The more (Vikram), the merrier!. Review on Iru Mugan

It's Onam time and what makes this weekend even more hysteric, is this flick Iru Mugan. When a project has Chiyaan Vikram, it is already on its way telling everyone to expect nothing less than a racy and entertaining time. Vikram has been known for his various characters that he can pull off with such ease and power. He can, literally, be the whole movie.

In Iru Mugan, he has played a double role, which is for the first time, but no one can forget his flawless multiple personality disorder in Aparichit, or his multiple looks like in “I”. He has always been the one with whom an experimental character can be well suited and associated.

Writer and Director Anand Shankar has framed the script after considering Vikram’s image as an actor who does macho action movies and isn’t shy to experiment with characters.

The movie has thin wafer-like story line, where a disgraced RAW agent Akhilan(Vikram) is called by his agency to follow and catch a mad scientist with knack for cross-dressing called Love(again Vikram), who has invented a drug called ‘speed inhaler’. The drug when induced in somebody through asthma inhaler can turn a normal human to super killing machine for five minutes. If this drugs lands in terrorists’ hands, it can only be doom for all.

Our protagonist Akhilan has his own revenge to take. He believes that Love was the one responsible an operation in Kashmir, in which his lost his love of life Meera(Nayanthara). He wants to makes things right and heal his wounds only after knowing that Love is captured. Soon he flies to Malaysia with another RAW agent Ayushi(Nithya Menen) to track him down.

I may sound little out of my head, but seriously, it is Love who needs all the attention in the whole movie. Not just the character but his plans and strategies can be understood at such perfection. A moment where you will think that the hero is about to win but our antagonist overshadows his every moves. Love, as a character, is a such good personality to be bad. For the full length of his characterisation and drawing him, the credit solely goes to Anand Shankar.

Iru Mugan, is once again, all Vikram. Out and out. Only him that you will be craving more to watch, or was it just me? He plays the mean machine Vikram and rogue, cunning scientist Love with such panache. He brings out the ruthlessness and sharpness of an intelligence officer. As Love, he simply rocks that role. He blends the masculinity and effeminate character so pretty well. How can he do it with such élan!

Nayanthara and Nithya Menen have theyir roles cut out for them as well. They are here to bring colour to the proceedings, interesting job roles such as ethical hacker and RAW agent. Ain’t that sound cool! Nayanthara looks like million bucks in this flick, she totally owns the screen when she is on. Nithya Menen has hardly any screen time, but whenever she is on, she justifies that time. Other supporting casts like Thambi Ramaiah, he has more screen time and role like any other that he has been doing in other films.

The scenic beauty of Malaysia and Kashmir stands out in RD Rajesekar’s visuals. Under Harris Jayaraj, the song “Halena” stays on and other songs like “Kannai Vittu” and “Face Off” has already been stamped as hummable songs.

What still instils my curiosity is character of Love, why was he portrayed such? To bring out the quirkiness? It is a tight rope to walk and bows to director for not making mockery out of it.

The first half is interesting and gets on at a good pace, but during the second half it feels that much research has been done to tell the audience about chemical warfare and how Hitler used nerve gas during WWII.

All in all, Iru Mugan has its moments, in form of technicality and characterisation, but falls due to core story line and execution.

If you are a Chiyaan Vikram fan(who isn’t!) then this is a must-watch, or else you can dodge this bullet.

3/5 stars.