
Recent Reviews by Janani K
India Today

Janani K has been an entertainment journalist for the past 10 years. Her primary focus is on South Indian cinema. However, she manages to catch up on popular movies in other languages as well. She started her career with Galatta magazine, while simultaneously pursuing M.Sc Electonic Media at Anna University. She joined Silverscreen as a full-time journalist after her post-graduation and has climbed the ladder slowly and steadily. Her tenure as a Kollywood correspondent at Deccan Chronicle helped her gain contacts. Not just film news, she also dabbled across different beats contributing to Culture and City pages in Chennai Chronicle. In 2017, she joined India Today as a Writer. Having spent seven years in the media company, she is now a Senior Assistant Editor managing the desk (including Bollywood), while managing the Regional Cinema section. Training new joiners and overseeing the day-to-day activities of the Desk is her everyday routine. Apart from reviewing, she also interviews film talents and writes opinion pieces on movies.
Films reviewed on this Page
Suzhal: The Vortex S02
Dragon
Nilavukku Enmel Ennadi Kobam
Painkili
Kadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai
Vidaamuyarchi
Ponman
Kudumbasthan
Dominic and the Ladies' Purse
Nesippaya
Suzhal: The Vortex S02

This crime-drama is trapped in the vortex of cliches
Created by Pushkar and Gayatri, Suzhal - The Vortex 2 is a crime drama that suffers from overstuffed ideas. The show has interesting ideas, but it gets lost in the overstretched screenplay.
Director duo Pushkar and Gayatri were pioneers in making the Tamil web series space a flourishing one. Cashing in on the success of Suzhal - The Vortex, the makers created a sequel to it, which is currently streaming on Prime Video. Suzhal - The Vortex is one of the most celebrated web shows in Tamil. Has Suzhal - The Vortex 2 lived up to expectations? Let’s find out! Nandhini (Aishwarya Rajesh) is sentenced to jail after killing her abuser, while SI Chakravarthi aka Sakkarai (Karthir) is helping her from outside. He is also closely working with activist and lawyer Chellappa (Lal) to fight in court for Nandhini. However, Chellappa is found dead at his cottage with a gunshot to his forehead.
All 4 reviews of Suzhal: The Vortex S02 here
Dragon

Pradeep Ranganathan's coming-of-age film takes flight post-interval
Director Ashwath Marimuthu's Dragon, starring Pradeep Ranganathan, Anupama Parameswaran and Mysskin, is a fun film that stresses the importance of education and second chances in life. The film hits the right notes, mostly.
What happens when a mistake you commit uproots the life of an already struggling person? How do you overcome this? Does it make you realise your mistake or does it push you into the depths of depression? Director Ashwath Marimuthu’s ‘Dragon’ is a film that provides definite answers to these questions. D Ragavan (Pradeep Ranganathan), a archetypal ‘good boy’, is a gold medallist in school. He confesses his love to a girl after he gets awarded the gold medal. However, she rejects him, stating that she sometimes prefers ‘bad boys’, who are unruly and roam around the school with gethu (swag). Cut to his college days, D Ragavan becomes Dragon because of the rejection and has 48 standing arrears. What he earned in college was the love of Keerthi (Anupama Parameswaran).
All 4 reviews of Dragon here
Nilavukku Enmel Ennadi Kobam

Dhanush's moon-aimed mission is half successful
Directed by Dhanush, the rom-com starring Pavish, Anikha Surendran and Matthew Thomas, is a fun film about love and friendships. The film has inconsistencies in screenplay, which never lets it rise.
That Dhanush is an extraordinary actor is known to everyone. He also proved his mettle as a director with his debut film, Pa Paandi, and Raayan. His third directorial venture is Nilavuku Enmel Ennadi Kobam aka NEEK, a romantic comedy centred on a bunch of youngsters that generated positive buzz. Will it help Dhanush strike a hat-trick? Let’s find out! Prabhu (Pavish Narayan) is an aspiring chef who is in love with failure. His best friend, Rajesh (Mathew Thomas) has been by his side through ups and downs. Prabhu’s parents (Saranya Ponvannan and Aadukalam Naren) inform him about a potential match and force him to visit the girl’s home with them. With reluctance, he ends up at his school friend Preethi (Priya Prakash Varrier’s home. Prabhu and Preethi decide to date for a week before they can decide on moving forward.
All 4 reviews of Nilavukku Enmel Ennadi Kobam here
Painkili

Great laughs, but story meanders in Sajin Gopu-Ananswara Rajan film
Director Sreejith Babu's Painkili, starring Sajin Gopu and Anaswara Rajan, is a quirky comedy film. While it offers great laughs, the haphazard screenplay is a put-off.
A few minutes into director Sreejith Babu’s ‘Painkili’, you see a petite Sheeba Baby (Anaswara Rajan) jumping off the terrace and eloping from home after being pressured into marriage. But, she is unsuccessful. She gets caught by her father and casually walks into her home as if nothing happened. This opening scene is just enough to tell you that you are in for a quirky ride with Painkili. Painkili is the story of two different individuals. On one hand, we have Suku Sujith Kumar (Sajin Gopu), who posts ‘cringe’ poetry on Facebook. His trip to Coimbatore changes his life, where he had to obtain a fake mental health certificate to prove his innocence. Meanwhile, Sheeba is a happy girl who wants to study. But, her parents insist on getting her married and pressure her to do so at every opportunity.
All 4 reviews of Painkili here
Kadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai

