Movie Review: Hit List

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 Vijay ( Vijay Kanishka) is an IT exec who lives with his mom ( Sitara) and sister ( Abi Nalshstra). He is a firm believer in non-violence and veganism.



Yazhvendan is an ACP ( Sarathkumar) posted in North Madras is on the heels of Kaali (Garuda Ram) who kills a big tycoon for whom he has done several murders, because he wouldnt make him a partner in his budiness. His cruelty and large nexus is feared by all.

One day  Vijay's mom and sis are kidnapped.  Vijay appeals to the ACP for help. The kidnapper puts a strange request to Vijay - that of killing a chicken, forcing him to give up his his non-violence vow under threat of torture. 

After that begins a strange and deadly game where the kidnapper uses Vijay to murder Kaali in a bizarre manner after escaping from the  police, why are  shadowing him for his protection. 

He doesnt stop with that.  He asks him to do another murder.  When he refuses, the kidnapper threatens to further torture his mom and sister.

In the meantime,  ACP Yazhvendan is closely studying the turn of events. 

What happens next? Does Vijay save his family on time? What clues does the ACP discover? Is there a link between the criminal and Vijay? 

 The film begins on a strong note taking the viewer right into the story with just the right measure of the hero's family and work background.

 As the story proceeds, curiosity is piqued by the twists and turns, the chases, laced with heavy doses of emotions, fear, desperation and suspense to keep the viewer invested.

The scenes with villain Kaali, the police investigation scenes carried out with a contemporary touch, headed by SarathKumar, are rivetting and well choreographed and conceived.


Though the several action blocks in the film are superbly choreographed, on the  flip side, there is a lot of blood and gore which has become like a norm on screens these days.  

The director duo have stuck to the genre of vigilante thriller without deviating with a romantic angle nor songs, which works in keeping the viewer engaged without any lags. Even the hero's belief system in non-violence towards animals is well brought out in small sequences like those with Aishwarya Dutta and  Redin Kingsley in brief appearances.

Key roles by Smruthi Venkat, Gautham Vasudev Menon and a guest appearance by Samuthirakani add value by their presence and credible performances.

Debut hero Vijay Kanishka ( son of director Vikraman) makes a good impression with a credible performance in a solid debut. He excels in the  action scenes, with Garudan Ram and Gautham Menon, and also balances the emotional scenes where he displays fear and abject desperation when pushed to a corner by circumstances.

Veteran actor Sarathkumar as the senior cop excels in the role, bringing gravitas and credibility by his authoritative presence with just the right display of expressions and body language.


The makers have attempted to convey a  social message through the film. 

On the flip side, the bloodletting is on the higher side which could have been avoided. The torture procedures seem over the top after a while,  reminding you of 80's films. 

Watch out for a suspenseful, engaging climax with an important  twist. A clever tying up of loose ends, an interesting premise  in the storyline, a racy screenplay and solid performances make Hit List a watchable thriller.

Rating 3/5

CAST:-

‘SUPREME STAR’R.SARATHKUMAR

VIJAY KANISHKA (INTRODUCING)

SAMUTHIRAKANI

GAUTHAM VASUDEV MENON

SMRUTHI VENKAT

AISHWARYA DUTTA

SITHARA

ABI NAKSHATRA

ANUPAMA KUMAR

RAMACHANDRA RAJU(KGF-GARUDA RAM)

MUNISHKANTH

RAMACHANDRAN

REDIN KINGSLEY

BALASARAVANAN

 

 

CREW:-

PRODUCTION : RK.CELLULOIDS

PRODUCER : ’ DIRECTOR’ K.S.RAVIKUMAR

CO- PRODUCTION : RGC- RAMESH GRAND CREATIONS

DIRECTION : SOORYAKATHIR KAAKKALLAR - K. KARTHIKEYAN

MUSIC : C.SATHYA

CINEMATOGRAPHY : K.RAMCHARAN

EDITING : JOHN ABRAHAM

SCREENPLAY-DIALOGUE: SOORYAKATHIR KAAKKALLAR

STORY : S.DEVARAJ

ART : ARUNSHANKAR DURAI

STUNT : VICKY-PHOENIX PRABU

LYRICS : KARTHIK NETHA

SOUND DESIGN : LAKSHMINARAYANAN.A.S

COSTUME DESIGN : KAVITHA.J

COSTUMES : V.MOORTHY

MAKE-UP : KOTHANDAPANI

STILLS : VIJAY

PUBLICITY DESIGN : DINESH ASHOK

PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE : J.V.BHARATHI RAJA

PRO: RIAZ.K.AHMED



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