Starring: Vijay Antony, Ritika Singh, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Radhika Sarathkumar, Murali Sharma, Siddhartha Shankar, John Vijay, Kishore Kumar, Arjun Chidambaram
Director: Balaji K Kumar
Producers: Infiniti Film Ventures & Lotus Pictures
Music Director: Girishh Gopalakrishnan
Hatya, starring Vijay Antony, Ritika Singh, and Meenakshi Chaudhary, directed by Balaji K Kumar, is a crime thriller that hit the screens recently. Let’s take a closer look at how the movie fares.
Story:
The film revolves around the murder of a professional model named Laila (Meenakshi Chaudhary) in her own locked flat. IPS officer Sandhya Mohan Raj (Ritika Singh) takes charge of the case and seeks the assistance of private detective Vinayak (Vijay Antony) to solve the mysterious crime. Initially reluctant, Vinayak eventually collaborates with Sandhya in unraveling the murder mystery.
The suspects include Babloo (Kishore Kumar), who poses as Laila’s manager, Satish (Siddhartha Shankar), Laila’s boyfriend, Arjun Vasudevan (Arjun Chidambaram), a renowned photographer, and Aditya Kowshik (Murali Sharma), an agent working at a modeling company. The movie revolves around discovering who the real killer is.
Plus Points:
Hatya stands out with its exceptional production design, which creates a unique world for this investigative thriller. The cinematography adds freshness and intrigue to the crime thriller, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
Vijay Antony delivers a compelling performance as the private detective. His portrayal is subtle and natural, and he skillfully portrays his character’s nuances. The way he delivers dialogues and reveals the final twist is remarkable.
The detailed investigation portions in both halves of the movie, especially when suspicion falls on all four suspects, keep the audience engaged. Meenakshi Chaudhary’s performance is commendable, and her character adds a poetic touch to the narrative. Ritika Singh provides solid support to Vijay Antony.
Minus Points:
One of the major drawbacks of Hatya is its slow pacing, which may become tedious for some viewers. While the initial character introductions are necessary, the film could have benefited from tighter editing to maintain a better pace throughout.
The second half takes a significant diversion from the main story, focusing on unnecessary family scenes related to Vijay Antony’s character. Although an attempt to infuse family emotions was made, it seems out of place within the plot.
Murali Sharma and Radhika Sarathkumar have limited roles in the film, and their talents feel underutilized. Additionally, the use of a different dubbing artist for Murali Sharma’s character may prove a bit distracting for audiences.
Verdict:
Overall, Hatya relies heavily on Vijay Antony’s compelling performance, making it a slow-paced crime thriller. While some investigative portions are handled well, the movie suffers from its leisurely narration. The diversion into family emotions during the second half further affects the plot’s coherence. As a result, Hatya ends up being an average watch for this weekend.