'Siren' suffers from a weak script, and far-fetched execution. Thought it gains momentum towards the climax, it fails to close the loopholes.
Keerthy Suresh and Jayam Ravi in 'Siren'. (X)
Revenge thrillers are not new to Tamil cinema. All the A-listers in the industry have been a part of many thrillers. Indeed, they received stardom through such mass films.
Coming to Jayam Ravi, after the huge success of Ponniyin Selvan 1 and Ponniyin Selvan 2 (2022 and 2023)—defined as path-breaking films in the Tamil industry, the actor appeared in Agilan (2023), which missed the mark.
This year, Jayam Ravi comes up with Siren, where he appears as an ambulance driver who gets wrongly convicted in a case.
The end card title of Siren says the movie is dedicated to innocent prisoners in jail. With this statement, the makers dare to challenge the system and question the legal system in India.
Now, let’s see if Siren wins the hearts of the Tamil audience:
Jayam Ravi in ‘Siren’. (X)
Siren is the story of Thilagan (Jayam Ravi), an ambulance driver-turned-prisoner. He walks out of jail on parole after 14 years of imprisonment.
However, he has a mission to accomplish.
In the flashback, 14 years ago, Thilagan worked as an ambulance driver. He was living happily in Kancheepuram.
But he encounters some politicians and a police officer named Nagalingam (Samuthirakani), who frame him in a murder case and send him to jail.
Thilagan’s daughter does not want to meet him since she believes he is a murderer.
Nandini (Keerthy Suresh), a police officer under suspension, is reinstated. Thilagan is instructed to sign in the register at her police station daily.
Shortly after Thilagan gets parole, some high-profile murders are reported, and Nandini starts investigating the cases.
She unearths many secrets in these multiple murders, and everything points towards Thilagan.
What happens next is worth watching in theatres.
What works in Siren is Jayam Ravi’s appearance as a youngster and a middle-aged man. His mannerisms as a youngster and comedy scenes work well.
The comedy scenes involving Jayam Ravi and Yogi Babu, who plays Velankani (the shadow police of Jayam Ravi), are too good.
The movie gains momentum towards the climax as major things are revealed at this point. Yet, there is a lag.
Through Samuthirakani’s character, Siren highlights the caste discrimination among police officers in Tamil Nadu.
The soundtrack composed by GV Prakash Kumar is good.
The background score by Sam CS is decent.
Siren lacks a taut screenplay.
The subplots in the film seem old-fashioned.
The revenge story is okayish, but the execution appears purely fictional.
A poster of the film ‘Siren’. (X)
Jayam Ravi, as Thilagan, plays his parts really well. But I like him more as a young Thilagan.
Keerthy Suresh, as Nandini, plays a strict police officer. The actor aptly fits in the role of a serious cop, as she does not even smile in the film!
Yogi Babu, as Velankanni, is the only person in the movie who makes us laugh, and he is good.
Anupama Parameswaran as Jayam Ravi’s wife, appears as a mute person. She has a good screen presence and pulls off her role with ease.
Samuthirakani, as the negative character, is at his best.
Siren is a revenge drama which raises some pertinent questions about the legal system and false police cases.
Jayam Ravi and Keerthy Suresh make it worth watching.
(Views expressed here are personal.)
Apr 30, 2024
Apr 30, 2024
Apr 30, 2024
Apr 30, 2024
Apr 30, 2024
