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Critics Review
2.75
Shankar's Beauty and the Beast
There is no secret that Ai is loosely based on the story of "Beauty and the Beast". The story itself is nothing new and has been told many time over ages and multiple cultures. What is different in this edition is Shankar has mounted this simple heart-touching story on a mega budget pedestal. Did the master story-teller Shankar yet again succeed in keeping the audience engaged and send home satisfied?(more)
Source: Editorial board, MovieCrow
3.00
Watch it for Vikram !
The biggest movie in recent times, Shankar's I is finally here. And, it is yet another proof of the capability of the director for whom even big or bigger won't cut it. His latest movie is his biggest, as of now (with no doubt that this can be said of his next movie as well - such is his vision and ingenuity).(more)
Source: Editorial board, Behindwoods.com
3.00
Love, Revenge: Vintage wine in new bottle
The last time Shankar embraced romance would have been Kadhalan, is that right? Well, strike that! As none of his movies were short of romance, as the Love rather played an important aspect in almost all of his movies. With I, we see Shankar experimenting by rather stepping away from his usual message oriented flicks to an action cum romantic drama spearheaded by Chiyaan Vikram and Amy Jackson. Spread over a period of two years, a strict weight regime from the lead actor, trots around the globe and finally an audio launch from Arnold, so has I lived up to the expectation? Let's find out(more)
Source: Editorial board, IndiaGlitz.com
3.50
Vikram's I is definitely a Pongal treat
The narrative lacks the pace; we usually associate with a Shankar's film. But he does tell a beautiful tale of love sullied by jealousies, greed and anger. The intriguing screenplay as the director alternates between the light-hearted past and the thrilling present keeps you engrossed.(more)
Source: S Saraswathi, Rediff.com
3.00
I is definitely not the best of Shankar, but still it is a one-time watch.
We are all used to Shankar movies with witty, hard-hitting dialogues but this one is not up to the mark. It won't be an exaggeration to say that late Sujatha is badly missed. The only laughs in this film few and far between are provided by Santhanam. (more)
Source: Moviebuzz, Sify.com
2.75
A terrific performance let down by an uninspired, exhausting movie
There's a hint of subtext in the beauty-and-the-beast premise. I is set largely in the world of advertising, where looks matter, and the biggest suffering one can endure, according to the film, is the loss of these looks. But it's understandable that these themes aren't elaborated (more)
Source: Baradwaj Rangan, The Hindu
2.50
Shankar's directorial fails to impress
When it comes to performance, Vikram steals the show. Generally Shankar gets all the credit in his films, but I is definitely belongs to Vikram. His performance in three different shades and the way he had worked out his body to suit the three shades is superb. However, all his hard work might not pay off due to the mediocre story and screenplay.(more)
Source: Suresh Kavirayani, Deccan Chronicle
2.50
Vikram cannot salvage this tale of Hunchback and Beauty
The only high point of Shankar's I (in Tamil) is Vikram's enthralling performance, first as a rustic body builder and later as a disfigured hunchback. As the guy from the gutters who speaks slum Tamil and whose passion is confined to exhibiting his ripping muscles or ogling at the pictures of the sexy model Diya (British model-turned-largely Tamil actor, Amy Jackson), Vikram's Lingesan keeps us rivetted. His transformation from the uncouth to the suave - and later to the horrific figure covered in huge swellings - is done with an authenticity rare to come by in Tamil cinema. (more)
Source: Gautaman Bhaskaran, Hindustan Times
3.00
Shankar's 'I' is a great looking film but with shoddy writing and poorly sketched characters
The chemistry between Vikram's Lingesan and Amy's Diya is seriously lacking. And no one villain really stands out. And that really hurts a film that relies so heavily on technical razzmatazz. Also, the writing is quite shoddy and unbelievable.(more)
Source: Bryan Durham, DNA
2.50
'Plot' Is Not Up To The Mark
For a movie which had so much of anticipation, I doesn't feed its audience enough to fulfill their expectations. The story is plain and doesn't look like a normal Shankar movie which would otherwise have interesting twists and turn(more)
Source: Avinash Gopinath, One India
2.00
I is visually grandiose and that's not a surprise. But the visuals don't make up for the weak script
Shankar likes to take his audiences to vast, unknown locations even if it's not required. This time he travels to China, shoots in some picturesque locations and makes Vikram feature in a well choreographed action sequence. It's here that he makes Vikram and Amy fall in love. (more)
Source: Haricharan Pudipeedi, NDTV Movies
3.50
This spectacle works because at the core, it's a romantic-thriller told simplistically.
Vikram bowls you over with a heart-wrenching performance whether he is handsome or disfigured. Santhanam provides the perfect comic relief. The first fight in a local gymnasium and the BMX bike fight on Chinese rooftops are an adrenaline fix. (more)
Source: Meena Iyer, Times Of India
