'Writer' review: Samuthirakani delivers an impactful performance in a moving film
The Hindu
Director Franklin Jacob impresses in a cop subject told differently
Cops have been portrayed in several ways in Tamil cinema, but most of them have been over-the-top. Think of the Singam franchise, where Suriya's powerful punch sent half a dozen guys flying. Or the more recent Darbar that had Rajinikanth as a cop gone rogue.
Franklin Jacob's Writer also features a cop, Thangaraj, as its protagonist, but he is far removed from the cinematic cop universe. When we first see Thangaraj (Samuthirakani), he's seated in a police station in Thiruvembur, adjusting his glasses and reading the morning newspaper. An old Tamil film song 'Kavalai Illatha Manithan' plays in the background, probably pointing to the fact that Thangaraj is leading a life of contentment. But is he?