Thani Oruvan isn’t all that it could have been. If you’ve wondered why we don’t make thrillers like the Bond films and the Mission: Impossible films, the reason is right here. In those films, a few minutes are devoted to detailing who the target is, what the mission is, and then we’re up and running. But Tamil films keep trying to transcend the basic thriller. They want to deliver enriching messages. The too-good-to-be-true hero wants to preach — he spouts four lines when he only needs one. All this becomes a lot of extra baggage. The film slows down from time to time.

Thani Oruvan is one of those rare Good vs Evil films that manages to toe the line between Commercial and Masala exceedingly well. Even if the taut script and the impactful dialogues do not impress you, it is guaranteed that Aravind Swamy’s superlative performance will bowl you over!