Kanguva Movie Review: I feel genuinely bad for Suriya. He is a talented and likeable superstar with an unfortunate streak of poor choices for theatrical releases in recent years, while his best work has gone straight to OTT platforms. In Kanguva, his commitment is evident; he gives his all, even if his efforts sometimes verge on cringeworthy (particularly in the Francis segments). You might find yourself wanting to offer him a warm glass of milk to soothe his undoubtedly strained throat from all the shouting, or wishing you could reserve a massage for him for carrying the weight of the entire film on his shoulders. Yet, not even Suriya's dedicated performance or the film’s ambitious visuals can stop Kanguva from testing the audience's patience to its breaking point. ‘Kanguva’: Suriya’s Fans in Chennai Celebrate the Anticipated Action-Drama Release (Watch Video).

Directed by Siva (Vedalam, Viswasam, Vivegam), Kanguva is set across two timelines. In 2024, we meet Francis (Suriya), an alcoholic playboy and bounty hunter in Goa, who works alongside his associate, Colt 95 (Yogi Babu). Then there’s Angelina (Disha Patani), a rival bounty hunter and Francis' ex, whose presence serves no real narrative purpose beyond compensating for the lack of a well-developed female lead by making Patani flaunt her well-toned physique in bikinis in the "Yolo" song.

While trying to capture a crime boss's brother (and failing spectacularly), Francis encounters a young boy, Zeta, who has escaped from a camp where he and other children were subjected to experiments. Zeta forms an inexplicable bond with Francis, who, in turn, feels a sense of kinship he cannot explain.

Watch the Trailer of 'Kanguva':

Fortunately for us, we get a clearer idea when the narrative shifts back a few centuries to 1070 AD, to a group of islands near India. Here, we meet Kanguva (Suriya), a formidable warrior and son of one of the tribal chieftains. Opposing him is Udhiran (Bobby Deol), the ruthless leader of a rival tribe known for violence and arson. The unfolding battle between these two and the mystery of the boy's connection to their conflict form the rest of the story.

'Kanguva' Movie Review - Grand Ambition, Mediocre Execution

It’s often said that when someone does something remarkable in cinema, their work becomes the benchmark for countless mediocre imitations. Just as Marvel popularised the concept of the 'Cinematic Universe,' leading to a glut of inferior knockoffs, SS Rajamouli's success with Eega, the Baahubali series, and RRR has inadvertently inspired a wave of 'Pan-India' films. Most of these films promise grandeur but lack the storytelling finesse that Rajamouli masterfully employs. Kanguva, regrettably, falls into this category.

Kanguva is packed with ambition and boasts an impressive visual scale, particularly in its period segments. Yet, execution falters, preventing the audience from fully immersing in its world. And if a big-screen experience fails to engage, what’s the point? While there are admirable elements in the set design, costumes, and makeup, and some standout moments like Kanguva’s introductory fight and his rallying of captured women from his tribe to fight back, these flashes of brilliance are overshadowed by inconsistent storytelling and technical shortcomings.

The lighting swings wildly between mimicking Baahubali and 300, never settling on a coherent style, resulting in scenes that feel simultaneously lifeless and overdone. The film suffers from over-editing and an overly enthusiastic camera that exhausts rather than excites. This is most apparent during the climax, which erratically shifts between timelines—from an action scene in a plane to a stormy, shark-infested battle at sea. Unfortunately, the CGI fails to convincingly support the scale of these sequences.

'Kanguva' Movie Review -  Ineffective Screenplay and Supporting Cast

The screenplay feels derivative, borrowing elements from Assassin’s Creed (in its temporal jumps) and Game of Thrones (specifically, the Jon Snow-Olly dynamic). The modern-day sequences are uninspired, while the historical sections fare slightly better due to Suriya’s compelling character and the world-building. However, the incessant shouting (I was genuinely worried for my hearing after some time), hammy performances from the supporting cast, and an overbearing background score drown out any emotional resonance. Kanguva’s bond with the adopted boy offers glimpses of genuine connection, but even this is diluted amidst the chaos. The child actor portraying Zeta/Poruva struggles to elevate an already irritating character.

Beyond Kanguva, no other character is memorable or impactful, including Bobby Deol’s antagonist. Despite his supposedly menacing appearance, he alternates between making exaggerated faces at the camera and delivering his lines with a blank expression.

Ultimately, it is Suriya who carries the film, and at a certain point, you may find yourself wanting to tell him to put down the load and look elsewhere for a better project worth his time and efforts.

PS -  In line with recent trends, Kanguva concludes with a star cameo hinting at a 'promising,' 'bigger,' and 'bolder' sequel. This addition feels more like an attempt to justify the present-day sequences we had to endure rather than offering genuine excitement.

PPS: In a scene, Kanguva tells a captured traitor that his tribe will even forgive the culprit of a sexual assault on a woman (albeit after some severing of limbs), but one thing they can't forgive is betrayal. Isn't sexual assault also an act of betrayal? Who wrote the dialogue here?

'Kanguva' Movie Review - Final Thoughts

Kanguva is yet another 'Pan-India' reminder that sheer ambition and star power are not enough to compensate for lacklustre storytelling and uneven execution. While Suriya’s dedication is commendable, and certain visual moments show glimmers of potential, the film as a whole struggles to balance its grand vision with cohesive, engaging delivery. Kanguva goes 'epic' when it comes to exhausting the viewer.

(The opinions expressed in the above article are of the author and do not reflect the stand or position of LatestLY.)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 14, 2024 02:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).