Ten Hours Movie Review

10 Hours, starring Sibiraj in the lead role, is a crime-investigative thriller written and directed by Ilayaraja Kaliyaperumal. The film opens with a gripping setup — a young girl goes missing, prompting her mother to file a police complaint. As the investigation begins, Inspector Sibiraj is suddenly called to a gruesome murder scene on a bus, where all passengers become suspects. With two intense cases running in parallel, the premise sets the stage for a compelling mystery.

However, while the concept is solid, 10 Hours falters in its execution. The first half holds attention reasonably well, but the second half nosedives with logical inconsistencies and a screenplay that lacks grip. The death of three police officers, a potentially intense moment, feels illogical and devoid of emotional impact.

The film is further weakened by unnecessary background music, which often overwhelms scenes rather than enhancing them. There’s a clear effort to focus on stylish presentation, but it comes at the cost of coherent writing and effective storytelling. A sharper screenplay and stronger character development could have made 10 Hours a much more impactful watch.

Sibiraj delivers a restrained and effective performance, carrying the weight of the film on his shoulders. The supporting cast — Gajaraj, Dileepan, Jeeva Ravi, Saravan Subbiah, and Raj Aiyyappa — are all adequate in their roles, but the lack of depth in characterizations limits audience connection.

On the technical side, the cinematography is commendable, especially the well-shot night sequences which bring some visual polish to the film.

In the end, 10 Hours had all the ingredients for a gripping crime thriller, reminiscent of something like Malayalam’s Officer on Duty. Unfortunately, due to mediocre writing and uneven execution, it ends up as a missed opportunity.