Once Upon A Time In Madras Movie Review: Gun-driven tale hits more than it misses
Once Upon A Time In Madras Movie Review: Critics Rating: 3.0 stars, click to give your rating/review,Once Upon a Time in Madras is a satisfying film that avoids overreach, making it a solid watch. It’s
Critic's Rating: 3.0/5
Once Upon A Time In Madras Movie Synopsis: The shooting of a young boy by a retired army officer near Chennai’s Koovam river starts a chain of events after a cleaner discovers the murder weapon, a pistol, washed ashore.
Once Upon A Time In Madras Movie Review: Once Upon A Time in Madras can be described as a domino-effect film, where a gun is used as the murder weapon in several consecutive killings that are not directly connected. Murder and its repercussions intersect with frantic individuals willing to commit the crime. Madhi (Anjali Nair) discovers that her husband and in-laws are conniving against her. When her husband hardly spends any time with her, she feels something amiss and that leads to trouble. Savitri (Abhirami) struggles to protect her trans daughter Karthi, who faces assault from a loan shark. Raja (Bharath), needing money for his wife’s treatment, takes on an assassination job. And Thalaivasal Vijay, a caste obsessed father who is opposed to his daughter Anitha’s (Pavithra Lakshmi) romance, commits violence based on a misunderstanding. The gun revolves within that setup.
The film focuses less on the whodunit and more on the why and the aftermath. It’s like an experiment: instead of a knife, let’s arm desperate people in desperate situations. It’s fairly commercial and the constant exchange of the gun is a cinematic gimmick. Each of the four incidents is vaguely described, maintaining suspense and delivering well-crafted twists. Certain interactions, such as Savitri’s inspiring words to her daughter about the importance of education despite her abuse, ring true and feel natural. The coincidental nature of some murders, while convenient to the plot, feels a bit too neatly arranged. It’s also jerky, constantly shifting between the four setups without a natural progression. The result is that much of the character interaction is make-shift.
The movie is a brisk two hours long and boasts solid acting. Bharath’s disheveled appearance and mannerisms conveyed his hopelessness. Abhirami’s acting is understated and authentic. Thalaivasal Vijay is rocking the Indian boomer vibes, and Anjali Nair plays her part as the trapped housewife. Supporting actors contribute their parts. It’s a collaborative effort; no single character dominates. Songs are redundant.
Once Upon a Time in Madras is a satisfying film that avoids overreach, making it a solid watch. It’s like finding a favorite tune played in a different key - familiar yet distinct.
Written By: Abhinav Subramanian
Once Upon A Time In Madras Movie Review: Once Upon A Time in Madras can be described as a domino-effect film, where a gun is used as the murder weapon in several consecutive killings that are not directly connected. Murder and its repercussions intersect with frantic individuals willing to commit the crime. Madhi (Anjali Nair) discovers that her husband and in-laws are conniving against her. When her husband hardly spends any time with her, she feels something amiss and that leads to trouble. Savitri (Abhirami) struggles to protect her trans daughter Karthi, who faces assault from a loan shark. Raja (Bharath), needing money for his wife’s treatment, takes on an assassination job. And Thalaivasal Vijay, a caste obsessed father who is opposed to his daughter Anitha’s (Pavithra Lakshmi) romance, commits violence based on a misunderstanding. The gun revolves within that setup.
The film focuses less on the whodunit and more on the why and the aftermath. It’s like an experiment: instead of a knife, let’s arm desperate people in desperate situations. It’s fairly commercial and the constant exchange of the gun is a cinematic gimmick. Each of the four incidents is vaguely described, maintaining suspense and delivering well-crafted twists. Certain interactions, such as Savitri’s inspiring words to her daughter about the importance of education despite her abuse, ring true and feel natural. The coincidental nature of some murders, while convenient to the plot, feels a bit too neatly arranged. It’s also jerky, constantly shifting between the four setups without a natural progression. The result is that much of the character interaction is make-shift.
The movie is a brisk two hours long and boasts solid acting. Bharath’s disheveled appearance and mannerisms conveyed his hopelessness. Abhirami’s acting is understated and authentic. Thalaivasal Vijay is rocking the Indian boomer vibes, and Anjali Nair plays her part as the trapped housewife. Supporting actors contribute their parts. It’s a collaborative effort; no single character dominates. Songs are redundant.
Once Upon a Time in Madras is a satisfying film that avoids overreach, making it a solid watch. It’s like finding a favorite tune played in a different key - familiar yet distinct.
Written By: Abhinav Subramanian
