The Times of India, TNN, Apr 4, 2024, 11.22 AM ISTCritic's Rating: 1.5Aalakaalam Movie Synopsis: Aalakaalam follows the story of Jai, a bright college student, his strong-willed mother, and his supportive girlfriend Tamizh. Their lives take a tragic turn when Jai, coerced by his fellow students, descends into alcoholism.
Aalakaalam Movie Review: The film explores the devastating impact of addiction on the lives of these three individuals. The film’s pacing is sluggish, with a runtime of 136 minutes that feels unnecessarily stretched. The depiction of Jai’s transformation into a full-blown alcoholic lacks realism, with scenes showing him gulping down hard liquor as if it were water, straining credibility.
Written and directed by Jaya Krishnamoorthy, who also plays the lead role, the narrative misses opportunities to delve deeper into the societal factors that contribute to addiction, instead relying on overdramatized misfortune. Jai’s reluctance to seek help from his loved ones, despite his supposed sincerity and discipline, further reduces its influence.
Jaya Krishnamoorthy’s performance is hindered by overacting, making it challenging to fully invest in his character’s journey. Chandini Tamilarasan as his wife is good and does a neat job. Veteran actress Eswari Rao portrays the usual rural, doting mom. Others, such as the villainous Rajesh and his gang, are one-dimensional and forgettable.
NR Raghunanthan’s music is passable. ‘Aalakaalam’ means ‘deadly poison’, and instead of offering commentary on the toxins that plague our society, it narrows its scope to a single man’s descent into alcoholism, leaving the audience dissatisfied.
Written by: Abhinav Subramanian