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.

While the movie is good technically, its content is just average.

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.

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…

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.

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.

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.

If you really want to watch I, go to theaters just for Vikram’s performance and Amy’s looks.

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!