Title: Valimai (translated: Power/Strength)
Cast: Ajith Kumar, Kartikeya Gummakonda, Huma Qureshi, Gurbani and Sumithra.
Director: H Vinoth
Rating: ****
MICHAEL LACHIMIAH
The premise of Valimai in a nutshell. Chennai city is terrorised by a group of young daredevil thugs on powerful motorbikes who mercilessly snatch gold chains off innocent women and murder just for the sake of it.
They are all members of the gang Satan's Slave. When all seems lost, in steps a suave policeman from Madurai who takes the baddies head-on and brings peace and calm to Chennai.
Kollywood superstar Ajith Kumar plays Arjun, the saviour of the Chennai public, who takes on the leader of the Satan’s Slave gang, Naren, played by Telugu star Kartikeya Gummakonda.
Valimai is a high- octane adrenalin-charged action movie that is easily comparable to the best of Hollywood action movies.
Thanks to producer Boney Kapoor, no expense was spared in showcasing the jaw-dropping action sequences featuring daredevil bike stunts on the silver screen.
Sergey Golovkin, the Russian action director, makes sure that the action sequences are captured on a grand scale and Kollywood ace stunt choreographer Dhilip Subbarayan co-ordinates the stunt sequences with acute precision.
Nirav Shah, India’s national award-winning cinematographer, captures the excellently choreographed stunts in a manner that is a marvel to behold.
Music by Yuvan Shankar Raja complements the movie excellently. The soulful rendition of the song Amma by Sid Sriram towards the climax of the movie will certainly linger in your memory for a long time.
Valimai is not all action though, there are some sentimental scenes which prompt us to question our relationship with our parents, especially our mothers.
The one message that sticks out for me is when Arjun (Kumar) implores the young criminals who have been apprehended by the police while their mothers cry out in anguish for their release. He tells the youngsters to respect their mothers as they (mothers) have sacrificed and virtually put their lives on hold so that these youngsters could get an education to better their lives.
But alas, these young criminals choose to imbibe drugs and alcohol and refuse to listen to wholesome advice from their parents, but rather take in bad advice from strangers.
I have not seen any Indian movie that has so many exciting bike stunts as Valimai. You would be forgiven for thinking that you are watching a Hollywood action movie rather than a pukka Tamil language movie. That is how great the action sequences have been showcased in Valimai.
Valimai is not be missed. Take your family along and watch this wholesome family entertainer which will have your eyes glued to the screen and your jaws agape.
Valimai is showing at CineCentre SunCoast with three shows daily.
*Lachimiah is an MC and motivational speaker with an interest in Kollywood movies and music.