Vanjagar Ulagam is a romantic crime thriller, directed by debutante Manoj Beedha. After almost two years of production and waiting, the film will hit screens this Friday (7 September). Only, this comparatively low budget flick will vie for arses-in-seats with Mammootty's Peranbu, directed by Ram.
With nary a fanfare or semblance of publicity, the movie has managed to garner quite a bit of interest, thanks to Guru Somasundaram, who plays a gun-toting gangster. Guru Somasundaram has turned out to be one of Tamil cinema's finest method actors, whose films are few and far between, but all memorable.
If Tamil cinema has entered the age of satire and political commentary, then Guru Somasundaram is truly its Mannar Mannan (King of Kings, also the name of the psychotic delusional he plays in Joker). From a slightly overweight businessman in 2017's Yakkai to a morally grey lackey in Paambu Sattai (2017), to the wiry gangster in Vanjagar Ulagam, Guru is unrecognisable and brilliant in them all.
But the contenders on the other end of the ring, vying for the same Friday BO collections, are Mommootty and director Ram, both of who have behind them a body of work that's worth a film school. But Vanjagar Ulagam is the underdog, and my bet, for now, is on Guru Somasundaram.
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