The best thing about Taanakkaran is how it’s not at all ambiguous about what the film wants to state. The writing is clear. The acute, little expressions are on point. It gives you the real perspectives of each characters in the frame. The way the film trusts and molds its writing as a collective story and not just make it a one-man’s purpose truly deserves the credit.
Director Tamizh, a honed debutante, tries to deliver a tight-knit screenplay and succeeds in the attempt. Another best thing about the film is how it lets you interpret the botches and prejudices in the “system” that comes with power. Tamizh shows a true to life representation in this drama. The ruthless cultural factor, an age old practice of passing on the ‘skewed temperament’ as a baton, is the reason for all. It is nothing but a weapon to tame one’s mental ability to either tolerate the injustice or to be a part of it but to never question it. I loved how the film aspires and advocates ethical relativism. It drives the point how important individualism is, how change is possible only by a collective effort.
Vikram Prabhu, a young, focused trainee in a police training academy, delivers a simplistic kind of identification with his character. Not just him, but all the other characters do the same. They are real, simple, truthful. The casting is amazing. Lal is brilliant. He literally parades his acting skills. You got M.S. Bhaskar who attracts all your attention. The pure, simple, old people in the training have done their part so well so they really stole the scenes. Especially, Bose Venkat and Livingston play the anchoring roles. Anjali Nair, even though she is reduced only to exhibit her love interest for Vikram Prabhu, she does have a voice to make her remember. The last time I enjoyed an impressive woman cop on screen is Nivetha Pethuraj from Thimiru Pudichavan (2018). (I’m still not over her dazzles.). Every character in Taanakkaran, however cliched they are, leaves a mark. It’s refreshing on the whole.
When the film is over, it leaves you hopeful and resolved and the best part is, the end is convincing. I was reminded of Franklin Jacob’s Writer (2021) as it also portrays helpless, empathetic cops with good heart and less power to bring any change and brutal cops with more power to squash who wants to make a change. Writer extensively deals with the police brutality and psychological stress the cops undergo. And Taanakkaran captures how a cop’s tolerance for causing pain starts with his taming, and not much of a training.
Taanakkaran is a realistic, empathy-filled, earnest portrayal of what it means to be a police in the society. The film is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
