Sathru Tamil Movie DVD Released

The film opens with a Koothu scene where the team narrates what’s going to happen in the next days at the drama. They announce that it’s about Soorasamharam where Lord Velan will be eliminating the enemies. Kathir plays Kathiresan, a young upright police, who believes in beating the pulp of rowdies to make them confess to crimes. Though he is chided by his superior for his aggressive nature, nothing changes him as he is not someone who is doing it just because he is young. According to his colleagues, it’s his second nature. We also come to see his girlfriend played by Srushti Dange in the first few scenes itself. But there are no major romantic scenes or songs to distract the pace of the story, and her role is also very limited.

Kathir and his family’s life get into trouble after he outsmarts a group of criminals and saves the life of a kidnapped child, using his sharp mind. While he saves the child, one youngster in the group, who is physically challenged gets killed. This makes the gang members lose their cool. While they are ruthless to every other person and the only reason for them to go to any extreme is to make money and settle down, they mourn the death of their gang member quite pathetically. The viewer might even start sympathizing with them thinking about police highhandedness in the initial few scenes. 

The first-paced first half is quite engaging and promising. However, the second half becomes a tedious watch with the villain trying to finish off Kathir’s family members one by one. After a point, the criminals become so ruthless and the gang leader challenges Kathir’s friends and their family members too.

Suja Varunee’s character throws some surprise and promise initially, but soon the characterization falls flat. Laguparan, who acted in Rattinam, as Prabha, the gang leader, is interesting to watch, and he has essayed his part well. His mannerisms and acting bring in the menacing feel quite well. Kathir is agile and looks his part. Though it seems he is taking a moment before he starts emoting in almost all the scenes, he shines well in action scenes. Ponvannan as Kathir’s father does a neat job.

Naveen Nanjundan on his directorial debut is able to establish the story quite fast in the first half and the reason for Kathir being a strict cop. It can’t be denied that the film has certain twists and suspense elements here and there. But the story is quite predictable except for the long-winding and sometimes tedious scenes in the second half. Since the Koothu team acts as narrators, there is no suspense, the audience has to only think about in what way the cop and his friends on one side, and the villain and his accomplice on the other side will execute their plans.

The film also shows how the cops miss out on the finer elements and become a laughing stock with their lack of astuteness. The boy who acts as Suja Varunee’s accomplice is quite refreshing, especially when he shifts sides. He is in his element throughout the last 30 minutes of the movie.

The movie's background score does justice to the genre and also the camera work. If the plot has been a bit tighter, it should have made for a crisp thriller.