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Thursday, April 25, 2024
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TAMIL MUGAMOODI
EDITOR'S PICK
`Mugamoodi`
- the super `hero` who could`ve been superhero
Rating: ***
Here`s the story of a superhero who can`t leap tall buildings, stop a speeding
bullet or fly in the air at the speed of an airplane. But, he`s still considered
a superhero just because he wears a rubber suit and a mask!
If you were under the same impression like many, then you are probably wrong.
Mysskin`s "Mugamoodi" is not a superhero film, but it`s about a super
`hero` with exemplary martial arts skills on a mission to fight for justice.
When a Bruce Lee enthusiast - Anand aka Lee; a group of masked bandits who are
terrorising the city with frequent stick ups and an entire police department are
sucked into the whirlpool of crime, mayhem ensues in the city. In order to let
the residents sleep peacefully at night and prove he`s not guilty, Anand should
don the costume of a superhero and fight crime. The suit and mask is to protect
his identity.
The initial setting of the film is loosely based on 2008 Hong Kong martial arts
film "IP Man", directed by Wilson Yip. However, this is only for the
first few minutes before the film takes a completely different path. Powered by
a cliched plot of a common man-turned-super `hero` with no superhero abilities,
"Mugamoodi" is salvaged by the performance of lead actor Jiiva.
Despite a disappointing second half, luckily the film manages to entertain with
an earnest first half blessed with humour and spectacular stunts inspired from
celebrated combat form Wing Chun. In this story of right versus wrong, Mysskin
attempts to throw in some of Bruce Lee`s ideologies, which in a way, form the
crux of the story.
But, in this sincere effort he completely ignores the screenplay, thus failing
miserably in the whole process.
Despite Jiiva`s rewarding performance, the film fares well in the stunts and
music department. The music drives the film with an adrenaline rush that will
crawl through your body and make you want to cheer for the superhero, while
stunts in particular will encourage you to go home and enroll for a kung fu
class.
Performance by Narain, who plays the baddie was quite disappointing. He appears
irksome instead of menacingly vindictive in his role as Anguchamy -- the
ex-convict-turned-robber with a passion for killing. Pooja Hegde, the debutante
may have floored everyone with her amiable appearance, but she definitely needs
some coaching in expressions.
Cinematographer Sathya`s effort to shoot most of the scenes at night seems to
have paid off as it adds a type of novelty of the kind never seen before, and
the credit for the same is owed to Mysskin. But Mysskin`s direction on the whole
doesn`t qualify to be his best.
With little extra effort, "Mugamoodi" could`ve been the best superhero
film in Tamil cinema.
Mugamoodi Press Meet Stills