Jigarthanda Double X Cast: Raghava Lawrence, SJ Suryah, Naveen Chandra, Shine Tom Chacko, Nimisha Sajayan
Crew:
Writer-Director: Karthik Subbaraj
Producer: Kathiresan, Kaarthekeya Santhanam
Music Composed by Santhosh Narayan
Cinematography by Tirru
Edited by Shafique Mohamed Ali
Jigarthanda Double X Rating: 2.5/5
Jigarthanda has become a cult classic in Tamil Cinema. Karthik Subbaraj has established himself as a strong storyteller and filmmaker post the success of the film. Now, he has decided to make a spiritual sequel to it taking the idea to even broader lengths. Jigarthanda Double X released on 10th November in theatres, worldwide. Let’s discuss about the film, at length.
Plot:
A political battle between a popular star hero and another politician, brings Krupakaran(SJ Suryah) face to face with a gangster Alliyus Ceaser(Raghava Lawrence). Krupa introduces himself as Ray Dasan, a filmmaker. Ceaser ideologies himself after Clint Eastwood and runs Clint Talkies in his town. Using this weakness Krupa wants to kill him. But as they grow close, he finds himself being used as a pawn by DSP Rathna Kumar(Naveen Chandra).
He keeps finding the issues that he has not been aware off, previously. Ceaser for film, starts to solve them and grows as a hero. At crossroads with a criminal, Ceaser is deeply wounded and Krupa can walk away to be in good books of DSP. What will Krupa do? How will Ceaser become the first dark-skinned hero? What is the real political game? Watch the movie to know more.
Analysis:
Raghava Lawrence tries be himself on screen in evey movie. But this time, he found a filmmaker who pushed him to be more. And Raghava Lawrence did find his mojo in the second hour of the film. SJ Suryah proved to world that he can pull off understated and subtle roles as well. He is able to put his eccentricities under control for this role. Both of them gave their best.
Naveen Chandra looked menacing in a role that needed him to be at his best. But the writing has been all-over the place just like Petta. Karthik Subbaraj started it off as one kind of a film and then made it a political statement. The tonal shifts are not smooth and even though the ideas are great, his indulgences in telling them in one way, kill the essence. The final 30 minutes land but till then, he tried to give theatre moments and almost feels like set-up being dragged out so much.
He did the opposite in Jigarthanda. He let the plot give theatre moments and held his indulgences at bay. The shot making and music by Santosh Narayanan are top class. But the writing could have been crisp and more focused with the conflict between the central characters. It tries to be first Jigarthanda and its own film at the same time. Had it been shorter in establishing things and took more time to explore core political ploys, it would have been better version of the film. On the whole, it ends up a good attempt.
Positives:
SJ Suryah’s Performance
Raghava Lawrence in second hour
Clint Eastwood homages
Shot making
Santhosh Narayanan’s music
Negatives:
Indulgences of Karthik Subbaraj
Constant tonal shift
Dragged out portions
Convenient twists
Jigarthanda Double X Movie Bottom-line: Noble ideas diluted!