Siren movie review: Does the crime thriller, starring Jayam Ravi and Keerthy Suresh, succeed despite its overly melodramatic approach?
When a film is labeled as a crime thriller, viewers naturally anticipate elements like murder, mystery, suspense, and red herrings. “Siren,” featuring Jayam Ravi, Keerthy Suresh, Yogi Babu, and Anupama Parameswaran, falls into the crime thriller genre. The question arises: did this Antony Bhagyaraj-directed movie deliver on the expectations of murder, mystery, suspense, and red herrings?
Siren movie review
As the film unfolds, it introduces a 14-year-old girl who discloses that her father, Thilagan (Jayam Ravi), is incarcerated, and she shares no bond with him. Thilagan has not interacted with his daughter for the entire 14 years of his imprisonment, where he is serving time for an alleged murder. Despite multiple offers from the parole board to visit his family during this period, Thilagan steadfastly refuses to leave the confines of the jail. However, a sudden surge of desperation to reconnect with his daughter prompts him to take a two-week parole and return home.
Switching to a parallel narrative, we encounter police inspector Nandini (Keerthy Suresh), who faces suspension on allegations of causing someone’s death. Despite her denial and the subsequent post-mortem findings supporting her innocence, Nandini is reinstated in the police force. She is assigned to oversee the station where Thilagan must report daily during his parole.
Simultaneously, police constable Velankanni (Yogi Babu) is given the task of monitoring Thilagan around the clock throughout his parole period. A sudden surge of murders occurs in the town, leading Nandini to suspect Thilagan’s involvement. As the plot unfolds, questions arise: Are both Thilagan and Nandini genuinely innocent of any crimes? What happened to Thilagan’s wife (Anupama Parameswaran)? And what is the hidden truth behind these mysterious murders?
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What works and what does not
Filmmaker Antony Bhagyaraj, credited as the writer and director of this film, endeavors to present a thriller interwoven with two additional themes – the sentiment of a father-daughter relationship and the elements of revenge drama. Interestingly, the director appears intentional in segregating the film into distinct halves, each dedicated to one of these themes. The initial part of the movie predominantly delves into portraying the depth of Thilagan’s affection for his daughter and his earnest desire for her love. As the narrative progresses, the focus shifts in the second half towards the revenge drama, introducing a different dimension to the storyline.
Does it work? The initial half of the film unfolds at a sluggish pace, and despite the attempt to evoke empathy and establish an emotional connection through the father-daughter narrative, the impact falls short. Nandini’s storyline appears somewhat implausible and disconnected, while the antagonists lack noteworthy depth. The latter half exhibits a marginal improvement, but on the whole, the plot seems like a familiar tale in a familiar package, devoid of any innovative elements.
Several scenes appear forced and contrived, included primarily for plot progression, highlighting a need for enhanced storytelling, not just in terms of the overarching narrative but also in the development of characters, to elevate engagement.
In terms of performances, Jayam Ravi takes on the dual role of portraying both a younger and older Thilagan, donning a gray beard and hair for the latter. His portrayal is characterized by subtlety and measured delivery, showcasing a departure from his recent roles. Keerthy Suresh’s character is more somber, with a one-dimensional portrayal as she consistently denies any involvement in killing, maintaining the same expression throughout most of the film. Yogi Babu provides the comedic element, delivering what is expected in his role. The musical score and songs by GV Prakash Kumar are in line with expectations, contributing to the overall cinematic experience.
In summary, Siren disappoints as a crime thriller, leaning too heavily into melodrama and offering a lackluster viewing experience.
Siren Public Review | Video Watch Now