Vikram transforms brilliantly, but the screenplay drags it down.
Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Not streaming in India
Critic consensus
Critical reception for 'I' is mixed, with the majority of reviewers acknowledging it as a visually spectacular, big-screen experience worth watching primarily for Vikram's transformative performance across multiple physical states. Vikram's acting—whether as a bodybuilder, model, or disfigured hunchback—is the most consistently praised element across reviews, with several critics also highlighting the makeup work by WETA and the film's overall technical ambition. The most common criticisms center on an overlong runtime of over three hours and a weak, juvenile, or repetitive screenplay that many felt did not match the scale of the production.
5 not-rated reviews aren't plotted
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 28 critic reviews · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyFrom the papers
Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
There's a lesson in I for makers of masala movies everywhere: Big-budget commercial films don't have to be lazy, mindless enterprises; you can bring big ideas and apply craft. I may be far from perfect, but for the most part it's pretty entertaining stuff.
Top critic
Film review ·
A story this pulpy should have been way more exciting.
Film review ·
Toting up 'I', the visuals dazzle your eyes, Vikram's sterling performance breaks your heart and shivers your soul.
Film review ·
More brilliant than the film is Vikram's multi-personality performance which holds the film together, loopholes and all.Vikramembraces the grotesque as possessively as the glorious.It doesn't matter which language you speak or think in. Just go for I.It speaks the language of cinema.
Film review ·
I is not a great film and you are bound to be disappointed if you go in with huge expectations. But Vikram's I is far from bad film. Watch it as a regular entertainer and the chances are there that you would end up liking it. I is a visual spectacle which should not be missed on big screen. Watch it for Vikram's efforts, Shankar's grandeur and some amazing make up work by WETA.
Film review ·
Watch this film for Vikram's exuberant performance as – a model, a beast, a body builder and a hunchback. You don't want to miss this film!
Film review ·
Made with a humongous budget of Rs 180 crores (worth every penny), 'I' is certainly a big screen experience. Watch it to believe it. And yes, watch it for Vikram, not just for the fabulous actor that he's but also for the fact that he's literally gone out on a limb for this role.
Film review ·
Shankar's I is not to be missed, it should be watched in all its glory on the silver screen. Definitely, a treat for Pongal.
Film review ·
While the waif-like Amy looks mesmerising, Vikram bowls you over with a heart-wrenching performance whether he is handsome or disfigured. Santhanam provides the perfect comic relief. The first fight in a local gymnasium and the BMX bike fight on Chinese rooftops are an adrenaline fix. This is pure escapist fare but will resonate with those who read fairy tales at bedtime.
Film review ·
Ultimately, it's an amalgamation of Masters at play which works to a larger extent because of their huge efforts.
Film review ·
'I' is definitely, a film that touches the pinnacle of technical extravaganza and special thanks to Weta Studios for an incredulous effort. But, a convincing screenplay and inclusion of newfangled rhetoric thinking could have kept it on pars with 'Enthiran'.
Film review ·
As much we enjoy Shankar's manifestation of opulence there are staggering moments in the movie that could have changed its outlook. Ergo, I capitalizes too much on Vikram's energetic performances yet crosses the boundary line in style.
Film review ·
A lot of parts of the story seem juvenile which can't be ignored because the scale is so large and so are the expectations. Full marks to Shankar's vision and Vikram's acting and that's reason enough to watch I.
Film review ·
Shankar's magic may be missing in his latest edition. However, the movie has enough merits to warrant a watch at the theatres.
Film review ·
I is anything but uninventive car-smashing, doppelganger-farting Bollywood fare. Shankar's brand of escapism usually clocks Thalaivaa on a scale of 1 to Tim Burton, but this is an adrenalinfueled and, hopefully, permanent step up for him.
Film review ·
I is definitely not the best of Shankar, but still it is a one-time watch.
Film review ·
I, which is basically targeted at the South Indian film industry, will have to depend heavily on the word-of-mouth in order to do good business in Hindi film circuit. A very special mention to the make-up (Sean Foot and Davina Lamont) and also to the team which has done the film's VFX work. On the whole, go for I only if you are a big fan of extravagant masala films.
Film review ·
While the movie is good technically, its content is just average.
Film review ·
In spite of its exquisite presentation, I is nothing but an ordinary story that could have been presented in a much better manner had it kept its pace up. The film is completely driven by Vikram's performance and it is worth your watch if you are fan of this character actor. If it would have been a little less than three hours, I would have found it much better...
Film review ·
If you really want to watch I, go to theaters just for Vikram's performance and Amy's looks.
Film review ·
The only high point of Shankar's I (in Tamil) is Vikram's enthralling performance, first as a rustic body builder and later as a disfigured hunchback.
Film review ·
Given the lavish budget, I is visually grandiose and that's not a surprise. But the visuals don't make up for the weak script. Even AR Rahman's music doesn't make much of a difference but for remaining mostly soothing and melodic. Returning after a gap of three years, Shankar should've gauged the pulse of the audiences who now prefer short stories over a three-hour film.
Film review ·
There is no doubt that Shankar has got flair and his own style but it is the repetitiveness that gets to you. There are scenes that go on and on till the cows and buffaloes come home and what can be said in five minutes takes more than twice the amount of time.
Film review ·
Director Shankar tries to follow the same path to success that he did with Robot, but fails miserably. Skipping this misfiring magnum opus is the only suitable course of action.
Film review ·
Shankar's latest a complete disaster! 'I' really want to know how a film with such an interesting premise ended up as such a watered-down version. Too bad, really!
