‘Vikram’ (2022), directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Kamal Haasan’s production house Raaj Kamal Films International, is a powerful Tamil language action thriller film that offers the audience a thrilling cinematic experience. The film is a spiritual successor to the 1986 film of the same name and is presented as the second installment of Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU). The film stars Kamal Haasan in the lead role, alongside veteran actors like Fahadh Faasil, Vijay Sethupathi and Surya in a special role.
The story of the film revolves around a former black ops commander Vikram, who embarks on a mission against a drug mafia syndicate. Lokesh Kanagaraj has beautifully combined action, emotion and suspense through a complex but watchable script. Anirudh Ravichander’s music, Girish Gangadharan’s cinematography and Philomin Raj’s editing make this film technically very strong. This film is not only full of action, but it also has strong emotional layers, which keep the audience hooked till the end.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Vikram |
| Release Date | 3 June 2022 |
| Language | Tamil |
| Genre | Action, Thriller |
| Director | Lokesh Kanagaraj |
| Producers | Kamal Haasan, R. Mahendran |
| Story by | Lokesh Kanagaraj |
| Screenplay | Lokesh Kanagaraj, Rathna Kumar |
| Based on | Vikram (1986 film) by Sujatha |
| Production Company | Raaj Kamal Films International |
| Distributed by | Red Giant Movies |
| Cinematography | Girish Gangadharan |
| Editing | Philomin Raj |
| Music Composer | Anirudh Ravichander |
| Runtime | 174 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Budget | ₹120 crore (estimated) |
| Box Office Collection | ₹435–500 crore (estimated) |
| Main Cast | Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi, Fahadh Faasil, Suriya (special appearance) |
| Franchise | Lokesh Cinematic Universe (2nd installment) |
Vikram Story
The film begins with Amar, the leader of a black ops squad, being called in by Police Commissioner Jose to investigate a string of murders committed by some masked men. These murders include Stephan Raj, ACP Prabhanjan and his foster father Karnan. Amar suspects that Karnan’s murder is not a normal one and investigates his life.
The investigation reveals that Karnan was a drug addict and a womanizer, but it was all a ruse. In reality, Karnan was working on a secret mission and he is actually Vikram, the former commander of the 1986 black ops team. Vikram is on a mission to avenge the death of his son Prabhanjan and eliminate the drug mafia from the city.
The main villain Sandhanam runs a drug syndicate which is linked to a big mafia called Rolex. Sandhanam tries to gain power by handing over the drug container to Rolex. But Vikram and Amar together destroy Sandhanam’s entire plan.
The film has many emotional twists – the murder of Amar’s wife, the attack on Vikram’s daughter-in-law and grandson, and finally a fierce battle in which Sandhanam is killed. Finally Rolex, a dreaded don (played by Surya), announces a bounty on Amar, Vikram and Kaidhi for the movie’s delivery.
The movie is full of action, emotion and suspense and takes the Lokesh cinematic universe forward.
Movie Review
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, “Vikram” is a brilliant crime-thriller that keeps the audience hooked from start to finish. Lokesh has already won the hearts of the audience with hits like “Managaram”, “Kaithi” and “Master”, and in “Vikram” he has touched a new level. The film is not only full of action and suspense, but also has an emotional depth that leaves the audience emotional.
Plot Summary
The story of the film begins with the murder of a police officer who was investigating the drug mafia spreading in Chennai. His father (Kamal Haasan), who seems to be a normal person from the outside, is actually on a secret mission and plans to avenge his son’s death. A black-ops officer Amar (Fahadh Faasil) comes to unravel the layers of this mystery, who handles the story with his seriousness and performance. At the same time, the main villain Sandhanam (Vijay Sethupathi) is the kingpin of the drug syndicate, whose introduction sequence is extremely tremendous and memorable.
Acting Performance
Kamal Haasan proves once again why he is considered the ‘Master of Acting’ with his strong acting. Especially his expressions in emotional scenes and action sequences are excellent. Fahadh Faasil carries the story on his shoulders in the first half and makes a deep impact even without heavy dialogues. Vijay Sethupathi’s character is interesting but at some places it becomes monotonous.
Superstar Surya’s cameo in the end surprises the audience and points towards the future of LCU (Lokesh Cinematic Universe).
Technical aspects
The cinematography (Girish Gangadharan) of the film is superb – every action scene is filmed so meticulously that the audience feels themselves a part of that environment. The editing (Philomin Raj) is skillful, due to which even a three-hour film does not bore anywhere.
Anirudh Ravichander’s background score is the soul of the entire film. There is only one song in the film but its beat and Kamal Haasan’s performance are absolutely ‘mass level’.
Action choreographer Anbariv has done wonders with the close-quarter fighting, which is as powerful as films like KGF but looks more realistic.
Movie Trailer
Conclusion
Vikram is a powerful crime-thriller that gives the audience a new cinematic experience with Kamal Haasan’s brilliant comeback, Fahadh Faasil’s seriousness and Vijay Sethupathi’s impressive villainy. Lokesh Kanagaraj’s storytelling style, Anirudh’s powerful music, and the quality of the technical aspects make it a complete entertainer. The deep emotional aspect of the film and the synergy of action make it special. Surya’s cameo and the glimpse of LCU will make the audience eagerly wait for the next part. Vikram is a masterpiece that should not be missed.
