Thani Oruvan movie review: Surprise, says Mohan Raja with this thriller
After Thani Oruvan, Mohan Raja might shed his "Remake Raja" title, and perhaps people might see him through a different lens.
Cast: Jayam Ravi, Arvind Swamy, Nayanthara, Harish Uttaman, Thambi Ramaiah
Director: Mohan Raja
Ratings: 
In Plato's Symposium, there is this myth about humans. According to the story, humans initially had one head with two faces, four hands and four legs, and they were so powerful that they started committing hubris (defiance of god, which ultimately leads to nemesis). These super-powered beings, out of their self-pride, tried to take on the gods. Zeus found a solution to the issue and he prised everyone into two, with each one having a pair of legs and hands. Ever since, every human is in search of his or her perfect match. Thani Oruvan is about two such characters, Siddharth Abhimanyu (Arvind Swamy) and Mithran IPS (Jayam Ravi), confronting each other.
Padma Shri Siddarth Abhimanyu is a science genius, a tactical politician, a smart charmer, and a vicious man, who will not think twice before killing his father if he gets in his way. He is the embodiment of evil. On the other hand, Jayam Ravi is intolerant to anything that is bad. Tracking down the source of all evil and disposing it off from the society is the motto of his life. And to do that, he becomes a police officer.
ALSO READ: It's Karthi Vs Dulquer Salmaan in Mani Ratnam's next
'Suprise!' says Mohan Raja with this thriller. Of course, you will be surprised to see such a film from Raja, who is known for his remakes. People went on to call him "Remake Raja", since the director has only done remakes so far, except for Velayudham (2011). Perhaps after this film, the director might be able to shed that tag, and people might see him through a different lens.
The film would have been a perfect entertainer, if only the logic holes were sealed with better screenplay. Logic mistakes can be like a scratch in the corner of a mirror, but in Thani Oruvan there is a crack in the middle, which makes the film good in one part and blurry in the other. Also, at times, the dialogues sound amateurish and over-dramatic. And the hero pinning all the crimes in the society to one villain is bit far-fetched. However, the jet-paced screenplay doesn't allow you to brood over the screw-ups.
Where were you these days, Mr Mani Ratnam's find? Arvind Swamy's sinister villain act will make you want him to be present on the screen all through the film. Swamy doesn't talk much in this film, but his smirks and subtle laughs are enough to portray the evilness that lies beneath the taciturn exterior. Jayam Ravi is chubbier than ever and more natural than ever. Though he had a small role to play, Thambi Ramaiah leaves a mark with his usual mind-voice comedy. Nayanthara, Harish Uttaman, Sricharan, Ganesh Venkatraman and the rest of the cast have very little to play, and they have played their part well.
ALSO READ: First look of Vijay Sethpathi's Naanum Rowdy Dhaan is out
Hiphop Tamizha's Themai Thaan Vellum (The Bad Always Triumphs) is like a head-start to an already speeding train. Even his romantic numbers don't send you out of the theatre to browse the film posters or menu cards at the snack counters.
If you are ready to overlook the logical blunders, the fat-less movie is sure to entertain.