Pathu Thala movie review: Silambarasan TR, popularly known as Simbu, entertains his audiences with a power-packed performance in the Tamil film.

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. Also read: Silambarasan requests critics to not body shame actors in reviews

Pathu Thala is driected by Obeli N Krishna and stars Silambarasan TR.
Pathu Thala is driected by Obeli N Krishna and stars Silambarasan TR.
The story is very straightforward and has been done-to-death in so many Indian films over the years. Gautham Karthik plays Sakthivel, an undercover cop who is tasked with the mission of infiltrating the gang of AGR (Silambarasan TR), who is the most feared gangster and even the local government fears him. AGR has largely remained an enigmatic figure and very few people have seen him. When the Tamil Nadu chief minister goes missing, the government as well as the police believe AGR has a hand in his disappearance.

What really sets Pathu Thala apart from any gangster film and even Donnie Brasco for that matter is that it’s a political drama at heart. It’s about people vying for power and AGR, though a gangster, isn’t the only one who has blood on his hands. The crime angle of the film largely unfolds in the second half after Gautham Karthik’s character infiltrates AGR’s gang and it’s this half of the movie that really keeps one engrossed in the story. The film, which explores modern-day politics quite accurately, definitely needed more drama to make the story even more interesting. Thankfully, when the spotlight shifts on Silambarasan, he brings ample drama to make up for the lull in the initial half.

Silambarasan, despite having a very limited screen time, really shines in a role that he strongly elevates just with his presence. The finale action sequence is one of the major highlights of the film and thanks to the way it’s shot and presented, it leaves the viewer exiting the cinema hall on a high. Gautham Karthik, too, gets to shine in a role that he hasn’t played before. He gets a massy introduction sequence which is another highlight of the film. It’s the women, who are let down in poorly written characters. Priya Bhavani Shankar could have definitely been used more effectively. AR Rahman’s music and score genuinely helps the film work wholesomely.

South Indian film industries have no shortage of movies that depict the rivalry between a daring cop and a feared gangster. However, what truly makes a film stand out in this genre are the events and incidents that unfold, bringing the audience closer to the characters' world. Pathu Thala, the official Tamil remake of the hit Kannada film Mufti, has some memorable moments, however, the film's attempt to constantly engage the audience sometimes comes across as forced.

The 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.
Overall, Pathu Thala may not be a great film for those who have watched the original, but it's still worth watching for the lead actors and some standout moments.