The Tamil action thriller, ‘Master’, starring Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi, written and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, was released on 13th Jan 2021, a day before the Pongal. Malavika Mohanan is in the lead role opposite Vijay and supported by an ensemble cast of Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, Nassar, Sriman, Andrea Jeremiah, Arjun Das and many others.
The movie is about JD (Vijay), a Psychology Professor of a popular College at Chennai, who happens to go to a Juvenile observation home to teach them. There he confronts with Bhavani (Vijay Sethupathi), who exploits the young inmates of the home as pawns, establishing his criminal world of trucks and drugs. How the Master is saving the boys from the clutches of the Monster is the rest of the story.
Vijay as well as Vijay Sethupathi have demonstrated their tremendous performance in portraying their characters. Vijay dances and fights with more energy and exhibits an unbelievable performance for his age. Vijay Sethupathy steals the show with his mannerism and dialogue delivery as the merciless monster. The charismatic performance of the two actors, shoulder the movie with some sagging in the screenplay.
And the characterizations are very well done, especially Bhavani, the strong antagonist to confront the mass hero like Vijay. And the reason why Bhavani had become so is well addressed with the clear flashback. But the protagonist’s characterization seems to be bit confused and the cause of his alcoholic nature is not made clear.
Also Read : Master Movie Images
As the director had promised earlier, the movie is very different from Vijay’s earlier movies, in depicting the lead actor not as a perfect man, without flaws, as in the actor’s other movies. There are many flaws like the professor who teaches focus, doesn’t have a focus in self. As many others in real life, this professor also doesn’t follow what he preaches.
It seems there are some compromises made among the actor and the director and the ultimate result is that the movie is neither a Vijay movie nor a Lokesh Kanagaraj’s.
The support of the popular artists like Nassar, Shanthanu, Sriman, Andrea and Gouri Kishan, are not utilized properly and are of less importance in carrying the movie forward. Even Malavika Mohanan starts as a knowledgeable professor and a strong social activist, ends up somewhere else. Mahendran as the young Bhavani is apt and well done.
Music director Anirudh has contributed some beautiful songs and his excellent background score elevates the effects of the scenes. The songs blend with the storyline smoothly. The clear cinematography of Santhyan Sooryan is remarkable with different tones, apt for the situations and makes the movie a visual treat.
As a hole ‘Master’ is a great entertainer, but not up to the expectations.
