Release Date: November 10, 2023
Piktalk.com Rating: 2.5/5
Starring: Raghava Lawrence, SJ Suryah, Naveen Chandra, Shine Tom Chacko, and others
Director: Karthik Subbaraj
Producers: Kaarthekeyan Santhanam, S Kathiresan
Music Director: Santhosh Narayanan
Cinematographer: S. Thirunavukkarasu
Editor: Shafique Mohamed Ali
Karthik Subbaraj, the mastermind behind the superhit film Jigarthanda, presents its sequel, Jigarthanda Double X, featuring Raghava Lawrence and SJ Suryah in pivotal roles. Let’s delve into the cinematic experience.
Story:
Allius Caesar (Raghava Lawrence), a criminal with aspirations of becoming a film hero, faces skepticism due to his complexion. Undeterred, Caesar is resolute about his dream and approaches directors with his story. Ray Dason (SJ Suryah) captures his interest, and Caesar selects him as his director. Dason proposes turning Caesar’s life into a film, leading to a transformative journey. The narrative unfolds the profound impact of the film on Caesar’s life.
Plus Points:
Raghava Lawrence’s latent acting prowess is skillfully unleashed by Karthik Subbaraj. Jigarthanda Double X provides Lawrence with a platform to showcase his versatility, portraying a character with nuanced shades, delivering an outstanding performance.
The second half of the film sees an improvement, taking unexpected turns and evoking emotions. Some scenes resonate deeply with the audience, particularly those set in the forest with elephants, presenting compelling visuals.
SJ Suryah’s brilliance as an actor shines through once again, creating a captivating dynamic with Lawrence. Naveen Chandra delivers a commendable performance, and the action sequences are brilliantly conceptualized.
Minus Points:
The initial hour focuses on character introductions and world-building but lacks excitement, leading to moments of boredom. The slow pacing and extended scenes contribute to a lackluster first half, with only a couple of scenes making an impact.
The transition between scenes in the first half could have been smoother. The film’s overall length could be a deterrent, and a more judicious editing approach would have heightened its impact.
The Telugu dubbing falls short, particularly in the quality of the songs. Some actors, including Shine Tom Chacko, are underutilized and gradually fade from the narrative.
Technical Aspects:
Jigarthanda Double X shines on the technical front, with Santosh Narayanan’s exceptional background score and Thirunavukkarasu’s impressive cinematography enhancing the cinematic experience. The production values are commendable, and the art direction team deserves applause. However, the editing leaves room for improvement.
Director Karthik Subbaraj selects a compelling premise but falls short in its execution, with stark contrasts between the two halves. While the second half delivers emotionally resonant scenes, the overall storytelling lacks consistency. Despite this, Subbaraj succeeds in extracting compelling performances from his actors.
Verdict:
Jigarthanda Double X, while captivating in certain segments, struggles to maintain engagement throughout. Raghava Lawrence impresses with his acting prowess, and SJ Suryah adds to the film’s allure. The second half offers a slight redemption, but the overall experience remains unsatisfactory. The film’s extended runtime and pacing issues are prominent drawbacks in this action drama.
Piktalk.com Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewed by the Piktalk Team
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