Introduction
Eight years since his debut film Indru Netru Naalai, director R Ravikumar’s strength remains the same; he revels in the light-hearted treatment of a heavy topic. But unlike his first film, which is worth visiting again thanks to some clever surprises wrapped in an engaging drama, it’s doubtful if the director’s sophomore film Ayalaan will endure the test of time, as it’s risk-free and consciously family-friendly.
Budget
As Ayalaan has been one of the most anticipated releases of the year, it is reportedly made with a staggering budget of Rs 100 crores.
Ayalaan Movie Review
Tamizh (Sivakarthikeyan) is a naiive youngster, living a simple life in Poombarai. He comes to Chennai in search of better-paying jobs. Meanwhile, there’s a scientist (Sharad Kelkar) and his subordinate (Isha Koppikar), who are in possession of a crystal called Spark. They plan to gain power by plotting the end of the world.
But one day, an alien named Tattoo visits Earth in search of the crystal. Sivakarthikeyan teams up with the alien to save the world and destroy the scientist.
Concept-wise, ‘Ayalaan’ is simple, just like ‘Indru Netru Naalai’. If it was a time machine in ‘Indru Netru Naalai’, it is crystal in ‘Ayalaan’. The Sivakarthikeyan-starrer, too, is a science fiction with comedy and social messages. In ‘Ayalaan’, we get social messages about the environment and animal conservation.
Ayalaan (Tamil)
- Director: R Ravikumar
- Cast: Sivakarthikeyan, Yogi Babu, Karunakaran, Isha Koppikar, Rakul Preeth Singh,
- Runtime: 155 minutes
- Storyline: An alien and a nature lover team up to save the city from getting destroyed
Director Ravikumar’s ‘Ayalaan’ is a fun film, but suffers because of an uneven screenplay. The initial sequences is a stark reminder of the fact that the film has been on the back-burner for several years now. But, as soon as the alien makes an entry, the story picks up steam.
Sivakarthikeyan’s chemistry with the alien is excellent. Add to it, a terrific Yogi Babu, an in-form Karunakaran and his aide. Probably the reason why, the first half turns out to be an enjoyable ride.
However, the film takes a nosedive in the second half. Though it is technically sound, it appears silly and lacklustre in parts. The villain (Sharad Kelkar) and Isha Koppikar have uni-dimensional characters and appear wooden throughout the film. The drama and the conflicts needed more meat and more than a simplistic approach.
Sivakarthikeyan’s earnest attempt needs to be appreciated. For a star of his stature, picking off-beat films has its own pros and cons. And it’s heartening to see him own up his choice of films. He lives up to the role of Tamizh and his interaction with the alien is the highlight of the film.
Director Ravikumar’s approach to simplifying sci-fi films is much-needed to reach a wider audience. However, in ‘Ayalaan’, it has worked in parts and the uneven screenplay bogged down the film. That being said, the VFX in ‘Ayalaan’ is top-notch and sets a new standard in the film.
‘Ayalaan’ is a fun film for kids and could appeal to them more because of its simplistic approach.
Ultimately, Ayalaan’s world might seem too simplistic in today’s age of unceasing imagination. The straightforward template while dealing with a sci-fi movie with a message thrived a decade ago, perhaps propelled by movies like Enthiran. Like Chitti the robot, Tattoo, too, is innocent and weary of trusting humans. There is a fire accident scene in Ayalaan that reminds you of the Rajinikanth-starrer. Shankar’s film was well-rounded and superior (helped mainly by a bigger budget). That said, just like how that film enjoyed great love from children, Ayalaan would also hope it receives attention from the younger lot in the audience, who enjoy seeing morality and heroism unravel on the big screen.
Sivakarthikeyan is sincere in yet another movie that seems off-beat for a star project. The action is convincing, yet the drama isn’t scary and doesn’t keep you on the edge like in Amy Adams-starrer Arrival. You also realise that the director wants to say something moralistic amidst the drama, as the alien asks for humanity to be together.