It's taken for granted that cop stories with a painful flashback ought to have so much of intensity going for them. More so when it is a superstar like Vijay. Being otherwise could be counterproductive. Atlee thinks otherwise, perhaps.
Joseph Kuruvilla (Vijay) owns a small-scale bakery-making mill somewhere in Kerala. Niveditha (Baby Nainika) is his LKG-going kid. For the no-nonsense father, she is everything. Niveditha's teacher (Amy Jackson) is infatuated to the timid-looking Joseph, so much so she actually tells him he is cute in a meeting meant to chide for taking Niveditha late to school every single day. At a time when she is cozying up to Joseph, a minor tiff with some local baddies snowballs into something life-threatening when the teacher files a complaint with the police. Joseph shows his nervousness at getting embroiled in a controversy. Moments later, we realize that Joseph is wary of the police getting to know about his true identity: Vijay Kumar, former DCP of Hyderabad.
Cut to the flahback, DCP Vijay Kumar developed a fatal enemity five years ago with a Minister (played by Kollywood director Mahendran), owing to which he lost his sweet-heart wife (played by Samantha) and lovely mother (yesteryear Radhika Sharatkumar).
A done-to-death formula, to put it mildly, Police is predictable for the most part. The last 25 minutes or so - right from the time Vijay springs a surprise, playing a mindgame with the villain - is a highlight. Yesteryear actor Prabhu as a senior cop comes as a value addition in these portions. Besides this, the DCP's investigation into Raji's missing case right till the interval is another good episode. The scene where the DCP and a doc talk about the rapist's murder after the emasculation of his genitals in front of the rapist's father, is excellent. Baby Nainika and Vijay are great (more on this later).
On the flip side, that's all there in the film. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Atlee was more interested in presenting a breezy hero rather than an intense-looking cop out to ruthlessly avenge his personal and professional loss. Even if the intention was to show the contrast between his upbringing of his daughter and the Minister's upbringing of his son, the tempo needn't have gone missing. It's a huge disappointment that there is no special vigour on Vijay's face after the flashback is done. In the portions running up to the end cards, there was needed a protagonist who was at a higher level than what he looked till then.
To say that there is no melodrama in this film would be a complete blasphemy. The sentimentality could have been conveyed better even without having Vijay to call Samantha's sister his sister, and Samantha having to call Vijay's mother her mother. Haven't we seen enough of such scenes? Some of the rom-com portions involving Vijay and Samantha are over-the-top, one feels.
Elevation of heroism is what Atlee needs to get trained in. Even when Mahendran says, "Naku khaki dress choostene bhayam vestundi," one doesn't get a high. Even when Cheta in Kerala says, "Manaki vadu sorry cheppaledu. Warning icchi velladu," one feels an opportunity to herald that agonized hero out to outwit and outpower Mahendran was lost. Action in the climax should have been at a higher level. The message should have been left unsaid but effectively conveyed. If a hero is capable of explicitly preaching the villain in such a climax, it means you are not conveying his agony.
It's more challenging for a hero to look heroic enough in a light-veined action sequence (eg, the one inside the classroom) than in a regular one. Whether Vijay has succeeded in this is best left to the audience. What is clear is that his character reviews his own fighting sequence in one scene. "..fight lo pasa ledu," Vijay says to Mahendran after surviving a murder attempt on himself and his girlfriend's family.
The Telugu audience have a liking for Vijay, of late. We have liked him in films like Thupaki. In this film, he does a fairly good job. The scenes with Baby Nainika need a special mention. He looks that lovable, doting father in those portions. Baby Nainika is a great find, to say the least. She is set to make a mark. Mahendran as the villain is convincing. One wishes there was more of him, though. Samantha is seen in a forgettable role. She strikes a good chemistry with Vijay, though. Amy Jackson shines through a not-so-lengthy role. Comedian Gajendran is excellent. Prabhu and Radhika pass muster.
GV Prakash Kumar's BGM scores over the songs. The hero-oriented police song lacks Telugu nativity.
Action sequences could have had more gravitas. George Williams' cinematography is a big asset. Anthony Ruben's editing is slick.
Verdict: A formulaic film with no interesting rom-com portions to talk about. Lukewarm heroism is a letdown. Predictability is a dampener. Two-three good episodes and that's all.
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