Mugamoodi Film Review

by Kannan Vijayakumar (Singapore)

‘As you think, so shall you become’ – Bruce Lee

Mugamoodi travels in the lines of this quote and director Mysskin tries to convey that a superhero is within every individual. Touted to be the first superhero flick in Kollywood, Mugamoodi oozed with potential with current peak stars Jeeva and Mysskin’s favourite, Narein joining hands with the ace director. With the music and promos captivating the public, Mugamoodi showed substantial promise.  So does this superhero prevail?

Story-Screenplay

Story and screenplay are two aspects where Mysskin scores usually. Mugamoodi starts off in a promising note and the opening intro of the film sets the right mood for a superhero flick. The first half travels in a light hearted mood and also sets up for the arrival of Mugamoodi really well. However the film dampens with a draggy second half. The predictability of the storyline is the main culprit.

Jeeva’s transition to a superhero is unconvincing. The main problem also does arrive in the lack of depth in the antagonist character, Dragon, who looks feeble and inconsistent. For a superhero film to succeed, strong villain is needed and Mugamoodi seriously missed that which affects the overall film greatly.  On top of everything, the decision for the director to make a superhero story without the role of media rips off a few possible interesting elements.

Mysskin’s style is well-known and Mugamoodi is no exception -- long shots, unique camera angles and sharp dialogues are all present in this too. However, the long shots do contribute to the draggy factor. In overall, Mysskin have opted for style this time by deciding to go with a passable content.

Casting & Performance 

Jiiva does a neat job be it an ordinary youngster, an angry man or a brave superhero. His hard work is evident in the stunt sequences and dance. Narein on other hand should be commendable for accepting a negative role. However, the lack of depth in the character itself does make him look feeble throughout. Pooja Hegde has the looks and considering her limited role, comes out with a decent performance. Nassar as commissioner impresses whereas other casts such as Selva, and veteran Grish Karnad are average. Jeeva and Nassar carry the film and make Mugamoodi a worthy watch.

Technicality

Technicalities are important factors for a superhero film and in Mugamoodi, technical values elevate the film greatly. Stunt coordinators have done their job very well as the Kung Fu style being handled in very novel and believable way throughout the film. First on the list is the cinematography of Sathya. He does pulls of the long shots really well. As the story takes place at night most of the time, the lighting and tone he uses adds to the thrills. Last but not the least, in K’s music, both ‘Vaayamoodi Summa Iruda’ and ‘Kudi Anthem’ excel. However, the artificiality and the placement of the ‘Vaayamoodi’ song disappoint a little. In addition, the background score by K is impressive and touching at many points especially at the climax.

Conclusion

Everyone’s hard work is evident especially Jiiva and the technical crew. Mysskin succeeds in coming up with a decent entertainer which has sparks of brilliance. The element of superhero certainly lacks due to the credibility of the antagonist. However, the innovative treatment and unique premise does save the film to certain extent.

Verdict: Mugamoodi – Unmasked (Rating: 3/5)