PAGALARIYAAN MOVIE REVIEW
Cast: Vetri, Akshaya Kandamuthan,Vinupriya, Sai Dheena, Murugan, Chaplin Balu
Director: Murugan
Pagalariyaan unfolds over a single night, utilizing a hyperlink narrative structure to mesh the stories of Akshara (Akshaya Kandamuthan) and Silent (Murugan), two individuals grappling with troubled pasts. Akshara commences a mysterious journey with her boyfriend Wolf (Vetri), a man shrouded in darkness. Simultaneously, Silent frantically searches for his missing sister, who has eloped with a dangerous criminal, leaving him vulnerable to a vengeful gang. As the night progresses, their paths intertwine, leading to a climax that attempts to tie together the loose ends of their individual journeys.
Despite its exciting premise, Pagalariyaan struggles to engage the audience because of its confusing and disjointed narrative. The lack of clear character introductions and the ambiguous nature of the storytelling leave viewers grasping for meaning and struggling to piece together the connections between the various characters and events.
The film’s use of ambiguity, possibly intended to build suspense, ends up having the opposite effect. The constant introduction of new characters without proper context and the lack of clarity surrounding their motivations create a sense of disorientation rather than intrigue.
The performances are uneven, with Vetri’s portrayal of Wolf, marked by a near-total absence of dialogue and expression, adding to the film’s overall sense of confusion. Akshaya Kandamuthan delivers a solid performance as Akshara, but director Murugan, who also plays Silent, lacks the acting finesse to portray his character’s emotional depth.
Pagalariyaan touches upon themes of forgiveness, self-reproach, and redemption, but these themes remain underdeveloped and obscured by the film’s confusing narrative structure. The short runtime salvages it a bit. Watchable once for the curious.