Mumbai, Jan 13 : Vijay’s Master is the first big commercial film to hit the theatres after the novel coronavirus pandemic. Since it marks the collaboration of Vijay, Vijay Sethupathi and young director Lokesh Kanagaraj, the hype surrounding Master skyrocketed. As the film released in theatres today (January 13), Master seems to have impressed the audience.
JD (Vijay) is an alcoholic professor at a college, who is loved by the students. Bhavani (Vijay Sethupathi) has a dark past. As a teenager, he was sent to an observation home after his family was killed by powerful men. Bhavani takes the same route as the powerful men and becomes a ruthless monster. When JD signs up for a teaching role at an observation home, he comes to know about the crimes that Bhavani commits by using the children who live there.
Master’s story has nothing new to offer. It’s a trope that many commercial films follow. Hence, the onus falls on the screenplay, which manages to grab the attention for the most part. In an interview, Lokesh said that Master will have his stamp as much as Vijay’s trademark elements. And he was right.
The audience, who had watched Maanagaram and Kaithi, can easily make out which portion completely belongs to Lokesh Kanagaraj. From using classic 90s songs in serious moments and belting out film references, Lokesh has made Master enjoyable. But, when Master treads down the path that celebrates the hero, Thalapathy Vijay, it is a letdown.
When Vijay, the star, takes over the film, the story becomes predictable. Be it the intermission sequence or the climax, one can easily predict the proceedings as the audience have been conditioned that way. But, Vijay’s character JD is refreshing to see as he is not a perfect man. He is an alcoholic and life makes him give up the habit. In Master, Vijay’s character shows how people falter, but also that they will always have a chance to change and redeem themselves. That is probably the most refreshing change to see in a star-vehicle film. Vijay dances like a dream and looks uber stylish in Master.
After Vijay, it’s Vijay Sethupathi’s show all the way. For Sethupathi, playing Bhavani is like taking a walk in the park with his eyes closed. It is right up in his alley. His trademark wit, casual jibes and effortless acting make Bhavani an enjoyable character.
Master suffers because of its runtime and lack of impactful scenes. For a film that runs close to three hours, there is little going on. For example, the election sequence in the first half doesn’t have any relevance to the story. Many characters such as Shanthanu Bhagyaraj and Andrea Jeremiah seemed to be introduced only to either be killed in the climax or suffer a loss towards the end. With a shorter runtime, Master could have been much more effective.
The stunt sequences in Master, however, look extremely good, especially the kabaddi fight that Vijay has with Arjun Das and his men in the observation home. One of the best aspects of Master is Anirudh Ravichander’s music. It makes you sit up whenever you feel bogged down by the runtime.
Malavika Mohanan’s role as Charulatha aims to make women matter in films, even though Master belongs more to Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi. Special mention to Arjun Das and Poovaiyar for shining in the film despite having two big stars. On the whole, Vijay’s Master is an enjoyable commercial entertainer if not for its long runtime. (India Today)
