Directed by Dharma, ‘Aaga Kadavana’ stars Aathiran Suresh, Vincent S, C.R. Rahul, Michael S, Satish, Ramdoss, Dashna, Rajasivan and Vijay Srinivas in pivotal roles.
The story revolves around three close friends, Aathiran Suresh, C.R. Rahul, and Rajasivan who work at a pharmacy. They dream of starting their own medical store and begin collecting funds for it. On the other side, Vincent S, Satish Ramdoss, and Michael S are involved in a dark racket of kidnapping youngsters and forcing them to steal.
To buy the pharmacy they work in, the three friends manage to gather ₹6 lakhs by borrowing from various sources. However, the entire amount is stolen, prompting them to file a complaint with the police, which yields no progress. Aathiran’s father then offers to sell their farmland to help them, and Aathiran and Rahul travel to the village for the money.
On their journey, their bike tyre gets punctured and they stop at a puncture shop deep inside a remote forested area. There, they encounter Vincent and his gang again. As minor tasks delay the puncture fix, tension builds.
Why are Vincent and his team after Aathiran and Rahul? What connects these two groups? What eventually happens to Aathiran and his friends forms the rest of the gripping story.
Aathiran Suresh carries the lead role with maturity and restraint, staying deeply connected to his character without overacting. C.R. Rahul brings energy to his role, which plays a key turning point in the narrative.
Satish Ramdoss, as Pattani, delivers a standout performance with his quirky dialogue delivery — especially the chicken and dog stories, which are bound to have audiences in splits.
Vincent S and Michael S emerge as strong pillars of the film. Their expressive eyes alone convey half the emotions — a likely reason why the director cast them.
Rajasivan, as Pugal, the boy working at the puncture shop, and Aathiran’s father all add solid support to the narrative.
Director Dharma’s storytelling is the film’s biggest strength. He keeps the audience guessing at every turn. Dharma crafts this film in a completely unique space. The most striking part? The entire film runs for two hours without any female characters, yet manages to keep the audience glued to their seats throughout.
Santhan Anbalagan’s background score is a major asset, perfectly capturing the mood and tension of each scene. The forest location, the hut, and the surroundings are visually stunning and provide a feast for the eyes. Leo V. Raj’s cinematography is solid, although a slightly more dynamic visual approach might have elevated the narrative further. The duo Sumith Pandian and Bhumesh Das have edited the movie in a way that keeps the audience watching the movie sitting at the edge of the seat.
‘Aaga Kadavana’ stands out as a rare gem in Tamil cinema — a film that is daringly male-centric, tightly scripted, and powerfully executed. A must-watch for those who appreciate gripping, content-driven cinema.
Rating: 3.75/5