130. Thaana Serndha Koottam; movie review

THAANA SERNDHA KOOTTAM
Cert 12A
138 mins
BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence, injury detail, suicide scene

In 2013, I was lukewarm about Neeraj Pandey's Special 26 - a true story-inspired crime caper, starring Akshay Kumar.
Five years later I had forgotten it to the point that, until I read an interview with director Vignesh Shivan, I didn't realise his Thaana Serndha Koottam was a remake.
Actually, I must have benefited from watching the storyline with fresh eyes because I think this is worth more than my 6/10 rating for Special 26.
Thaana Serndha Koottam stars Suriya as a frustrated applicant to the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation.
He is denied a job because he stands against the endemic corruption of the security services and would not pay a bribe for his entry.
It turns out that he is far from alone. Thousands of highly qualified candidates are turned down because they cannot or will not line the pockets of officials.
By implication, the standard of those who succeed is often much lower than those who are rejected and this is precisely what Suriya's character attempts to prove.
So he gathers a team together to impersonate the CBI and raid the homes and businesses of the corrupt, knowing that they will not make a complaint., and shares the loot among the needy.
Thaana Serndha Koottam works, in my opinion, because of the magnetism of Suriya.
His character seems indestructible in the face of the corrupt establishment but is loyal and understanding of those around him. And, of course, he can both fight and dance.
I was also taken with Suresh Chandra Menon is the role of the gruff CBI commander who is certainly not averse to taking a backhander.
Meanwhile, Ramya Krishnan is particularly engaging as the mock CBI's number two, despite having a much softer side away from the action.
Shivan's direction gives Thaana Serndha Koottam a nice flow - moving quickly but not too hastily from inside the real CBI to their detractors who always seem to be one move ahead.
Perhaps I was just in a jolly good mood but I rather enjoyed it.

Reasons to watch: An unusual take on police and political corruption
Reasons to avoid: Beats the same drum too much

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7/10

Director quote - Vignesh Shivan: "The film is based on a true incident in 1987 and the Hindi film Special 26 was based on that. To be frank, I did not want to miss the opportunity to direct Suriya sir."

The big question: Will they ever solve the corruption crisis in India?

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