AAA movie review: Lacklustre, packed with sexism and misogyny

Director: Adhik Ravichandran

Cast: Simbu, Shriya Saran, Tamannah, VTV Ganesh, Mahat

The movie begins with an interrogation of an old man (Mahat) by Dubai police in connection with the whereabouts of a dreaded international don, (!) Michael (Simbu). In a flashback that involves a mass intro scene, our hero Madurai Michael walks on a human chain formed by the inmates of a jail and escapes prison.

It is revealed that Madurai Michael is an up-and-coming gangster and an underling of a local thug Senthamarai.  He is fearless and along with his two friends (Mahat and VTV Ganesh) he commits several murders on his boss’ order. And his favorite punch word is Sirappu, which he utters while flicking his hair every time and which is modeled after Maghizhchi from Kabali. (Didn’t Vijay use the same punch word Sirappu… Miga Sirappu in Bairavaa?)

He falls in love with Selvi (Shriya) and she also reciprocates with a condition, which we often come across in Tamil cinema – she wants him to turn a new leaf. She wants to go to Dubai and lead a peaceful life. Though Michael agrees to it, his boss wouldn’t allow. He wants Michael to do one final murder before quitting. That lands him in trouble and all goes topsy-turvy.

And suddenly, the story shifts 25 years later when we see Simbu (in a salt-n-pepper get-up) as the most feared don named Ashwin Thattha. Though we are clueless of his rise in the underworld, the police nonetheless reveal this aspect by stating him a don. So we believe it. And he is now in Chennai spending his time in the company of his aides (Mottai Rajendran and VTV Ganesh). He meets Ramya (Tamannah) who is less than half of his age and falls for her. He mistakes her friendly talks as reciprocation of his love and wants to reveal his feelings on her birthday. A twist takes place and Ashwin Thattha goes on a revenge seeking mode.

Simbu in a triple role– a cameo towards the climax (who does not really look like STR) plays to the gallery with his typical mannerisms and dialogue delivery and energetic stunt sequences. As Michael he is adequate, but his much-boasted Thattha avatar with a patchy makeup is not appealing. Despite his old man makeup, he still looks young. And these portions lack life. Shriya Saran sans makeup does a decent job, but dubbing could have been better. Tamannah in an oft-repeated character does what was expected of her – look glamorous in skimpy clothes.

VTV Ganesh, Mahat , Mottai Rajhendran and Kovai Sarala are in the supporting cast. Yuvan Shankar Raja’s combo with STR always works magically. Here too, it works to some extent. There’s hardly any story and one feels as if the dialogues are written on the shooting spot. A lacklustre screenplay, packed with sexism and misogynist dialogues and liberal use of double entendres (some muted) adds to its woes. Adhik has deigned the film in such a way that it glorifies actor Simbu on screen and not the character he plays. There’s supposed to be a sequel!