Fight Club - A pure, high-octane action film with engaging drama.

Lokesh Kanagaraj is a celebrated filmmaker. He begins a new chapter in his journey with the production house, 'G Squad'. 'Fight Club' is the first presentation under the Lokesh's banner. The film is a youth action drama starring 'Uriyadi' fame actor-director Vijay Kumar. His assistant Abbas A. Rahmath turns a director with this movie which has a story by Sasi. Reel Good Films bankrolled the venture. The expectations for the film rose higher after Lokesh's involvement. Let's see if it satisfied the fans.

The story revolves around Selvam (Vijay Kumar) who aspires to be a great footballer but is limited by financial constraints. Selvam's mentor Benji (Kaarthekeyen Santhanam) means a lot to him and Benji is also set to contest as a councillor. But Benji was killed by his own brother, Joseph (Avinash Raghudevan) and a local drug peddler, Kiruba (Shankar Thas) in unforeseen circumstances. This leaves Selvam stranded on his journey to his dream and he is now just a college student who plays football. Kiruba however grows to be a councillor while Joseph is left to rot in the jail. Joseph wants to get back to Kiruba after he is released. On the other hand, Selvam has a bad impression of Kiruba over Benji's death. The intense mind games between these three characters make the rest of the story.

The first and best thing about Fight Club is its making. Abbas A. Rahmath has proved that he is a skilled craftsman in his maiden work. Despite a simple plotline, the sleek usage of linear and non-linear storytelling made the experience very engaging. The exposition and setup of the film lure in the audience into its world. The drama and action in the first half are super impressive, leading to an adrenaline-rushing interval block.

Fight Club is a blend of sports, friendship, politics and revenge. Four main characters were penned intensely but the others lacked definition. The film's problem is the sloppy writing and frail screenplay in the second half. The makers have taken too much runtime for this thin plot. They try to hold the suspense till the final act but one can easily see it coming. The terrific climax sequence manages to make up for the aforesaid flaws.

In terms of performance, Vijay Kumar delivered a stunning performance as a youngster who struggles between passion, addiction, politics and vengeance. Shankar Thas and Avinash Raghudevan's portrayal of cunning villains were impressive while Kaarthekeyen Santhanam created a good impact with his acting in a limited screen time. The rest of the supporting cast did what they were asked of. The female lead, Monisha Mohan Menon, is just a passing cloud in this film.

The stunt blocks are the heart of the film. Vicky and Amrin Abubakker's action choreography stands tall amid all other aspects of the movie. The editing of Fight Club is its backbone which holds the film engaged. Editor Kripakaran deserves a big appreciation for his work. Govind Vasantha's original musical score and songs are kickass. His variations are stellar even when the old songs and tunes were reused. Leon Britto's camera work fuels the intensity of pivotal scenes. Technically, this film is a spectacular product.

Verdict - Fight Club offers an adrenaline-rushing action experience amid its minor flaws.