Chekka Chivantha Vaanam Movie Review

The rise and fall of a Kingdom could be a major premise for many films and any form of art works. Eventually, this is one substantial zone, where the universal audiences are strongly adhered to and Mani Ratnam’s Chekka Chivantha Vaanam drops out the ‘RISE’, but focalises completely into ‘FALL’. There are few things that comes to your notice instantly. Mani Ratnam has stressed his intelligence into many characters, for he allows some of them to behave in their own way. On the dot, it’s so much evident with the performances of Vijay Sethupathi and STR, where they aren’t seen in new light, but they are as same as in their other movies.

Apart from just labelling the film as ‘Crime-Drama’, its Emotions where Mani Ratnam score more points. Bringing up a precise note, the episodes involving Prakash Raj and Jayasudha are so much compelling that by the point of intermission; we are so much stuck in emotions. But the same emotions don’t happen in other places. Say for instances, to see the siblings confronting each other doesn’t have much power as we never see them sharing good vibes right from the beginning. This turns the film to be more predictable, especially with the characterisation of Vijay Sethupathi as Rasool, a suspended police officer. But when it comes to performance, everyone has delivered their best. Nevertheless, there isn’t much to speak about the emotions between the young couples we find down there.

A.R Rahman’s songs are almost like background and even in other places, his instrumentals and orchestral strikes offer a brilliant output. Well, we can’t wait to hear the OST sooner. Santhosh Sivan’s cinematography across different backdrops with a unique tone is adorable. Sreekar Prasad’s editing, especially in the first half is so much appreciable. But although, he tries to exhibit the same in second hour, but somewhere, the narration drags us slightly.

As on whole, Mani Ratnam’s Chekka Chivantha Vaanam brings up a tremendous performance by the star-cast, outstanding technical brilliance and an engaging narration. Although, the line turns more predictable by second half, it’s definitely worth watchable.