Movie Review: Cheekati Rajyam

Rating: 3/5

Cast: Kamal Haasan, Trisha, Prakash Raj, Sampath Raj, Kishore, Yugi Sethu, Madhu Shalini, Aasa Sarath & Others.

Music: Ghibran

Cinematography: Sanu John Varughese

Screenplay: Kamal Haasan

Producers: Kamal Haasan & Chandra Haasan

Direction: Rajesh M.Selva

Kamal Haasan is one actor who always tried his best to offer a new experience to audience with his every film. This time the Legend arrived with yet another fresh attempt 'Cheekati Rajyam'. He took the big risk of releasing the Telugu version almost 10 Days after the Tamil Version. Has Kamal succeeded in thrilling the movie buffs for one more time?

Synopsis:

Diwakar (Kamal Haasan) is an undercover cop of Narcotics Control Bureau. To get back the Cocaine seized by Diwakar, Drug Lord Vittal Rao (Prakash Raj) abducts his Son (Aman Abdullah) and places an exchange offer. Story moves to a night club owned by Vittal Rao in Insomnia. The challenges faced by Diwakar after entering the night club forms the rest of the story.

Performances:

A great actor in Kamal Haasan could be yet again seen as he gets into the skin of the lead character so well. Its because of his brilliance, Audience connect to his character and the story instantly. Whether the Door Sequence where he exhibits immense pain or emotional phone conversation with his Son, Ulaganayagan is simply outstanding in every sense.

Aman Abdullah, the kid who played the crucial role of Kamal's Son, does a great job. Prakash Raj entertains playing a funny villain. Trisha does make her presence felt. Madhu Shalini appear in a small role. Sampath Raj, Kishore, Yugi Sethu and Others have done justice to their roles.

Pros:

Kamal Haasan

Racy Screenplay

Technical Finesse

Cons:

Second Half

Technicalities:

All of Kamal Haasan's films were with high technical standards and 'Cheekati Rajyam' is no different. Ghibran's Music is a major asset. Background Score is terrific, especially the way he used the Theme Music is laudable. Camera Work is marvelous. Abburi Ravi's Dialogues were just true to the characters. Editing is crisp. As Director, Rajesh has done his job perfectly. Nothing to complain about Production Values of Rajkamal Films.

Analysis:

'Cheekati Rajyam' is based on a French novel titled 'Sleepless Night'. The entire story is based on the sequence of incidents happened in a single night. Hence, the short Run Time of 2 hr 8 min & shooting 90% scenes in a night club were justified. The film has got its moments to keep audience engaged and those who patronage films in this genre will thoroughly enjoy it. You don't find a single dull moment or lag in the movie. None other than Kamal Haasan who provided a taut screenplay deserves credit here.

In 'Cheekati Rajyam', There are few thrilling moments but the basic plot wasn't that exciting. We get a feeling the mission of the Protagonist wasn't established properly. Even revealing too much about Antagonist right in the beginning and not maintaining any suspense works against the movie.

You can't find any forcibly scenes or sequences just meant for introducing characters or unwanted songs or melodrama in 'Cheekati Rajyam'. The moment title cards end, No time is wasted in getting into the story. All the scenes look so natural and even the performances were in correct meter.

The Cop-Thief drama in the night club lasts for 90 minutes. Kamal's liplocks with Madhu Shalini, Action Sequence with Trisha and Confrontation with Prakash Raj keeps the viewers engaged. The scenes establishing father-son relationship at the start & in the climax deserves appreciation.

Generally, A shocking twist or breath-taking action episodes were expected from a Thriller movie in the Pre-Climax or Climax. Unfortunately, 'Cheekati Rajyam' ends on an ordinary note and lack of edge-of-the-seat moments is the biggest setback.

Bottom Line: A Sleek Thriller!