Direction: Vicky Anand
Cast: Kalaiyarasan, Sai Dahnshika, Mime Gopi
Jeevan (Kalaiyarasan), once a popular writer is now struggling to make ends meet. His publisher urges him to write something quirky and which will go well with modern day readers - something like say a thriller or an anti-hero. Though his wife Jennie (Sai Dhanshika) was very supportive initially, she loses confidence in his writing and urges him to take up a job.
One fine day Jeevan gets an idea for his story about a psychopath killer. His publisher encourages him to go ahead and finish it. He convinces Jenny to wait for a few months and leaves for Meghamalai hill station to write his novel as he feels he will be motivated in a calm atmosphere. He stays at his friend’s guesthouse and a forest guard (Mime Gopi) is there to give him company.
Even as he starts penning his story, Jeevan begins to experience series of weird events, which disorients him. Things get complicated when Jennie makes a surprise visit to him and by the time the couple wants to get back home, it is too late!
Debut director Vicky should be appreciated for choosing a path less travelled in Tamil cinema and without making any commercial compromise. Steering clear of hackneyed ghost elements as promised by the makers, Uru is a hardcore horror thriller that keeps the audiences on the edge of their seats with its suspense elements intact. There are no unwarranted songs, no action scenes and no boring humor for the sake of it.
Kalaiyarasan does his part well and brings out the right emotions of a failed writer who somehow wants to get back to his glorious days. It is Sai Dhanshika who steals the show with her power-packed performance in a solid character. Her physical agility in some of the vital portions warrants mention. Mime Gopi as usual is adequate and Daniel appears in a miniscule role.
On the technical front, music composer Johan’s brilliant background score for the horror genre and Prasanna Kumar’s eye-catchy visuals of the hilly terrain with spine-chilling night effect scenes are the biggest pluses.
On the downside, the film moves at a slow pace and despite its running time being less than two hours, you feel it is stretched. And there are too many forced twists in the last 30 minutes, which is a bit confusing.
Nevertheless, with so many pros, Uru is a different take on a psychological thriller and is a bold attempt from a new-age director, which is worth your time!
