ATHOMUGAM – REVIEW
Cast: SP Siddarth, Chaitanya Pratap, Arun Pandiyan, Ananth Nag
Director: Sunil Dev
Forget the rulebook – Athomugam thrives on its outsider status. New cast and crew, a shoestring budget… these aren’t handicaps, they’re catalysts for something different. Yes, there’s an unpolished edge to the performances and the narrative occasionally takes the easy route. But within these constraints lies a bold experiment: can a film succeed on the strength of its ideas, fueled by the passion of the unknown?
Martin (SP Siddarth) is a tea plantation manager in Ooty, living in seeming domestic peace with his wife Leena (Chaitanya Pratap). His quest to create the perfect surprise unravels into an obsessive exploration of the ‘Hidden Face’ spying app. This dubious tool grants him disturbingly intimate access to his wife’s life, igniting a dangerous mix of paranoia and voyeurism.
Athomugam constantly surprises and goes against expectations. Although it has some contrived plot elements, its twists are carefully executed, making viewers question their assumptions. Martin’s relentless use of smartphone surveillance may bother some modern viewers, but it strengthens the film’s revelations and complex themes in the second half.
Siddharth’s performance adds ambiguity to his character. In contrast, Chaitanya Pratap maintains an enigmatic facade, hiding her true intentions. Veteran actor Arun Pandian has a nice little cameo towards the end. The scenic beauty of Ooty, though alluring, risks monotony. It reflects the functional rather than exceptional technical elements of the film.
The film’s strength also highlights its weakness. The grand scheme at the heart of Athomugam demands suspension of disbelief, and its exploration of surveillance with no ethical concern is not really in line with Martin’s initial image.
Ultimately, Athomugam will reward viewers seeking a suspenseful experience driven by plot twists. The film’s revelations won’t necessarily shock, but they unravel with a sense of inevitability. If you seek a cinematic counterpart to the captivating suspense of a page-turner, Athomugam with its imperfections, is a gamble worth taking.