'Sardar' hit the screens today. In this section, we are going to review the latest box-office release.

Story:

Back in 1987, a RAW agent codenamed Sardar (Karthi) went rogue. The nation today remembers him as a traitor.

Cut to the present, Inspector Vijaya Prakash (Karthi, again) carries the burden of being the son of Sardar aka Bose. As a sincere cop, he chases publicity. His fun time with his childhood sweetheart Shalini (Raashi Khanna), who is a lawyer, inform the early scenes.

Meanwhile, Rathore (Bollywood actor Chunkey Pandey) is an unchallenged corporate leader who wants to control the water supply across India. An activist named Sameera (Laila) wants to scuttle his project. When Vijay Prakash shadows her, he is drawn into a web of corporate machinations and conspiracies that traverse multiple geographical regions and countries.

As time passes, the hero realizes that only his father Sardar can stop a catastrophe from playing out. The rest of the film is about how the heroic former RAW spy bounces back and roars like a lion.

Analysis:

Director PS Mithran tells a solid story fuelled by slick action and a gripping screenplay. When a character says that he is the last hope, interest in the film goes up. The dialogues have been used to a credible effect.

The 'One nation, one pipeline' dream of the corporate villain leads to a spectacular set of events. But before the main plot is introduced, the film toys with sub-plots. A small-time political party is looking at engineering chaos. It is in this context that Karthi's Vijay Prakash makes a dashing entry. While he looks calm and reckless on the surface, he is also going through nightmares. His father has been branded a traitor and therefore, he can't live without bearing the consequences of stigma.

Vijay Prakash's humiliation is not over-dramatized, though. Heroism is built around his thirst for identity in the police department. A court case to stall the ambitious waterways project is introduced. Siding with the wrongdoer is a bigger sin, says a character. All these elements are relevant to the main plot.

Raashi Khanna plays a girlfriend who never compromises on her beliefs. She doesn't shy away from calling out even the dearest ones if she feels they are fake or shallow. A child who is sharp-witted is introduced and when you least expect, there is a poignant turn of events.

Even an old song like 'Jeevithame o aata' is used to add aura to the proceedings. A video with incriminating evidence, a funny Babai, the accidental discovery of an accessory at a crime scene, and such elements are winsome. Above all, there is a Rs 10-lakh crore business plan at stake.

Karthi's Sardar is a superhero who is feared by corporate interests and hunted by the usual suspects. The second half is rich in riveting drama and action. We hear of China, Pakistan, the RAW, the Indian Army, poisoning lakes, bottled water leading to terminal illnesses, a future world war revolving around water, and more. From changed and hidden identities to geo-political angles, the film is rich in multiple threads.

Rajisha Vijayan's character has a track with Sardar. She is more consequential to the story than expected. Munishkanth, Yugi Sethu and others do their parts well. Chunkey Panday as the main antagonist is well-written.

Karthi's A-class performance is a big asset. GV Prakash Kumar's background score enhances the screenplay. George C Williams's cinematography and Ruben's editing accentuate the production values.

Verdict:

'Sardar' is a fine and slick action thriller. Watch it!