Post Rajinikanth’s Robot, director Shankar has been away from big budget films for four years. With Vikram’s I, the director revisits his love for grandeur and visual spectacle, without sacrificing the elements of commercial cinema. With huge anticipation among the fans all over, I is sure to rule the box office for next few days. Backed by a great team of actors and technicians including names like Vikram, AR Rahman and PC Sreeram, Shankar has tried to sell the old wine in new package. Does it work? Read on to find out.
What’s it about:
I recounts the age old saga of love and revenge, keeping in mind the taste of mass audiences. The story revolves around body builder Lingesan, whose goal in life is to become Mr Tamil Nadu. Apart from training restlessly in gym, Lingesan’s only other job is to fantasise about hs favourite super model Diya, night and day. Meanwhile Diya, played by Amy Jackson, appalled by the behaviour of fellow ad model John, played by Upen Patel, has a chance meeting her fan Lingesan. In order to resurrect her drowning carrer in ad world, Diya seeks Lingesan’s help, asking him to star in a high profile perfume commercial with her. Love blossoms between the two leads, which irks transgender stylist Osma, who loves Lingesan. Lingesan turns into Lee, an ad world sensation with in just few months time. Jealous of his rising career and blossoming love life, John, Osma join hands with Diya’s family doctor, who has a thing for Diya, to bring Lee down. The detractors evil plan works as Lee soon becomes hunchbacked cripple due to influenza virus injected in his body. How does severely deformed Lee aka Lingesan, takes revenge from his enemies forms the rest of the story. Will Diya accept him in the crippled form?
What’s good:
I is technically a very sound film, backed with sprawling sets, breathtaking make up, amazing camera work, nicely choreographed stunt sequences and some great background score from AR Rahman. Though the story has nothing new to tell, an interesting twist and turns keep you engaged. Vikram has given a stand out performance pulling of three different roles – body builder, model and hunchbacked cripple with great conviction. Be it comedy, romance or action, Vikram is game for it. The amount effort he has put to get into the shoes of body builder’s character is commendable. Amy Jackson looks hot and sexy at the intial stages of the film and has shown a lot of improvement from her previous performances. Upen Patel has good screen time in the film and the Bigg Boss star has utilised it well by giving a decent enough performance. Suresh Gopi is the surprise element of the film. The songs, composed by Rahman, are brilliant, especially Tum Todo Na( Ennodu Nee Irunthaal) song will leave you mesmerised. The portions shot in China are extremely beautiful.
What’s bad:
Contrary to it’s amazing trailer, I does not have an exhilarating story to tell, as Shankar rehashes the old clichés and packs them in a new way. The film’s three-hour run-time your tests you patience, as I found myself checking my watch more than once. While watching I, at times I thought, if so much of grandeur was required for the film to work. The scenes with transgender’s feelings and heart break, have not been dealt subtly as I found everyone in the audience laugh at her dismay, leaving me cringing in my seat. When the credits roll, we get to see Vikram slowly getting cured from his crippled ailment, which I felt was unnecessary as I felt the makers are trying to force a happy ending down my throat.
What to do:
I is not a great film and you are bound to be disappointed if you go in with huge expectations. But Vikram’s I is far from bad film. Watch it as a regular entertainer and the chances are there that you would end up liking it. I is a visual spectacle which should not be missed on big screen. Watch it for Vikram’s efforts, Shankar’s grandeur and some amazing make up work by WETA.
