju, Karunas, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Jayaram and KS Ravikumar, and composed by GV Prakash Kumar, ‘Kara’ is a step in the right direction.
The film follows Karasaami (Dhanush), a burglar who goes on the run after a botched robbery, swearing to never rob again. However, when Kara returns to his hometown, he is exposed to the corrupt systems at play and is dragged back into a life of crime. The film’s plot is solid, similar to many Hollywood crime thriller projects such as 2016’s ‘Hell or High Water’ and 2012’s ‘The Place Beyond the Pines’, however it balances this neo-Western tale with a Kollywood style and sensibility. The film’s strongest aspects are the scenes of suspense and tension – particularly one featuring Aadukalam Naren, which may be the standout sequence of the entire film. However, where the film falters is in its emotional scenes, which are the backbone of its story. The film’s pace during these scenes feel rushed and the connection between Kara and his family do not feel lived-in enough to justify Kara’s character arc. Furthermore, Mamitha Baiju’s Selli could have been given a lot more scope throughout the film. By the time the climax rolls around, despite a fiery pre-climactic sequence, the film’s textural thinness causes for a simpering finale which feels out of touch with the preceding realism.
The cast’s performances are slightly patchy. The standout performances in the film are from Karunas who plays Kara’s uncle, Jayaram’s delightfully fiendish Muthu Selvan and – despite her extremely limited screentime – Mamitha Baiju’s Selli. Dhanush is usually a fantastic actor and is one of the best in the industry, however his portrayal of Kara felt stilted and one-dimensional. This may be due to Vignesh Raja’s character writing, which extends out into the failure of the interpersonal dynamics between the actors. This is also why Karunas and Jayaram’s characters stand out, as they manage to give their assigned roles a much needed human touch.
Vignesh Raja’s direction has certainly improved from his debut. There is a similar amount of restraint which should be lauded, as well as some creative choices which feel like a welcome departure. A fight sequence featuring a flashlight, the quirky use of the Doordarshan news theme and the stunt choreography are all notable parts of the film. The lighting department and the excellent Theni Eswar behind the camera make for a visually interesting work. GV Prakash Kumar’s score often feels too heavy handed for the subject matter, and his soundtrack is mostly underwhelming with the exception of the rousing track ‘Vaaya En Karasaami’.
Overall, ‘Kara’ has enough going for it and is an improvement for director Vignesh Raja. With a little more work on his characters, Raja has a promising career in the industry ahead of him. For films with a more light-hearted take on a similar theme, I would recommend viewing 1993’s ‘Gentleman’, 2013’s ‘Soodhu Kavvum’ or 2018’s ‘Thaana Serndha Koottam’.
Gopi's rating: 3 stars
___
Official trailer for film below.