Captain Miller review: Dhanush’s one-man show and Shiva Rajkumar’s zing factor make this action saga worth watching

Action thriller spectacles are undoubtedly the flavour of the season for Indian cinema, catering to the pan-Indian audience.

Irrespective of whether the film makes any sense, larger-than-life characters, visual brilliance, and big stars in action have repeatedly proven to win over the audience.

The process has churned several box-office successes with movies making a moolah by collecting several hundred crores.

More than anything, it is an experience that counts, and Captain Miller — to some extent — provides that experience.

Now, let us dwell straight into the film to find out if it is just another filler in the name of action or has some substance.

Synopsis

The prologue of Captain Miller is set in the pre-Independence Era, where a tribe gets settled near an ancient temple of Lord Shiva.

The film begins with an aged woman sharing a 600-year-old story of how many attempts were made to retrieve a precious gemstone safeguarded by the local king.

Next enters the protagonist—Analeesan aka Easa (Dhanush), who kills the British soldiers who are on the lookout for him. Easa is Captain Miller.

In fact, Easa is a former British soldier who joined the military for self-respect rather than to be treated like a slave by the King who rules them (the tribe/villagers).

Also, the tribe is not allowed to enter the temple for ages. Despite opposition from his people, the discrimination and ill-treatment of his people by the local ruler makes him join the British military.

On the other hand, Easa’s brother Sengolan (a cameo appearance portrayed by Shiva Rajkumar) fights the British as a revolutionist.

After an incident, Easa rebels against the Britishers and in turn, becomes one of the most wanted dacoits with a bounty of ₹10,000 on his head.

What follows next for more than two-and-a-half hours is a pure action adventure that some might enjoy, and for some, it is an average experience presented in a new form.

Related: Power-packed trailer of Dhanush-starrer ‘Captain Miller’ is out

The highs

Unlike the heavily loaded action thrillers that have hit the screens in the recent past, Captain Miller offers something new in terms of the premise, making, music, and even performances.

It comes with a decent story, which deals with the oppressed in society and how they have been treated for ages.

Set in the pre-Independence Era, where a section of the society is fighting in peace for freedom and a section through violence, the question remains whether the oppressed class would finally get its freedom in all aspects, even after British rule ends.

This is the sole reason why Easa initially joined the British, despite the opposition from his people.

His character signifies that as long as power is not equally distributed amongst all sections of the people, the rich (kings) and the upper class continue to rule over them.

The rugged avatar and the intensity with which Dhanush performs make this movie worth watching for him. It is a one-man show, with Dhanush at his best and Shiva Rajkumar being the zing factor.

After an impressive act in Jailer, Shiva Rajkumar, in an extended cameo, is a valuable addition to the long-drawn action thriller.

Also, the background music and the making make it look and feel realistic.

The lows

Though the story has some substance, the screenplay feels scattered across, giving a disjointed experience for most of the 157 minutes.

By the end, one has to search for the sole purpose of Captain Miller.

Thankfully, it comes with chapterisations that simplify and make it easier to understand what is going on and why Captain Miller is going hither and thither.

Too much action that goes on and on for several minutes on a stretch can put one off for a while until the dust settles down and then comes another action sequence.

Verdict

If you enjoy action stories with intense performances, then Captain Miller is worth watching.

Mind you, it comes with an overdose of adventure, too. Happy Pongal!

(Views expressed here are personal.)