Landmark films are special, even if every actor tries to pipe down the hype by saying it is just another number. But Dhanush isn’t interested in such shenanigans, and goes for the jugular by directing himself in his 50th film, Raayan. Make no mistake, Raayan is all Dhanush, and yet, for the longest time, he stays in the shadows. His brothers, Muthuvelraayan (Sundeep Kishan) and Manickavelraayan (Kalidas Jayaram), get explosive introductions. One breaks a beer bottle over someone’s head, and the other smashes a guy through a mirror. His sister Durga (Dushara Vijayan) is feisty and knows she is the fulcrum of the house. And how is Kathavaraayan (Dhanush) introduced? He is simply stirring fried rice over a wok. It might seem ordinary, but of course, we know better, right?
Raayan opens with a black-and-white and gorgeously shot flashback that establishes the reason why the eldest Raayan brings his three siblings to the city, meets Sekar (Selvaraghavan), and gives it his all to put a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs. The actors playing the younger version of the Raayan brothers are wonderful, and set the tone for a bloodthirsty revenge drama that goes into familiar places but takes a different route as and when possible. All is never well at the Raayan household, but somehow, they manage to eke out a living that is filled with hopes, dreams, and aspirations. When their world gets caught in the crosshairs between warring gangsters Durai (Saravanan) and Sethu (SJ Suryah), and a scheming yet straightforward cop (Prakash Raj), we are left with one question: When will the real Raayan stand up?
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The world of Raayan is very much like the house that the titular family lives in. Their home isn’t complete yet. The painting work is unfinished, the steps to the terrace aren’t built yet, and more. It is like they have the foundation in place, and everything else seems in need of patchwork. Dhanush takes time to establish the players of the film through the entire first half where he remains a mystery. We understand Manickavel’s need to step out of the shadows of his brothers and be his own person and wield his ‘gethu’ and there is the hot-headed Muthu whose temper leads to one problem too many. They get the lion’s share of the narrative, but once Kaathavaraayan has to step in to solve the issues, and save the family, Raayan shows signs of reducing itself into a template revenge drama. Thankfully, there is a twist that salvages the narrative, but unfortunately, it also lays bare the problems with the film, and we are left with a big question: Do we actually know them well enough?
We are left with more questions than answers about the machinations of most of these characters. Yes, there are a few stray dialogues to make us move in the right direction, but these nudges aren’t enough. In fact, it is the characters we don’t spend enough time with that leave a more lasting impact. Dushara is a revelation, and is the standout performer in a film filled with effective performances throughout. Raayan almost feels like a Dushara showreel, and it is her plight that drives the narrative forward. Selvaraghavan is perfect as the guardian angel of the Raayan family, and Aparna Balamurali delivers a convincing performance that also gets THE dialogue of the film, which encapsulates the world of Raayan. Also, Devadarshini, in a cameo, leaves a striking impact. While SJ Suryah is seen in an unusually restrained role, he does hit the mark whenever possible, but is bogged down by some convenient writing choices that doesn’t allow him to be menacing enough. In fact, many writing choices bog down the film that had the potential to be an even more compelling family drama. Even though the stage is set for explosive showdowns between the principal characters, and we do get literally explosive showdowns, the impact is middling at best.
But what really pulls Raayan through is Dhanush’s prowess as a director, and the way every department of the film has come together to give their best. The scenes are staged with the precision of an experienced hand, and the film truly revels in the smaller moments that allows the characters to take a breather and reflect. Editor GK Prasanna and cinematographer Om Prakash make the film come alive, especially in the scenes where there is a lot happening, and yet, we keep track of every single movement. The dance choreography by Prabhudeva and Baba Baskar is high on style but never compensating on raw emotions. Special mention to Peter Hein for the stunt choreography. It was terrific to see the stunts never overstaying their welcome, and once again, with the support of the visuals and editing, each of the fight sequences feel necessary and in some cases, primal. And of course, there is AR Rahman stringing it all together with a score that elevates Raayan to a different plane altogether. And we ask ourselves… Isn’t this the Rahman we have been wanting for a while now?
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Despite all this coming together, the fact that Raayan doesn’t soar high enough is a disappointment. There are excellent actors giving wonderful performances. There is a technical team at the top of their game. There is a premise that has enough potential to be a no-holds barred revenge drama. And yet, Raayan pulls back some of the punches at the wrong moments. Without these punches landing, some of the performances feel lost, some of the bloodshed feels wasted, and the heart feels somewhat empty. And we are left with the most important question of them all: What could Raayan have been?
Raayan movie cast: Dhanush, Dushara Vijayan, SJ Suryah, Kalidas Jayaram, Sundeep Kishan
Raayan movie director: Dhanush
Raayan movie rating: 3 stars
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