Related Articles
CAST:
- Dhanush
- SJ Suryah
- Prakash Raj
- Selvaraghavan
- Sundeep Kishan
- Kalidas Jayaram
- Dushara Vijayan
- Aparna Balamurali
- Varalakshmi Sarathkumar
- Saravanan
- Dileepan
CREW:
- Writer-Director: Dhanush
- Produced by: Sun Pictures
- Producer: Kalanithi Maran
- Music: AR Rahman
- DoP: Om Prakash
- Editor: Prasanna
- Choreographer: Prabhu Deva, Baba Baskar
- Production Designer: Jacki
- Lyricist: Poet’u Dhanush, Gana Kadhar, Arivu
- Costume Designer: Kavya Sriram
- Action: Peter Hein
- Make-up: B Raja
- Stills: Theni Murugan
- Publicity: Sivam C Kabilan
- Production Controller: Ramesh Kuchirayar
- Executive Producer: Sreyas Srinivasan
- PRO: Riaz K Ahmed
Plot Summary: Three brothers and their sister come to the city for their survival, and get caught up in a violent world of gangsters, cops, and betrayals.
Review: As with his debut directorial effort, Pa. Pandi, Dhanush shows yet again that he can do solid work behind the camera. The world he explores this time is far removed from the warm, feel-good world of his first film. Raayan has a raw and rage-filled setting, and is populated by characters who are rugged, violent, deceptive, and also vulnerable.
Raayan begins in the past when four siblings – three brothers and their newborn sister – flee their village and end up in the city, where they, fortunately, end up under the care of Sekar (Selvaraghavan), a handyman in a vegetable market. The film then cuts to the present where we see that the four have grown up into individuals with distinctive characteristics. The youngest brother Manickam (Kalidas Jayaram) is a college student, filled with righteousness. His elder brother Muthu (Sundeep Kishan) is rash and rage-filled. The eldest, Raayan (Dhanush) is the responsible one and more like a father figure. It’s their love for their sister Durga (Dushara Vijayan) that’s holding them all together, and as Raayan puts it, only seeing her wedded and with a child would truly make them a family.
But even as he tries to get her wedded, due to circumstances, he finds himself caught up between a power struggle between Sethu (SJ Suryah) and Durai (Saravanan), two gangsters with a history between them, who control the locality. Meanwhile, there is also the new cop in town (Prakash Raj), who is silently stirring up things between them so that he can clean up the city in the eventual clash that would ensue.
Performances: It is a credit to the strength of Dhanush’s command over storytelling and the performances that Raayan manages to overcome its weakest aspect – predictability. Dhanush, SJ Suryah, and Prakash Raj deliver powerful performances that keep the audience engaged. The supporting cast, including Selvaraghavan, Sundeep Kishan, and Kalidas Jayaram, add depth to the narrative with their nuanced portrayals.
Supporting Cast: The supporting cast, featuring Aparna Balamurali, Varalakshmi Sarathkumar, Saravanan, and Dileepan, contribute significantly to the film’s emotional and dramatic weight.
Music: AR Rahman’s score amplifies the tension with its constant darkness and dread, enhancing the film’s dramatic impact.
Cinematography: Om Prakash’s dramatic cinematography gives the film its distinct mood, capturing the aggression lurking within the characters and setting the tone for the intense narrative.
Direction and Production: Dhanush’s direction is sure-footed, capturing the aggression and vulnerability of the characters while maintaining a narrative pace that keeps the audience engrossed. The production values, led by Kalanithi Maran and Sun Pictures, are top-notch, ensuring a visually and emotionally compelling experience.
Verdict: Raayan is a compelling emotional drama that succeeds in engaging the audience despite its predictable plot. Dhanush’s direction, combined with strong performances, impactful music, and evocative cinematography, makes Raayan a film worth watching.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
