Review: Then Chennai

Film: Then Chennai
Writer & Director: Ranga
Co-Producers : Senthil UmaShankar, Suresh.P
Background score: Jen Martin
DOP : Sarathkumar Mohan
Editor : Elangghovan C M
Cast : Ranga, Riya, Nitin Mehta, Elango Kumanan, Vatsan M Natarajan, Ram, Vishal, Suma, Aaru Bala,
Dhileepan & Others
Rating: 3 stars

Director Ranga comes up with quite a refreshing crime story — one that hasn’t been explored in Tamil cinema — in his film Then Chennai.

While the story is quite interesting and the plot well laid out, the performances of the actors don’t quite measure up and therefore bring down the intensity of a story that could have otherwise had you on the edge of your seat.

Then Chennai revolves around Jason(Ranga), who, along with his uncle Tony (Elango Kumanan) runs a restaurant and bar that their family owns in south Chennai.

The restaurant, which has been owned by Jason’s family for over two generations, is used as one of the collection points for betting during IPL matches by a powerful security agency run by Rudra (Nitin Mehta).

Rudra’s agency, known for its trained professionals and ruthless attitude, provides security to all VIPs. His agency is also entrusted with the task of delivering and transferring the hawala money of several top groups, celebs and leaders.

Rudra has been using Jason’s restaurant as one of the collection points for betting in lieu of a loan that Tony has taken from him.

It is under these circumstances that a gang of four, who get to know about the restaurant being a collection point for illegal betting money, decides to rob it. The robbery infuriates Rudra and he turns his attention to tracking down the gang that stole his money. Simulatenously, he questions Jason and his uncle Tony, wondering if they are involved in the crime.

In a move to draw the gang out, Rudra chooses to make Jason’s restaurant the main collection point, meaning the amount collected at the restaurant this time would be several times more than on the previous occasion. What happens then is what the film is all about…

As a story, the plot is really fresh and gripping. It starts off well with a voice over on how the restaurant was started by Jason’s grandfather and traces its rise from a push cart to a four-star hotel.

Also, the way each character has been defined is interesting and new. For instance, Jason is shown as a cadet in the Indian armed forces before dropping out to run the restaurant. What is interesting about this is that a hero has been shown opting for the Indian Naval Service for the first time. There is even an interesting clip on how naval cadets train hard under water for the Indian Naval Service in the film.

One other interesting aspect about the film is the character of the villain Rudra. Rudra, although showcased as a baddie, is shown as a reasonable man with ethics. His character is commanding, yet reasonable and is often willing to give the benefit of doubt to those under suspicion. All of these points deserve praise as they indicate the thinking is fresh.

On the technical side, Jen Martin’s music and Sarathkumar Mohan’s visuals are apt and lend strength to the film.

On the flip side, the film’s biggest drawback is the lacklustre performance of some actors in the film. In particular, Ranga, who plays Jason, looks stiff and is at sea in the film. His performance leaves a lot to be desired so much so that it brings down the intensity of the film by almost half.

While Ranga seems to have done a good job as director, he seems to have areas to improve as an actor. Nevertheless, Then Chennai needs to be appreciated for attempting to narrate a story that is refreshingly new.