Casting: Vikram Prabhu, LK Akshay Kumar, Anishma Anilkumar, Ananda Thambiraja
Directed By: Suresh Rajakumari
Music By: Justin Prabhakaran
Produced By: Seven Screen Studio – SS Lalith Kumar
LK Akshay Kumar, who has been a remand prisoner in Vellore Central Prison for many years in a murder case, is entrusted to a police team led by Vikram Prabhu to be taken to the Sivagangai court. On the way, the police officers get into some trouble, and as a result, they lose track of the prisoner, Akshay Kumar.
Did Akshay Kumar, who escaped with a police gun, get caught again? What is the background of the murder accused? Whom did he kill and why? What problems does Vikram Prabhu face because of this? ‘Sirai’ answers these questions in a gripping and realistic mannered
Vikram Prabhu, who has acted not as the protagonist but as a character, has proven his acting prowess by choosing to be part of a good story rather than just a story centered around him. Although he has played a police officer before, in this film, we see a completely new Vikram Prabhu, and his performance shows immense maturity.
From the efforts to catch the escaped prisoner and the subsequent problems he faces, to his interactions in court, Vikram Prabhu, through his dialogue delivery and body language throughout the film, transcends being just an actor and imprints himself in the minds of the audience as a police officer.
The young debut actor LK Akshay Kumar, who plays the other lead role, has demonstrated through his every movement that he has undergone excellent training as an actor. He has shown changes in his appearance, portraying his school days, youth, and as a prison inmate, and through his acting, he captures the audience’s attention and moves them emotionally. Akshay Kumar’s performance, which carries the entire second half of the film with its realistic portrayal, is sure to receive applause in the theaters.
The lead actress, Anishma Anil Kumar, captivates with her simple beauty and childlike smile, and does justice to her character with her restrained performance.
Aandha Thambiraja’s screen presence as Vikram Prabhu’s wife adds strength to the screenplay.
Justin Prabhakaran’s music features songs that effectively convey the characters’ emotions to the audience. The background score acts as a character in itself, significantly strengthening the screenplay.
Cinematographer Madhesh Manickam’s camera has worked magic with light in the darkness. Madhesh Manickam has filmed the scenes in a way that makes the characters appear not as actors, but as real people living in the story’s setting, and has visually presented the simple story grandly through his camera work.
Although it’s a simple love story set against a police backdrop, Philomin Raj has made it not only fast-paced but also emotionally resonant for the audience through his editing. The screenplay, which unfolds with several twists thanks to his editing, takes the audience to the peak of tension in some places.
Although the story written by Tamil, based on a true incident, is simple, director Suresh Rajakumari has transformed it into a very powerful film through his screenplay and direction.
While the storytelling and visuals keep the film moving at a fast pace, the film captures the audience’s attention by meticulously and realistically portraying details about the police force, and by handling the love story emotionally.
Although the first half of the film moves quickly, there are minor lags in some places. However, the love story of Akshay Kumar and Anishma, and their performances, overshadow the shortcomings and capture the audience’s attention.
The director, Suresh Rajakumari, deserves a red carpet welcome in Tamil cinema for his excellent casting choices and the way he extracted performances from the actors, and for crafting an engaging and fast-paced screenplay for a simple story. He has delivered a film that is both a great entertainer and a work that speaks about the lives of ordinary people and the politics surrounding them.
