Don movie review: An engaging entertainer, elevated by performances of Sivakarthikeyan, Samuthirakani and SJ Suryah

3.5/5

Story: Set against a college backdrop, Don sees Sivakarthikeyan playing an Engineering college student, who follows his heart. The film drives home a message—as long as you're enthusiastic and passionate about what you're doing, the success will be yours—no matter how dire your circumstances may seem. Debutant director, Cibi Chakravarthi, a former assistant to Atlee, doesn't attempt to present Sivakarthikeyan in a new light, like Nelson Dilipkumar's Doctor, or PS Mithran's Hero. This pretty much works in the actor's favour.

Review: Going home after watching Don felt like I had a wholesome meal at my favourite restaurant. There is something deeply gratifying about getting lost in a film; laughing and shedding tears in theatres. I think this was the first Sivakarthikeyan film that left me teary-eyed. (Sorry; I can't reveal more!) Overall, a breezy entertainer, I'd say Don got its heart in the right place, although it appears to be stuck in naive idealism, here and there. Cibi Chakravarthi takes a dig at the education system and the repercussions of parental pressure to pursue traditional courses. Like Sivakarthikeyan's other films, this one too has the usual cinematic cliches, yet there is never a dull moment, in this simple tale of the next-door guy.

Don has been conceived as different phases in the life of Chakravarthi (Sivakarthikeyan) that have shaped who he is, at present. The film begins in Kerala. There are heavy rains, and Chakravarthi ought to make it to a college event the next day. The film is told mostly in flashbacks.

Not many students know what their talents are, and for them, their education simply becomes a way of listening to their parents. They don't know what alternative career they can fall back on. Sivakarthikeyan's character in Don echoes everything a mediocre Engineering student goes through. Interestingly, Cibi could turn a formula film into utterly non-formulaic. At least, this was the impression I got. Cibi aims not for 'fun'—but also intends to entertain a mass audience, and simultaneously empower them—with a message. With some other director, the script of Don would have become preachy!

The first half of Don breezes effortlessly between SJ Suryah and Sivakarthikeyan, including a terrific confrontational interval block.

Not only does the film bank on a solid plot, but also take us along on a journey, which stretches to probably a decade or more from Chakravarthi's life, (beginning from his days in an engineering college; cut to school, then to his life, as a married man.) Sivakarthikeyan as a free-spirited student dish out a delightful performance. Finally, his character understands that "it’s not okay to pursue a girl once she says no!" What a relief is to see him say such words!

Priyanka Mohan makes her presence felt with whatever she was offered. Despite the risk of being overshadowed by Sivakarthikeyan, her co-star, she leaves an indelible impression with a mature performance. Together, they set off such sparks—that is the strength of their chemistry—which makes up for the inconsistencies.

Every actor, even in minor roles, including the mother character of Sivakarthikeyan, deserves applause for etching to perfection a creator’s vision. However, three persons deserve nothing short of a standing ovation—Sivakarthikeyan, Samuthirakani and SJ Suryah—in that order.

I wouldn't say Don wasn't predictable as I thought it would be. But, Cibi has a knack for keeping the audience engaged, even when telling stories that we have seen many times before on-screen. The film takes on severely-emotional tangents towards the end, but Cibi gets the metre right—in the packaging and the pacing. This is commendable for a director's first attempt in a feature film. Don's second half, in particular, though filled with convenient writing, has some genuine lump-in-your-throat moments.

I am not saying Don isn't a flawed film, but they are forgivable. Sivakarthikeyan's Namma Veettu Pillai, for instance, is the story of a brother and sister. In Don, we get the one of a son and a father. The film works largely because of the sheer good-naturedness of its characters. The performance, I felt, that stood out in Don was SJ Suryah (who plays Boominathan, a professor.) He’s the bad guy here, but he doesn’t overplay the badness.

Sivakarthikeyan seems to have improved his dancing skills quite well—but the songs, composed by Anirudh Ravichander, were a tad disappointing. Every number 'sounded' the same, and no tune gets registered in your head.

Verdict: All in all, an enjoyable film—Don keeps the audience glued till the end! This Sivakarthikeyan-starrer is definitely worth a trip to the theatres. By the way, keep some tissues by your side! I bet you’d use them during the climax portions.