Dhayam Movie Review

Writer & Director : Kannan Rangaswamy
Producer : A.R.S. Sunder
Cast : Santhosh Prathap, Jayakumar, Aira Agarval, Jeeva Ravi, Kadhal Kannan, Aanchal Singh, Anmol Sandhu
Music : Sathish Selvam
Cinematography : A.Packiaraj
Editor : R.Sudharsan
Production company : Future Film Factory International
Running Time : 104 mins

It’s a psychological thriller set against the backdrop of a single room, which is promoted as the country’s first of its kind genre. The film stars Santhosh Prathap and Aira Aggarwal in lead roles alongside with 6 more actors. As soon as we saw the film’s trailer, we could envisage a sort of connection between this film and a famous movie ‘Exam’, where the complete story happens inside a room. The film is directed by Kannan Rangaswamy and is produced by Future Film Factory International ARS Sundar.

The film opens with bunch of 8 stranger walking into an Interview room and a person tells them they would be locked up inside a room and will be tested with ‘Game of Fate’ and the one survivor by the end of one hour. What happens next is few twists and turns that comes up offering few surprises.

One of the great highlights about the film is that it has a convincing element with the running length .Since, the plot is locked to a single space and time, it doesn’t divert anywhere. Thanks to filmmaker Kannan for not diverting the story lines with unwanted flashbacks or introduction of all characters. The first half gets into a gripping start followed by an unexpected surprise element by intermission. But the second hour comes up with few sluggish moments and by the end of show, it’s too hackneyed as the storyline faintly reminiscences of Hollywood movie ‘Identity’.

When it comes to performance Santhosh Pratap, he has given his best into the acting with different shades. Others in the star-cast have nothing much to perform as they don’t get too much footage as the time frame is too limited.

Technically, camera work is extraordinary and editing too is okay. But the set work with lighting department gives an impression that we are actually watching a stage play.

The film might click with least on multiplex audiences, but it might not be a piece of cake for the rural and sub-urban audiences.