Premise: Chennai City Gangsters revolves around Vaibhav and a group of individuals who each have personal motives to acquire a large sum of money. They band together to execute a bank robbery, and the film follows the how and why behind their mission.

Writing / Direction: Heist films generally thrive on clever plotting or sharp humor—ideally both. While Chennai City Gangsters starts with a promising setup involving a gang seeking revenge against a former associate who betrayed them a decade ago, the narrative struggles to build on that momentum. The flashback-heavy first half, while offering context, stretches out thin plot threads without engaging enough substance.

The second half introduces new characters and ups the ante in terms of star power, suggesting a potential turnaround. However, despite the presence of comedy veterans, the writing doesn’t offer them strong material to work with. The humour is inconsistent, and the overall pacing suffers due to underwhelming execution.

Performances: Vaibhav delivers a solid performance and looks the part, though his character lacks depth. The film features a roster of well-known supporting actors—Anandaraj, Motta Rajendran, John Vijay, Redin Kingsley, Sunil Reddy, and Livingston—but their talents are unfortunately underutilized. Athulya Ravi looks charming, but her role doesn’t offer much beyond that.

Technical Aspects: D. Imman’s music struggles to leave a mark, though it’s clear the challenge lies more with song placement than composition. The background score has its moments but is ultimately let down by the lack of impactful scenes. The cinematography has potential, but poor color grading leads to overly dark frames, affecting the viewing experience. Editing is decent, and the compact 2-hour runtime is a plus, helping the film move along despite its shortcomings.

Verdict: Chennai City Gangsters sets up an interesting premise with a large ensemble cast, but it falters in translating that potential into an engaging or entertaining watch. A few glimmers of promise exist, but they’re not enough to sustain the film.

Rating: 2/5