Cast: Vadivukkarasi, Dhileepan, Singam Puli, Gaja Raja, Ananthu Nag, Aparna, Master Ghanshyam, Baby Sandrea
Directed By: Vijaya Kumaran
Music By: Dr. Chelliah Pandian
Produced By: Vijay Mary Universal Media – T. Vijayamary
In a village located on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, a girl under the age of 10 is brutally murdered. Police officer Dhileepan, who is investigating the murder case, receives a piece of information. Based on this information, he intensifies his investigation.
Meanwhile, Ananth Nag, along with his wife and two children, settles into his ancestral home in Tamil Nadu after returning from London. While he is busy with renovations, an elderly woman collapses at his doorstep. He brings her inside and makes her lie down. The village headman, upon seeing the old woman, warns Ananth Nag by recounting a terrifying story about another old woman who looks just like her.
Ananth Nag disregards the village headman’s story, but on the other hand, his wife learns that the old woman is the previous owner of their house and discovers another shocking piece of information about her, leaving her frozen with fear. Similarly, police officer Dhileepan also learns about the old woman’s true nature and comes to Ananth Nag’s house searching for her. ‘Krani’ tells the story of the events that unfold afterward, and reveals the true identity of the old woman, taking the audience to the peak of fear.
We have seen grandmothers who tell stories to put children to sleep, but the director of this film, Vijaya Kumaran, has attempted to terrify the audience through a grandmother who preys on children for her own needs. Vadivukkarasi, playing the role of the elderly woman Ochayi with excessive makeup, initially appears frail due to her advanced age, but the ferocity visible on her face in subsequent scenes terrifies the audience. Appearing suddenly like lightning wherever the characters go, and towering over those in front of her, Vadivukkarasi delivers a powerful performance throughout the second half, intimidating the audience solely through her acting and gaze, without uttering a single dialogue.
Dileepan, who played the police officer, Singampuli as the police constable, Gajaraj as the village head, Anand Nag as the house owner, Aparna as his wife, and the child actors Master Kanshiyam and Baby Sandriya have all performed their roles effectively.
Cinematographer A. Manikandan’s camera work has captured the thrilling events unfolding inside the old house with utmost intensity.
Composer Dr. Chellaiya Pandian’s music, both the songs and the background score, has breathed life into the storyline and the scenes.
M.S. Gopi’s editing tells the story without confusion and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, wondering if the children will escape.
Writer and director Vijay Kumaran has crafted an interesting horror story based on the magical tales told to children, and has successfully frightened the audience by placing an old woman at the center of the narrative. With engaging storytelling, a shocking backstory of the old woman, children in danger, and a police officer conducting an investigation, director Vijay Kumaran has handled the horror storyline with several captivating elements very skillfully, delivering a film that will be enjoyed by everyone, from children to adults.