A sensible, emotional film on same-sex love
Director Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan's film on same-sex love is sensible, sensitive and deeply moving. The film features Lijomol, Anusha Prabhu, Rohini, and Vineeth in lead roles.
Indian films about same-sex love are far and few. The ones with the right portrayal of homosexuals are even fewer. Director Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan’s recent release, Kadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai, is the latest entrant to the list of films on queer love. Starring Lijomol, Anusha Prabhu, Vineeth and Rohini, the film is a deeply moving and heartwarming film about love that goes beyond boundaries, societal acceptance, prejudice and personal traumas. Kadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai begins with Sam (Lijomol Jose) having a heartfelt chat with her mother Lakshmi (Rohini Molleti). She confesses that she is in love and Lakshmi suggests she take the ‘man’ home for lunch on a Sunday. Lakshmi conveys the news to her estranged husband Devararaj (Vineeth) and asks him to join them.
All 4 reviews of Kadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai here
Vidaamuyarchi

Ajith Kumar's stylish actioner doesn't rely on star-power
Director Magizh Thirumeni's Vidaamuyarchi, starring Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja and Trisha, is a technically sound action thriller. The film stays true to the genre without relying on star power.
Ajith Kumar, the man of many talents, made the country proud with his Dubai racing win. But on the film front, his fans have been patiently waiting for over two years, asking for update after update. Finally, February 6 is the day when Vidaamuyarchi hits theatres across the globe. As Magizh Thirumeni promised, Vidaamuyarchi is not the usual run-of-the-mill commercial action entertainer but a full-blown thriller that does justice to the genre. As the title card rolls with Vidaamuyarchi - Perseverance Triumphs on the big screen, you can’t help but ask if perseverance has truly triumphed this time.
All 6 reviews of Vidaamuyarchi here
Ponman

Basil Joseph, Sajin Gopu breathe life as underdogs in brilliant drama
Director Jothish Shankar's Ponman, starring Basil Joseph, Sajin Gopu and Lijomol Jose, is a simple yet effective story of underdogs. The proceedings keep you on the edge of the seats.
Actor and director Basil Joseph has been on a winning streak. He opened his account in 2025 with a crime thriller, Pravinkoodu Shappu, and followed it with Ponman, which is a family drama with a tinge of suspense. Ponman is adapted from GR Indugopan’s novel titled Nalanchu Cheruppakar. And, it brilliantly captures the struggles of underdogs and how their lives are beyond materialistic things. Gold dealer PP Ajesh (Basil Joseph) lends 25 sovereigns of gold to Bruno’s family for his sister Setti Graf’s (Lijomole Jose) wedding. He signs an agreement with Steffi’s family that he will take the money that is gifted to the bride. If the money didn’t add up to the gold he lent, he would recover the jewellery to compensate. Bruno’s impulsive behaviour leads to fewer people coming to Steffi’s wedding and, eventually, they fall short of money.
All 3 reviews of Ponman here
Kudumbasthan

A brilliant comedy with lessons on relationships, money
Directed by Rajeshwar Kalisamy, starring Manikandan, Guru Somasundaram and Saanve Megghana, Kudumbasthan is a delightful family drama with heaps of relatable comedy. It also gives you lessons on family relationships and money.
Actor Manikandan is steadily becoming a bankable actor in Tamil cinema. His last two films, Good Night and Lover, turned out to be crowd favourites. In both films, he played a relatable ‘guy next door’ dealing with financial and emotional problems. Director Rajeshwar Kalisamy’s Kudmbasthan is yet another film that features Manikandan in the role of a breadwinner in a lower-middle-class family man. Naveen (Manikandan) and Vennila (Saanve Megghana) get married at a registrar’s office, with their families cursing them for not getting their permission. After a brief hiatus, Naveen and Vennila live with his parents. Vennila, an IAS aspirant, is a cool-headed, understanding and pregnant wife, who supports Naveen and turns a blind eye to the insults of her mother-in-law.
All 3 reviews of Kudumbasthan here
Dominic and the Ladies' Purse

Mammootty, Gautham Menon film is engaging in parts
Director Gautham Menon's Dominic and The Ladies' Purse, starring Mammootty, Gokul Suresh and Lena, is a slow-burning investigative drama. The film has great potential but doesn't translate fully.
Malayalam superstar Mammootty and his film choices in the last couple of years have been incredible and eye-opening. From doing a Kaathal to Bramayugam, the actor is all in for experimental films and giving his all to every choice he makes. And when he chooses to join hands with Tamil filmmaker Gautham Menon, it certainly excites every film buff who has followed their career paths. Has Dominic and The Ladies’ Purse lived up to expectations? Let’s find out! Dominic (Mammootty) is a former police officer who now runs a detective agency. He is a laid-back guy with a quirky sense of humour. As he undergoes some financial issues, his landlady gives him a task to find the owner of a purse she found. In return, she will waive the rent. Dominic and his aide (Gokul Suresh) go on a mission to find the owner of the purse.
All 6 reviews of Dominic and the Ladies' Purse here
Nesippaya

Aditi Shankar, Akash Murali's suspense drama lacks thrill
Director Vishnuvardhan's Nesippaya, starring Aditi Shankar and Akash Murali, is a suspense drama. The film is devoid of thrill and has very little going for it.
Director Vishnuvardhan returns to Tamil cinema after a decade. Known for his unique style of storytelling, the Shershaah director picked a suspense drama with Nesippaya and introduces legendary actor Murali (late) and actor Atharvaa’s younger brother, Akash Murali, to Tamil cinema. Alongside Akash Murali is director Shankar’s daughter Aditi, who is regarded as one of the most promising talents in recent times. Diya Ramalingam (Aditi Shankar) is accused of murder and is lodged in a prison in Portugal. Indrani (Kalki Koechlin) is representing her and is trying to secure a re-investigation despite pressure from influential people. Meanwhile, Diya’s ex-boyfriend Arjun (Akash Murali) gets to know of her arrest from the news and heads to Portugal.