Directed by: AR Murugadoss
Produced by: Kalanithi Maran
Written by: AR Murugadoss and B. Jeyamohan
Starring: Vijay, Keerthy Suresh, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Yogi Babu and Radha Ravi
Music: AR Rahman
Rating: 3 stars

Any Vijay fan would know that his favourite dialogue is...wait for it... ‘Am waiting!’

He has used the catchphrase in this movie too and as usual, the theatre was resounding with thundering applause. And this dialogue isn’t surprising for the Kaththi duo is back, AR Murugadoss and Ilayathalapathy, transformed to Thalapathy now - Vijay.

The character is broadly inspired by Sundar Pichai as Vijay plays Sundar Ramaswamy, who travels all the way from Las Vegas to Chennai’s Triplicane to cast his vote. While doing so he realises that his vote has been illegally cast by someone else. What ensues next forms the crux of the story as viewers question if he will change the political system by invoking section 49P to destroy the ruling party AIMMK? 

What works:
A politically-loaded film that definitely works as a political launch pad for Vijay. His impactful dialogues, the stunt sequences with apt slow motion scenes, the BGM too became the perfect cocktail for a commercial entertainer. Many of the political references were kept real, like the dialogue on jallikatti, the freebies, etc. The plot, whether or not plagiarised was gripping in the first half. While Keerthi Suresh did not have much of a role, Varalakshmi Sarathkumar was definitely a big surprise in terms of her performance.

What doesn’t work:
The music, as well as the choreography, was disappointing. From Mersal to Sarkar, AR Rahman’s music wasn’t mersal (stunning) enough, despite playing with Chennai slang and abbreviations like xoxo, idk... whatever that means. Maybe I’m too old. Some scenes of Vijay seemed superficial, like when he throws his arms open during a press conference and scenes where he delivers emotional dialogues while attempting to cry.

Ratings:
I give this movie 3 stars - one for Vijay, two for the punch dialogues and stunt sequences, and three for the BGM. All said and done, every single vote matters, yes, but a Sarkar (government) like that can happen only in reel life. Let’s at least enjoy that in the make-believe world. And Vijay, hope you pack that punch when you enter politics for real too.