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Kanguva backdrop

Kanguva

14 November 2024Tamil2h 34m
out of 10
Mixedlukewarm or divided
Monk Score · 12 scored reviews · 2 not rated

Suriya shines, but weak writing leaves Kanguva's ambition unfulfilled.

Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: Suriya's screen presence and performance
  • Criticised: Weak writing and poor execution

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Critic consensus

What 14 critics are saying

Critical consensus on Kanguva is largely mixed-to-negative, with most reviewers awarding the film a middling score. Suriya's screen presence and performance are the most consistently highlighted positives, alongside praise for the film's visuals and VFX. However, critics broadly agree that weak, incoherent writing and poor execution undermine the film's ambitious scope, with several noting a lack of narrative focus and insufficient character investment.

How the 12 scores spread

2 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 14 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (14)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Firstpost

    Film review ·

    Kanguva is not a great film but a decent entertainer with Suriya's impeccable performance being the biggest highlight
  2. TimesNowNews

    Film review ·

    Kanguva is a gripping affair with top-notch VFX and high-action war scenes, though the execution falls short of its ambitious premise.
  3. India Today

    Film review ·

    ... has great potential. However, sub-par execution and incoherent writing bog down the film.
  4. News18

    Film review ·

    Kanguva is anything but a lazy film as Siva and cinematographer Vetri Palanisamy have given their all. Yet, underwhelming writing fails to invoke any investment in the characters and their stakes. The core problem of Kanguva is it fails to have a single focus.
  5. Ottplay

    Film review

    One cannot help but feel a pang of sadness for Suriya who gives it his all, only for it to be floundered on a middling story that's inspired from a
  6. PinkVilla

    Film review ·

    Kanguva is surely one of the weakest movies to come out of Suriya's filmography over the years. The predictable and over-the-top screenplay which was coupled with the poor execution makes the film hard to watch.
  7. The Week

    Film review ·

    Shoddy CGI, lacklustre editing, and amateurish dialogue do no justice to the movie, where you see Suriya return to his usual form.
  8. Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    Kanguva showcases impressive technical aspects but struggles with excessive violence and inconsistent writing. Suriya's superb performance is let down by weak writing and narration.
  9. The Hindu

    Film review ·

    Kanguva becomes a textbook example of how a riveting tale can get lost in translation due to shoddy making. While Suriya stands tall with his dominating screen presence, the film banks too much on its period portions and offers very little to enjoy at the present.

Credits

Cast & crew

Cast

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