Obeli N Krishna's Pathu Thala is the Tamil remake of Kannada blockbuster Mufti, which itself was loosely based on Al Pacino's Donnie Brasco. After delivering two back-to-back successful films in the last couple of years, it's quite gutsy of Silambarasan TR (Simbu) to pick a project, where he isn't playing the quintessential hero and is mostly absent in the first of the film.
Nevertheless, Pathu Thala still works to a large extent because of Silambarasan, who leaves maximum impact in the limited screen time he gets. story follows Shakthivel (Gautham Karthik), an undercover cop, as he investigates the disappearance of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (Santhosh Pratap). He believes that a feared gangster, AGR (Silambarasan TR), is responsible. However, AGR's stronghold in the sand-mining business makes it difficult for Shakthivel to gather evidence against him. As Shakthivel works to gain AGR's trust, he uncovers shocking revelations that shake his resolve.
Similar to the original film, STR appears predominantly in the second half of Pathu Thala. However, this is where the narrative becomes tighter and more engaging. The initial sequences where Shakthivel learns about AGR's influence and power fall short, lacking the impact that would hook the audience. But the soul of the film lies in the post-interval sequences, with STR delivering a standout performance. While the trope of a gangster as a do-gooder for the people around him and a criminal in the eyes of the government is nothing new, the staging and drama in the second half of the film make it more engaging. Pathu Thala incorporates elements of betrayal and gory violence, as is typical of gangster flicks, but fails to create a lasting impact or a strong connection with the central characters.
Despite its flaws, the film is a fairly entertaining gangster flick that will mostly satisfy STR fans. The climactic fight sequence is accompanied by an effective background score by AR Rahman, which strikes a chord with the audience and elevates its impact. However, the film could have done without a song featuring Simbu in the second half, as it adds little value to the story. Priya Bhavani Shankar delivers a decent performance as the district collector, but her flashback portions with Gautham Karthik could have been more impactful.
The intense performances of Silambarasan and Gautham Karthik make us overlook some of the logical mistakes made by the writer. Gautham, in particular, manages to look authentic as an undercover cop. Gautham Vasudev Menon's performance as the Deputy Chief Minister is commendable, and the technical aspects of the film are quite efficient, with only a couple of shots falling out of focus.
