Ajith Kumar is plenty of flair in this lighthearted heist film that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Ajith Kumar shines in one of his most entertaining performances since Mankatha in Thunivu (2011). Manju Warrier and John Kokken also appear in the Tamil flick.
Thunivu, H Vinoth’s third film starring Ajith Kumar, is a modern-day companion piece to Shankar’s 1993 film Gentleman. Thunivu, unlike Gentleman, doesn’t take itself too seriously, which happily makes it a largely pleasant picture, allowing Ajith to have so much fun with a role after a long time. Despite several flaws, particularly how the picture loses its focus in the second half, Thunivu holds up for the most part thanks to Ajith’s wild portrayal as both a hero and a monster.
The film begins with a gang devising a complex scheme to heist one of Chennai’s largest banks. The objective is to carry out a theft worth 500 crore, which the bank has kept in excess of the permissible amount of 1000 crore. Everything proceeds as planned, as the gang successfully takes over the bank with a big amount of hostages. However, problems arises when one man chooses to fight back, only to seize control of the bank from the gang. That individual turns out to be Ajith, who portrays a character with no name. Ajith gains the gang’s trust and makes them work for him.He promises each of them a part of the 5000 crore bank money he intends to steal. As Ajith executes his plan, his two-man team, which includes Manju Warrier, is quietly tugging strings on the outside. The rest of the tale revolves around what Ajith is doing inside the bank and whether or not he intends to rob it.
Thunivu is tremendously enjoyable as long as it plays out like a heist thriller, and a lot of credit goes to Ajith, who makes his anti-hero character so charismatic with his screen presence. However, the film is more than just a heist film; it also has a subplot that serves as a social commentary on a current topic. As much as it attempts to bring attention to the issue, it also raises crucial issues regarding the general public’s irresponsibility. Fortunately, the lesson it wishes to impart is not overly preachy. Thunivu maintains loyal to its genre of heist action, with the exception of the detour it makes in the second half to make its point.It includes some cool, slightly out-there action segments that work well. But it’s Ajith’s character, who exudes swagger from the start, who elevates this to one of his most enjoyable performances since Mankatha (2011).
H Vinoth has been able to offer something new to Ajith’s performance with each partnership. In Thunivu, he has no qualms about casting Ajith as a mastermind criminal with no ethics. Manju Warrier, too, is cast in a character that she enjoys. The picture stumbles near the conclusion, when the action feels lacklustre, but there are enough moments to keep one intrigued. Ghibran’s background score, as well as his songs, fit the tone of the film perfectly.
