With films like Lokesh Kanagaraj's Kaithi and Master, growing as a filmmaker, Tamil cinema needs to be taken seriously and celebrated. What he tried and achieved with his latest film Vikram, which marks the spectacular return of Kamal Haasan after a lull, is something that many filmmakers cannot even imagine, let alone execute. Read more: Kamal Haasan says he is glad that the audience is waiting for his return
A self-proclaimed Kamal Haasan fan, Lokesh not only paid a heartfelt tribute to his 'guru', with Vikram - the sequel to Kamal's 1986 film of the same name - he also teased the beginning of a franchise; Which can keep the lotus active for years to come. Vikram lets Kamal have fun and helps Fahadh Fasilo and Vijay Sethupathi make their presence felt with strong performances.
Vikram starts from where Lokesh's Kaithi left off. Months after Tamil Nadu police's biggest drug bust ever, two containers full of drugs went missing in Chennai, and local gangs must retrieve them at any cost in front of the crime lord and leader of the drug mafia Rolex – by The role played by Surya – pays everyone. Meanwhile, a group of masked men are on a killing spree, taking the lives of some high-ranking officers, including a young officer in the Narcotics Control Bureau, played by Kalidas.
Kamal is playing the character of Karnan in the film. When his son falls victim to the gang, he sets out on a mission of revenge. It seems that another tale of revenge soon turns into a mission composed by Karnan, who is later introduced as Agent Vikram – the original character essayed by Kamal in the 1986 film.
Three decades later, you have to hand it over to Lokesh Kanagaraj to bring back Kamal's much lesser Agent Vikram character; And use it so effectively in a story that couldn't have been told better.
While the film stumbles in many places and isn't consistently engaging, it manages to blend the lead characters from Lokesh's previous film Kaithi and set the stage for what could become the biggest franchise of Tamil cinema. What Lokesh achieves with Vikram, which seems a bit long with a running time of around three hours, aims to give a new generation of the audience a glimpse of Kamal Haasan's versatility. It was rewarding to see the veteran shine after a long time.
If you can see Vikram beyond some of his rough edges, this is Lokesh Kanagaraj's most satisfying love letter to Kamal Haasan, who is a huge fan of his. It is amazing to see Kamal warm to the sensibility of a young filmmaker and unwilling to grab all the limelight in the film. For most of the first half, Kamal is nowhere to be seen, but he makes a tangible impact in his present scenes.
Fahadh Faasil got the second most soulful part in the ensemble, And she's awesome. Vijay Sethupathi continues to shine in quirky roles that best suit his personality, and it is refreshing to see Lokesh skillfully using him after Master.
Anirudh Ravichander's music, especially the background score, apart from the scintillating action sequences, plays a vital role in enhancing the overall experience of watching Vikram on the big screen. Suriya's brief but powerful cameo is only of high need when you step out of Vikram.
“To my dear fans, in a few more hours the movie, Vikram will be completely yours. I hope it will please you and give you an unforgettable theatrical experience! I request you to visit your nearest theatres and watch Vikram and make it a huge success," Lokesh Kanagaraj said.