Garudan
Introduction
It may be debatable for me to say that the year 2024 has been an underpar year for the Tamil Film Industry. Although the year did start with a bang with Captain Miller, the following months marked a dry spell for the industry with not many films leaving a mark at the Box Office. Now I don’t generally equate the quality of the film with its Box Office Success or Failure, but almost all the films that did premiere on OTT never really took off either, something that could be attributed to the stagnant form of storytelling. But towards the end of the second quarter of 2024, the industry did find some voice through a few skirmishes along the way, the most notable of them being the Vijay Sethupathi starrer Maharaja, a film that may have been panned by the critics but definitely left a mark with the viewers. A small part of the mini revival of the industry in 2024 can also be attributed a little film titled Garudan(not to be confused by the Malayalam film of the same name). The thing that did catch my attention though was the reunion of Soori and Vetrimaaran after Viduthalai – Part 1 that did raise some hope in me that this may go beyond the standard masala template which I felt while reading its premise and looking at its posters. So then does Garudan which has premiered on Amazon Prime manage to impress, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
Garudan follows the story of three friends caught in a turmoil of lies and betrayal after a local politician sets his eyes on a temple in their village. Will friendship stand the test of time? The story here isn’t very novel and it can best be termed as a recycled masala template wherein I could see shades of Vada Chennai and Asuran at certain junctures in the drama. This is not to say that the story itself is bad in anyway, it still has its moments particularly with the shifting dynamics of the characters, but I wasn’t exactly bowled over by the writing, given that I have been privy to similar content in the past as well. The screenplay standing at 130 odd minutes is fast paced and doesn’t allow you time to settle in which is a good things, but if I were to have an overview of it, there isn’t much novelty to be offered although still supremely watchable.
The drama begins with a small prelude that acquaints the viewers with the lingering political dynamics of the state. This, before the focus shifts to the interiors of a village that is home to a beautiful temple and the three protagonists, two of whom are very close to each other. But the important aspect being that the three of them rule the roosts of the village including their family members who are administrators of the temple, on which the local politician has his eyes on. And where there is a politician, there will be politics with members of the police and local goons in his pocket. The mystery around their sudden interest in the temple along with the test of dynamics between the three protagonists is what forms the core conflict in the drama.
The proceedings are decently entertaining and engaging wherein you do feel the bond between the characters. The writing though continues to follow a standard masala entertainer template with little subplots of the budding romance between characters before heading to the core conflict. The conflict in itself is interesting given the emotional baggage carried by the three protagonists that does result in a resounding interval block. The hierarchies of power and the state machineries are showcased pretty well throughout the drama. There is a touch of a Shakespearean play Julius Caesar on show as well although the writers do not fully capitalize on it.
The issue for me was the lack of novelty that kind of made the drama predictable for me. I could see the drama ending exactly how it did, and could see its journey towards the destination from a mile. This excludes a twist at the start of the second half that eventually paves the way for the drama. What worked for me was the levels of intensity that the drama had to offer in terms of the ultimate retaliation of one of the protagonists even while being self conflicted. This momenrarily took away the fact that the writing was also convenient at certain places including the final act that was brutal but abrupt. Overall, the writing is decent and manages to engage in parts.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are massy but definitely manage to impress considering the mood of the drama that was well captured. The music is good but the BGM is supremely effective and perhaps one of the strongest aspects of the drama, something that elevates the proceedings effectively. The cinematography comprises of frames that effectively resonate the vibe of the drama while being confined to the mass masala space. This includes some stunning frames that capture the brutal action sequences effectively although not quite in a repulsive manner. The editing is decent as well while also trying to keep the mystery of the drama alive through a few flashback sequences that are well integrated. Director R S Durai Senthilkumar does a decent job with the proceedings. He is phenomenal in establishing the strong bond between the three protagonists and capitalizing on a few emotions along the way. But the standard writing template does keep the director in check too, while briefly also faltering in the setup of the final act. Nevertheless, the director does show his prowess at certain instances in the drama.
Performances
Perhaps the strongest aspect of the drama would be the performances by the splendid ensemble cast. Dushyanth Jayaprakash will make your blood boil which means he was terrific in the film. Roshni Haripriyan is first rate and has her moments to shine, as does Brigida Saga who is quite good too. Mime Gopi and Samuthirakani are such splendid actors and both of them manage to shine. Sshivada Nair is wonderfully expressive with her character in the second hour and she adds a layer of restraint to her performance. Revathy Sarma has a pleasant personality onscreen and she definitely leaves a lasting impression. M Sasikumar as Aadhi is wonderfully restraint and brings such wonderful emotions on the table with a measured sense of intensity that allows his character to shine. Unni Mukundan as Karuna has an intimidating presence and he brings forth the grey shades in his character wonderfully well. And the journey of Soori from being a comedic sidekick to a full blown massy protagonist has been a fascinating one. In Viduthalai – Part 1, he did showcase his terrific acting prowess in shouldering a film on his shoulders. And here too, he brings such raw intensity to his character with such raw emotions that his character of Sokken has stayed with me after the film. He not only saves this film but also makes it supremely watchable with a towering act to savour and cherish.
Conclusion
Garudan(Tamil) is a mass masala entertainer following a standard template which is elevated by outstanding performances, thereby ensuring that the drama is a decent watch overall. Available on Amazon Prime.