Film review ·
Shankar balances a social critique along with technical gimmickry and here the message centres about our obsession with physical perfection and beauty. Vikram's transformation from a man in prime physical shape to a boil-covered hunchback is truly grotesque, as are the rest of the changes in the film. The big bugbear for the film remains its run time of 3 hours and ten minutes. Hopefully, the technical wizardry will be enough to make the audience forgive this lapse …
Film review ·
I is too long, too stupid and too regressive to be entertaining. If you're determined to watch it, make sure you see the Tamil original and not the awkward, Hindi-dubbed version, regardless of whether or not you understand Tamil. It's a little longer than the Hindi, but infinitely more fun, especially if you're with Shankar and/or Vikram fans. The wiser option, however, would be to wait for someone to put I's best moments on YouTube.
Film review ·
I has the merits to entertain. It may have started slow but it will pick up due to positive word of mouth and end up doing fair business in the final tally.
Film review ·
In more than half a decade of Tamil movie industry it has always been observed that the weight of expectations vested on a movie is directly proportional to the disenchantment of the average movie-watching public. But 'I' breaks this trend majestically. 'I' is definitely not the best script among Shankar's films but the average script is lifted by the extraordinary performance of Vikram & impressive technical wizardry.
From our readers
9 ratings · user score 6.1
Firstly Vikram take a Bow. Vikram transforms into macho-man to handsome model to ugly Rumpelstiltskin. It is a simple love cum revenge story with a different treatment. After Enthiren(Robo) Shankar had to keep up to his reputation but fortunately he has not disappointed. I was very skeptical about sitting for 3+ hrs. But the screenplay was good and not boring, that made it for me.. Could have been better. limited songs and BMG of the movie is so good that it sets the mood. Ar. Rehman has done another good job. And U will fall in love with Vikram. Romantic scenes are awh. "I" raises questions like "Is love skin deep" ? we all know the answer. But shankar is otherwise. Shankar movies mostly has a message for society and this too. This is a good treat for Tamil viewers. Just dig on pop corn and enjoy. Direction 6.5/10, vikram 8.5/10,music 7/10, BGM 8/10, screenplay 6.5/10, entertainment 7.5/10. overall 7/10.
In recent times, there has been no other film that has created as much hype as Shankar's "I". For a movie which has been in the making for more than 2 years, the expectations are kinda understandable especially when Shankar is at the helm of things. Over the years, the auspicious occasion of Pongal has played host to many big budget films; but I doubt whether there has been any as grand as "I". So the question is whether it would live upto the gargantuan presumptions??? The films unfolds with a grotesque faced hunchback kidnapping Diya (Amy Jackson), a super model on her wedding. As the hunchback takes the victim to his abode, the audience is provided an insight as to what had subjected him to this horrific state. A year back, he was a hunk by the name of Lingesan (Vikram) who idolized Arnold & whose long hours at the gym earned him the title of "Mr. Tamil Nadu" ; a step closer to his "Mr India" dream. However underneath that bulky frame, he had a heart that fluttered at the very sight of Diya, the numero uno in the modelling world. As fate might have it, Diya seeks the help of Lingesan for a modelling assignment which capitulates him to the top & in the process ruffles quite a few feathers. What subsequently happens is a predictable tale of revenge. Shankar's movies has always been larger than life made at a lavish scale that we are invariably left dumbstruck when we see it on the 70mm screen. The tale is pretty much the same here as well, however his script turns out to be inferior to the ones that he had churned out previously. The script is damn predictable & doesn't offer any sort of twists that would blow your socks off. In addition, I felt that there was an overdosage of comedy which should have been more subtle due to which the so called antagonists seemed more comical than threatening. As to the technical aspects, everything were just "WOW"; right from P.C Sreeram's exquisite visuals for almost all the songs to the mass stunt sequences choreographed by Arasu & Yuen Wing Poo. Hats off to the team from Weat Workshop for their brilliant make-up & prosthetics which played a significant role towards the overall impact. T. Muthuraj also deserves a pat on his back for his praise worthy art direction though I felt Llewyn Antony could have made the film a bit crisper. Last but the least, A.R Rahman's music was top notch as some of the tracks were just splendid with "Mersaalyitten", "Ladio" & "Ennodu Nee Irundhaal" being my personal favourites. What do I say about Vikram??? he is the heart & soul of this movie..words wont suffice the amount of dedication he has shown. He was absolutely marvelous in all the forms that he appeared right from the 85 kg hunk to the 50 kg hunchback & effectively conveys his reactions through his eyes inspite of all those prosthetics. Amy Jackson seemed quite an apt choice for the supermodel & did her best, though the lip sync could have been better. Santhanam provides the comic relief throughout & was in his elements. Suresh Gopi had a meaty role & did justice to it in his own subtle manner. As for the rest, they were average as Upen Patel could have been replaced by someone else while Ojas Ramani & Ramkumar Ganesan's characters had uncanny similarities to real life personalities. Verdict: It's definitely a one time must watch solely for Vikram's dedication & that too in the big screen, to appreciate the hard work that the whole team has vested into this movie. So does it live upto expectations??? well the script is definitely a let down as it's damn predictable but it has all the makings of a blockbuster. In short, watch it without much expectations & you would enjoy it!!! Rating: 3.5/5 (but for Vikram: 5/5, even adukkum mele is justified) Regards...Ben
story is excellent ,screenplay and direction bad,lag scenes are more
Credits
VikramLingesan
Amy JacksonDiya
Suresh Gopia Doctor
Upen PatelJohn
Ramkumar Ganesan
N. Santhanam
Srinivasan
Mohan Kapoor
S. Shankar
Shankar
A. R. Rahman
P. C. Sreeram
AnthonyHindi films like I
Zokkomon
2011
Adipurush
2023
Nayyi Navelli
2026
Fan
2016
Om Shanti Om
2007
Golmaal Again
2017
Pathaan
2023
Ra.One
2011
Jagga Jasoos
2017
War
2019
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
