'Good Bad Ugly' Review: Ajith Kumar's Nostalgic Action Entertainer Celebrates Legacy Despite Content
Just like Ajith’s famous dialogue from the action thriller Billa, “En Vazhkai la ovvaru naalum, ovavaru nimishamum, yen ovaru nodiyum, naana sethukinathu da (I sculpted each and every moment in my life),” fanboy director Adhik Ravichandran has chiseled every frame of the film purely to celebrate the legendary star.
And it is noteworthy to mention, “AK is on fire.” The star who has been maintaining stardom for years has offered a vintage treat to the fans, but this time the actor has not established himself as “Thala” but as “AK.” While concentrating on nostalgic references, character development, plot and all other aspects, director Adhik has deeply cemented the star’s image as AK in the audience’s minds.
With just a usual one-line revenge story, the director has immersed the audience to celebrate the star’s 25 years of legendary journey. Even though the film focuses on Ajith’s vibrant screen presence, it also sheds light on other characters in the film like Arjun Dhas, Trisha, Prabhu and the Kollywood debutant Karthikeyaa Dev.
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The film can be called a melodious visual treat; despite the deficiency of strong content, the film was filled with nostalgic songs that will spark a smile on your face. Rather than offering a written context to introduce the characters and their backstory, Adhik has cleverly utilized these vintage melodies to accomplish the mission. Songs like “Thottu thottu pesum, April Maathathil, Otha Ruba, Illami itho, and others will definitely make you vibe with it.
Director Adhik has used the famous characters of actor Ajith like Dheena, Billa, and Don, to establish his new avatar as “Red Dragon.” The nostalgic reference through dialogues, songs and narration makes Ajith’s character so familiar and convincing, only for hardcore Ajith fans. And the racer avatar of the actor will also echo at the back of your head. These transitions were successfully executed through 5 different looks. The costumes designed by Anu Vardhan eased the director’s job of differentiating the characters and their time frames.
Arjun Dhas has utilized his opportunity to establish himself as a mature actor handling complex characters. And the Vaali chewing gum shot of AK brings the twist to the plot, which is quite unexpected.
The cinematography of the film, handled by Abinandhan Ramanujam, was brilliantly executed to differentiate the good, bad and ugly phases of the protagonist. While the warm light resonates with the OG vibe of Ajith’s character, the cool tone pulls you to his real-time transition.
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So, what’s the story? Despite asking this, one should ask, “Where is the story?” Yes, amidst focusing on the actor’s stardom and establishment, director Adhik missed his shot to offer powerful content. At its core, GBU revolves around an OG gangster and his mission to save his son. But does the film even talk about it? You have to decide it by yourself.
So, if you are a fan of AK or the one who wanted to enjoy the flavors of the vintage cinema, don’t hesitate to grab your tickets and watch the action entertainer, Good Bad Ugly. Even though at some point, the plot seems like “old wine in a new bottle,” you can definitely enjoy the theatrical moments, which will resonate with the legacy of actor Ajith Kumar.
But what if you are the one without any knowledge about Ajith’s filmography? Well, you will be forced to do your research to enjoy every shot of the action entertainer, since it is a film tailored to celebrate the star’s legacy and to satisfy his fans.
