Being a huge buff for a good revenge drama, with interesting action sequences, frankly, I didn’t have much hope for DC The Bloody Valentine. However, the movie managed to impress me, especially because the action sequences were paired beautifully with Anirudh Ravichander’s music. Directed by Arun Matheswaran, the movie marks the acting debut of filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj. It also stars Wamiqa Gabbi, Sanjana Krishnamoorthy, and Avinash Raghudevan in important roles.
Ratings: 3/5 Stars
DC The Bloody Valentine Runtime & Plot
With a runtime of 142 minutes, i.e., two hours and 22 minutes, the movie is set during 2011, in states across Tamil Nadu. Loosely adapted from the novel Devdas, the movie centres around Das (Kanagaraj), who is a part of a gang distributing weaponry they stole from police vehicles. Having spent his early youth in prison, avenging his mother’s murder, he is shown as a messiah of the poor and someone who would go to any lengths for his loved ones.
After an altercation with the authorities, while on the run with his gang mates, he starts getting closer to Parvathy (Krishnamoorthy), a singer at a hideout hotel they are staying at. However, after their hideout location is leaked to the authorities, he and his gangmates try to escape. Wanting to say goodbye to her, he rushes up to her room; however, the authorities find her and kill her.
He escapes from the authorities after being held captive for a few months, with rage filled inside him. Trying to avenge Parvathy’s death, he goes to a brothel to kill the man who leaked their hideout information to the police. There he meets Chandra (Gabbi), a sex worker being held captive since her childhood, who has been subjected to rape. From then on, the story follows Das, Chandra, along with his gangmates, being on the run, while fighting authorities who try to capture them. What happens next forms the crux of the story.
DC The Bloody Valentine Pros
Anirudh Ravichander’s music is hands down one of the best things the movie has to offer! And believe me, because I’m writing this review as “Raga Of Revenge” blares in my headphones on repeat. The songs and background score pair very beautifully with Das’ story, especially the action sequences. It was one of the reasons why I was so hooked to the movie, anticipating what would happen next.
While the plot of the movie is quite simple, the rugged performances by each and every cast member have made it that much more special. From Sanjana’s portrayal of the innocent Parvathy, who has lost hope in life, to Wamiqa’s mischievous and bold Chandra, who, despite having faced a hard life, wants to live and experience life. The makers never victimise her. Rather than focusing on her sufferings, they showcase how she has turned it into her strength.
Frankly speaking, watching Lokesh headlining such a project, no one would be able to tell this is his first acting project. Having directed blockbuster films like Master, Coolie, Kaithi, Leo, Vikram, and many others, he truly knows his craft and how to bring out a massy, classy, rugged hero who keeps audiences engaged in the plot from the beginning.
DC The Bloody Valentine Cons
Having watched the Hindi-dubbed version of the Tamil film, I found the dialogues didn’t leave a lasting impression. There was not one dialogue that stood out.
Written by Arun Matheswaran, Arun Ranjan, and Franklin Jacob, the movie feels a little bit dragged in the first half as it takes time building up the story. Even the action sequences bordered on being gory.
DC The Bloody Valentine Final Verdict
All in all, the movie is an amazing watch. If you love watching action films, this one might just be the one you need to storm the theatres for.