USURAE MOVIE REVIEW
Cast: Teejay Arunasalam, Janany, Raasi, Crane Manohar, Senthil Kumari, Adithya Kathir, Pavel Navageethan
Director: Naveen D Gopal
Rating: 3.3/5
Usurae starts off as a love story you feel like you’ve seen before, but stick with it—the destination is far from familiar. Set in the unique cultural backdrop of Chittoor, the film follows Raghava (Teejay Arunasalam), a happy-go-lucky quarry manager who falls for his new neighbor, the college student Ranjana (Janany). The main obstacle is Ranjana’s fiercely overprotective single mother, Anasuya (Raasi), who has a general distrust of men and a particular dislike for anyone eyeing her daughter.
The film rests heavily on its lead, Teejay Arunasalam, who brings a grounded and likable charm to Raghava. He’s natural in the role, and it’s easy to root for him. The supporting cast, especially Crane Manohar as a doting father, adds a nice touch of warmth. The movie also deserves credit for its setting; cinematographer Marcki Sai beautifully captures the Chittoor region, making the town and its blend of Tamil-Telugu culture feel like a character in itself.
The journey to the film’s payoff, however, does require some patience. The central romance, while sweet, could have used more depth to make the audience feel more invested from the get-go. The narrative plods along through a predictable first half, and the comedy from the hero’s friends lands with mixed results. But just when you think you have the story figured out, Usurae pulls the rug out from under you. The final act delivers a shocking and genuinely unsettling twist based on the real-life events that inspired the film. It’s a powerful ending that re-contextualizes everything that came before it, making the slow burn worthwhile.