Annabelle Sethupathi Movie Review Rating: 2.5/5
Star Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Taapsee Pannu Yogi Babu, Jagapathi Babu, Radhika Sarathkumar, Devadarshini Chetan and ensemble.
Director: Deepak Sundarrajan
Vijay Sethupathi’s performance is the sole saving grace in Deepak Sundarrajan’s supernatural comedy
Around two-thirds of the film in, Shanmugam —rather, the spirit of Shanmugam — (played by Yogi Babu) narrates a past tragedy to Rudra (Taapsee Pannu). The latter finds it ridiculous. She asks him, “What new stories are you coming up with?”. Shanmugam sighs. “Who tells new stories these days?” he asks, probably taking a dig at Tamil cinema, casually breaking the fourth wall for a moment.
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Deepak Sundarrajan’s first film perhaps knows it’s not telling a new story. For it involves a royal couple who gets murdered, a scheming villain, reincarnation, revenge, poetic justice, and like in quite a few Tamil horror flicks these days, the promise of a sequel. Been there… seen that.
Self-deprecation, hence, works. The story, after all, isn’t as important as how it’s told. But that’s where the film falters; Annabelle Sethupathi doesn’t address what it makes fun of.Yogi Babu’s Shanmugam, or his spirit narrates the tale of her past life to Taapsee’s Rudra, she calls it atrocious. She says something to the effect of “What new stories are you coming up with?”. Shanmugam replies, “Who tells new stories these days?” probably a dig at Tamil cinema. So you know the writing is coming from an aware place. But what happens when the no brainer section of the story begins is where the ship starts to sink.
We are introduced to Taapsee and her family while she is pickpocketing in a train with them in the present day. Few scenes with no resemblance to the main plot and funny in a very childish way lead to the main story. Now we have already wasted the first half in all of this and almost half of our interest is drained.
At this point comes the man who is responsible to save his films half of the time and he does that here too. In a universe, so OTT that even the ghosts have no moment of peace, Vijay Sethupathi becomes the subtle note. Not that his character gets a layered narrative. He is one tone but his mannerism and the way he conducts himself save the day.
I know some films especially comedies are made not to make any sense. Deepak in his writing even mentions that twice through Yogi breaking the fourth wall in a way. But if you make me sit for two hours and the conclusion is far away from satisfactory, I will complain.
Annabelle Sethupathi Movie Review: Star Performance
I cannot think of any reason except just the urge to work with each other that made Taapsee Pannu and Vijay Sethupathi sign this mess. Two of my most favourite actors not getting what they are worth breaks my heart. Taapsee especially sees a complete 180-degree shuffle in her character and it is hard to digest.
Yogi Babu gets the best character and he is the lead for me. Though yet again his brilliant acting abilities are reduced to being comic relief and we know he can sleepwalk these characters now. Someday make this man the main villain and see the magic, please!
Rest everyone from a brilliant Radhika Sarathkumar to many other veterans include Jagapathi Babu try to be funny but the script fails them.Take the scene wherein Kathiresan sends a bunch of sword-wielding assassins to Annabelle and Sethupathi’s magnificent palace. Sethupathi gently pushes his newly-wed wife behind and says, “Nee ukkandhuru; naan virundhu vechutu vandharren,” like a Tamil cinema mass hero™ does. But when Annabelle insists, “Let’s fight. Together,” he pauses for a moment to look at her and smile. He turns his attention towards the assassins, but is unable to contain himself from smiling at her once more. So far, we’re shown that he admires her beauty (the palace itself is a Shah Jahan-esque tribute to her) but now he admires her valour.
The film, hence, isn’t entirely unwatchable. The uncomic portions, thanks mainly to Vijay’s performance, kind of work. But then, that’s not a good thing to say about a comedy, is it?
Annabelle Sethupathi is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar
