ETHARKKUM THUNINDHAVAN  , SURIYA PLAYS KANNABIRAN, LAWYER WHO UPHOLDS THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND PROTECTS INNOCENT PEOPLE. AT HOME , HE IS THE BELOVED SON OF HIS PARENTS AADHIRAYAR (SATHYARAJ, WHO PUTS MORE EMPHASIS ON THE CHARACTER THAN THE SCRIPT) AND KOSALAI (SARANYA PONVANNAN, A ROLE SHE CAN PLAY WHILE SHE IS ASLEEP NOW). AND IN THE EYES OF AADHINI (A WONDERFUL PRIYANKAA ARUL MOHAN), WHO IS A CONCERN FOR HIS LOVE HE IS LIKE MURUGAN. IN SHORT, HE IS MORE OR LESS ON AVATAR, AND DIRECTOR PANDY LARGE ESTABLISHES THE MYTH OF HIS PROTAGONIST WITHOUT HARD WORK. THE PLOT CONTINUES THIS IDEA THAT CANNAVILLAN IS TRYING TO PROTECT THE DIGNITY OF WOMEN, THE VILLAIN WHO IS "UNDERSSING" HERE IS INVA THE SON OF THE CENTRAL MINISTER(VINAI RAI NICKED UP FROM WHERE HE WAS INTERRUPTED BY THE DOCTOR). PREYING ON A DEFENSELESS YOUNG WOMAN IN THE  NAME OF LOVE INVA AND HIS GANG SHOOT THEIR VIDEO IN A SEXUALLY  ENDANGERED POSITION AND LATER USE THE VIDEO TO IMTIMIDATE THE VICTIMS. THIS IS CLEAR REFERENCE TO PORACHI'S SEXUAL ASSAULT. WHEN KANNABIRAN RESCUES AADHINI'S FRIEND YAZHNILA, INBA DECIDES TO TARGET A LAWYER AND THREATENS TO PUBLISH A HIDDEN CAM VIDEO OF 500 WOMEN IF SHE DOESN;T GIVE UP YAZHNILA. AT THE PLOT LEVEL, ETHARKKUM THUNINDHAVAN FOLLWS A NEARLY PREDICTABLE LINE BUT AS HE DID IN HIS FILMS LIKE VAMSAM AND KADAIKUTTY SINGAM, PANDIRAJ HAS ITS ROOTS IN CHARACTERS WITH VERY SPECIFIC BACKROUNDS, WHICH GIVES IT A  CERTIAN FRESHNESS. LIKE THE SETTING WHERE THE MOVIE TAKES PLACE. KANNABIRAN LIVES IN TENNADU, A REGION THAT VALUES WOMEN. INVA BELONGS TO THE NEIGHBORING VILLAGE VADA NADU, AND THE MAN IS MARRIED TO GIRL IN TENNADU .HOWEVER , THER HAS BEEN A CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO VILLAGES SINCE THE SUICIDE OF TENNADU WOMEN WHO MARRIED A VADA NADU MAN. THE DIRECTOR TAKES ADVANTAGE OF TO ADD SUSPENSE AHD HUMOR TO THE ROMANCE BETWEEN CANNAVILAN AND ARDINI, BORN IN VADANADU. PART OF THE HUMOR WORKS THANKS TO DEVADARISINI PLAYING ARDINI'S MOTHER. ANIUMANI.BUT THE GROUP OF COMEDIANS WHO ARE PART OF THE CAST ARE DISAPPOINTED. EVEN SURII, WHO USUALLY SHINES IN THIS DIRECTOR'S MOVIE . IS HARDLY INTERESTING. HOWEVER, WHEN THE DIRECTOR TRIES TO BALANCE THE ‘FAMILY- FRIENDLY" SCENCE FOLLOWING YAZH’S RESUE. KANNABIRAN EXPECTS INVA TO TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT THE GIRL'S VIDEOS FROM BEING UPLOADED, BUT INSTEAD LOOK AT THE BRIGHTER SCENES, INCLUDING HIS PRIVATE  LIFE!  BUT WHAT SETS THIS POPULAR MASALA MOVIE APART IS ITS PROGRSSIVE PERSPECTIVE. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT, IT'S DEFINITELY NICE TO SEE STAR VEHICLES SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE. LIKE NERKONDA PAARVAI'S AJITH, A CHARMING AND SERIOUS SURIYA MAKES GOOD USE OF HIS HEIGHT IN THESE SECTIONS THE SCENEBETWEEN CANNAVIRAN AND ARDINI ABOUT THE “SHAME” ASSOCIATED WITH HIDDEN CAMERA VIDEOS IS WISELY WRITTEN ('VERUM UDAMBU AABAASAMAANADHILLA.. AVANGA VAKKARA BUNDHIYA VIDAAABAASAMAANADHILA"). YES. 

ETHARKKUM THUNINDHAVAN IS SURIYA'S FRIST THEATRICAL RELEASE IN THREE YEARS. GIVEN THE NEED TO MAIN TAIN THE IMPRESSIVE REPUTATION HE HAS BULIT UP IN MOVIES LIKE SOORARAI POTTRU AND JAI BHIM, HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN VERY CAREFUL WHEN CHOOSING A MOVIE FOR A COME BACK IN THE THEATER… AT ITS BEST ETHARKKUM THUNIDHAVAN FEELS LIKE RUSH JOB TO BRING HORRIFIC REAL LIFE CRIMES TO THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR.