‘Laandhar’ (2024) - Detailed review

cast & crew

Director: Sajisaleem
Cast: Vidaarth, Swetha Dorathy, Vibin, Sahana, Pasupathi Raj
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Language: Tamil

Plot summary: Vidhaarth, a top police officer from Coimbatore, lives a peaceful life with his wife. One night, a policeman spots a suspicious person on the road and calls for backup. As the cops try to apprehend the mysterious man, he attacks them and escapes. Vidhaarth takes charge of the investigation while mysterious deaths continue to plague the area, posing a significant challenge to the police department. The film revolves around Vidhaarth's pursuit of the serial killer, unveiling the identity and motives of the mysterious murderer.

Performances:

• Vidhaarth: Delivers a commendable performance as the dedicated police officer, and his portrayal is one of the film's highlights.
• Sahana Manju: Shares good screen space with Vidhaarth and impresses in her role.
• Nakul and Swetha Dorathy: Deliver what is expected in their important roles, contributing to the film's overall performance.

Technical Aspects:

• Background Score: Praveen's background score is impressive, enhancing the film's suspenseful atmosphere.
• Cinematography: Gnanasowndar's camerawork complements the narrative well, capturing the eerie and tense moments effectively.
• Other Technical Aspects: The rest of the technical elements are passable, contributing adequately to the film without standing out.

Strengths:

• Performance of Vidhaarth: His portrayal of the police officer is convincing and adds depth to the film.
• Background Score and Cinematography: These technical aspects significantly contribute to maintaining the film’s suspenseful atmosphere.
• Key Moments: There are enough engaging moments that keep the audience interested.

Weaknesses:

• Screenplay: The narrative lacks consistency and could have been more gripping.
• Revelation of the Criminal: The criminal's identity and motive are revealed too early, diminishing the suspense.
• Unnecessary Scenes: The car chase sequence feels out of place and the phobia assigned to the heroine for this scene seems forced and unnecessary.

My Personal Take on This Film: "Laandhar" has a strong premise with the potential for a gripping thriller. The first half is engaging and sets up an intriguing mystery. However, the film loses its impact as the motive and identity of the criminal are revealed too soon. Additionally, the unnecessary car chase sequence and the contrived phobia given to the heroine detract from the overall narrative. Despite these flaws, Vidhaarth's performance and some well-executed key moments make the film watchable.

"Laandhar," directed by Sajisaleem, presents a classic cat-and-mouse game between the cops and a serial killer. The storyline, while not entirely novel, has its moments of intrigue. However, the screenplay occasionally falls flat, lacking the tightness and intensity needed for a gripping thriller. Despite this, there are key moments that keep the audience engaged, although better writing could have elevated the film significantly.

Rating: 2.5/5