“Por Thozhil”– The psychological thrillers of the Tamil film industry have faced challenges in penetrating the deep depths of the human mind, especially while essaying the psychology of serial killers. Yet, “Por Thozhil” is the unique twist, the smartly made film that will keep audiences awake till the end but also touches upon the characters’ desires and has a somewhat of depressing underlying message.
Fundamentally, “Por Thozhil” follows an unusual friendship between two completely different characters
Prakash (Ashok Selvan), a shy and nerdy new cop, and Loganathan (Sarath Kumar), the veteran and cocky crime branch officer. The intersection of their paths comes into play when they become involved in the investigation of a string of murders of younger women in the city of Trichy. The killer’s modus operandi seems to be the replication of three unsolved cases from three decades ago, and this interesting piece of mystery keeps the audience at the edge of their seats.
Sarath Kumar succeeds in the portrayal of his character as a very different person from Loganathan – stern, cold-hearted, and not emotionally expressive – while retaining a great degree of complexity. However, to begin with, he is seemingly self-possessed and spends all his time chasing the murderer, but eventually, Loganathan releases bits of his human side which only showcases Sarath Kumar’s acting skills magnificently. The role of Ashok Selvan who plays Prakash, the initially diffident probie who embarks on a transformative journey and becomes a competent cop by the end of the investigation boasts higher. Selvan’s capabilities of perfectly shifting from the comic occasions to the depth of emotional scenes confirm his acting power.
The supporting characters help to create a very creepy mood in the movie. A major actress performs a frightening role in an unexpected character, whereas the actor playing the serial killer has an animalistic physical presence and body language that makes you pay attention to him. The film crew’s accuracy in details and the actors’ embodiment of their roles make the characters come to life and develop the narrative to be realistic and driven by the characters.
The storyline is based on many Western stories and the true crimes done by serial killers, but “Por Thozhil” has a unique plot through its well-written storytelling and the guidance it gives in the question of parenting that shapes mind and soul. The director’s effective work in building up the audience’s empathy towards the killer’s motivations speaks to these qualities: clear vision and simple plot narration.
The movie’s pace is thorough, and it makes the audience nervous throughout while watching from the first frames till the last. The author’s grasp of the narrative is undeniably clear through their masterful and unpredictable turn of events that leave the audience immersed and guessing until the last scene. The makers of the series have masterfully created the backstories of the two killer characters in detail which helps us to comprehend their reasons and to connect with the footage.
If, on the other hand, some of the plot twists seem somewhat unlikely and the matching serial killers from the different eras could have been made more believable, it could have been more appealing to the viewers. Furthermore, although the soundtrack by Jakes Bejoy is talented it is not long-lasting as it is not distinctive enough at times and can not improve the film’s atmosphere.
Notwithstanding these niggles, we arrived at the conclusion that ‘Por Thozhil’ deserves some preferential treatment by genre experts and fans who are also thinking human mind. The first director, Vignesh Raja, has helped the creation of a layered psychological thriller that is incontrovertibly going to be a milestone in the Tamil film industry for a long time.
The strongest point in the film is the unfolding of the role of parenthood in the molding of the children’s destiny. The climactic scene can let go of itself for a ticket price because it emphatically cements the message in a powerful and impressionable fashion. Character arcs of Prakash as depicted by Ashok Selvan and Loganathan as portrayed by Sarath Kumar are in a linear fashion, a key point being that their traits primarily contribute to the entire film.
The film “Psycho” produced by Mysskin failed to generate audience sympathy with the killer, however “Por Thozhil” is a major triumph in this regard being a well-structured and straightforward storytelling about a complicated plot. The movie can create empathy while deglamourizing the killer’s actions and helps the viewers to understand, if not feel sympathetic towards their motivation.
Utilizing a deep and meaningful narrative, competent performances, and a thoughtful message of why parenthood is so vital, “Por Thozhil” is a film that you will remember for a long time to come. This is cinema’s ability to create fun, but also to appear meaningful and effective. Newcomer Vignesh Raja’s first attempt is terrific, a deep and complex psychological thriller that sets new standards for the genre in the Tamil film industry and sends out positive signals for the young director.
