PETALING JAYA: Do aliens exist? While some nod in affirmation and others shake their heads, filmmakers continue to revel in the freedom to bring otherworldly creatures from their imaginations to the big screen.
Although Hollywood has seen its fair share of sci-fi films, Indian cinema is still relatively alien to this concept – if you can pardon the pun – with only a handful of movies that have explored this genre.
The Tamil film “Ayalaan”, which premiered on Friday, is the newest such adventure to join this list. With Sivakarthikeyan in the lead, Oscar-winning A R Rahman as the composer, and Pongal providing the perfect occasion for a family trip to the cinema, this film, along with “Captain Miller”, is the talk of the town among Malaysian Indian viewers.
Has director Ravikumar, in his second film, managed to score a winner with this extraterrestrial adventure?
“Ayalaan” tells the tale of an alien’s arrival on Earth in India, where he (it?) forges an unexpected friendship with Tamizh (Sivakarthikeyan), a nature enthusiast seeking a new life in the city.
Tamizh and his new unEarthly buddy Tattoo bond over laughs – until danger comes knocking. Not before long, the human finds himself entangled in the alien’s mission: to stop Aryan, an ambitious and devious businessman, from extracting lethal Nova gas that poses a threat to the planet, while evading his villainous clutches.
If it sounds like a children’s cartoon, well, that’s kinda what this almost three-hour-long film is.
Make no mistake: the movie starts off strong, filling the cinema with laughter. Sivakarthikeyan, renowned for his impeccable comic timing, is a delight; joined by fan-favourite comedians such as Yogi Babu and Karunakaran, the humour hits the bullseye with physical comedy and witty dialogue.
As with all such films, the alien in question has to capture viewers’ hearts, and Tattoo fits the bill. Straying from robot talk or gibberish, Tattoo’s charming personality, skillfully voiced by Siddharth, is a joy to watch.
The bond between the alien and Tamizh is so heartwarming that it might bring a tear to your eye.
Visually, the special effects and cinematography are spot-on, seamlessly integrating the alien into the earthly surroundings without it feeling jarring.
The real problem, however, lies in the plot. A bad antagonist can be a real buzzkill, and Sharad Kelkar’s Aryan is a prime example.
It’s your textbook case of predictability and poor writing: no character arc, just the stereotypical big bad guy wanting to conquer the world without a care for mankind or the environment.
The action sequences, while plentiful, lack a “wow” factor and often go on for too long. Additionally, the romantic subplot between Tamizh and Rakul Preet Singh’s character Tara falls flat: love at first sight is fine, but they simply don’t have chemistry, and viewers never feel a genuine connection between them.
Elsewhere, despite numerous awards under his belt, renowned Indian music composer A R Rahman delivers a rather mediocre soundtrack this time around. The only song that stands out with its lively beats is the opening track, “Vera Level Saago”.
All in all, if you’re young at heart or simply on the lookout for a family-friendly flick to keep the little ones entertained, then “Ayalaan” will be right up your alley. For others seeking an engaging storyline, though, it might be a bit of a snooze.
As of press time, ‘Ayalaan’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.
