127. Mafia Chapter 1; movie review

MAFIA, CHAPTER ONE
Cert 12A
110 mins
BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence, bloody images, drug references, implied strong language

It seems an age since I watched anything like a decent Indian thriller so Mafia Chapter One was blessed relief.
Sure, it isn't without its faults but it kept me on tenterhooks throughout and, thankfully, didn't outstay its welcome.
It stars Arun Vijay as the head of Chennai narcotics squad who is investigating a huge uplift in drug activity in the city.
Up against him is a ruthless murdering crime lord played with relish by Prasanna Venkatesan.
The only thing the two men have in common is their beautifully coiffured locks - no matter what the scenario, not a hair drifts out of place.
I digress.
Mafia Chapter One begins with a shoot-out at a restaurant which has diners running for cover as Louis Armstrong's Wonderful World plays in the background.
It then spins back to the events which led to these chaotic scenes, taking in mystery executions, kidnappings and a couple of firefights.
But there is also time for some keen detective work by the unflappable senior officer.
I rather liked Vijay in the detective role. While he may look too good, he has the requisite panache without being an Indian movie cliche cop.
My main criticism is that he and his crack team (Priya Bhavani Shankar and Bala Hassan) are rather too pristine considering how down and dirty they have to get.
I wasn't quite so taken with Venkatesan who seem to be one-dimensional despicable.
It is fair to say that, while I was enthralled by some of the spots in which Vijay's character found himself, I was occasionally disappointed at the ease with which he found resolutions.
Nevertheless, Karthick Naren's film does build up tension and, as said, is certainly of higher quality than many Indian movies I have seen recently.


Reasons to watch: Tense thriller
Reasons to avoid: A tad cliched

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7.5/10

Did you know? Arun Vijay is surrounded by actors in his family, with a father, sister, three step-sisters, and step-mother who've all appeared in movies.

The final word. Karthick Naren: "It is the hunter versus the beast. It’s a non-linear screenplay but has been made in a way where a story is told in a commercial entertainment format as I have to reach a wider section of the audiences. Hopefully, it will turn into a franchise, depending purely on its box office success." Firstpost

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