STAR Movie Review

Kavin, the talented actor, consistently showcases his skills in portraying both adorable expressions and serious situations. In ‘Star’, he excels in these aspects. However, director Elan attempts to portray him as the ultimate romantic heartthrob, with girls swooning over his cuteness. Unfortunately, this portrayal falls short, as Kavin possesses much more potential beyond this image. Another noteworthy performance comes from director Lal, whose character is inspired by Elan’s own father. The father-son moments are deeply touching. However, Elan falters when he tries to incorporate commercial elements of romance. The first half of the film progresses flawlessly, but the second half becomes burdened with clichés, faintly reminiscent of ‘Vaaranam Aayiram’ and ‘Mayakkam Enna’. Preity Mukundan delivers a commendable performance in her role, and Aaditi Pohankar is also good, although her character falls into the typical Tamil cinematic trope of a girl who falls for the hero.

There are several instances where Elan could have earned extra points. For example, the characters Kavin encounters during the montage song (a delightful surprise for Yuvan fans with the reprisal of ‘Orey Naalil’ from ‘Pudhupettai’). If Elan had managed to showcase the emotions and values imparted by these characters, which shape and mold Kavin as both a person and an actor, it would have added more depth to the narrative. Unfortunately, he falls short in this aspect.

Yuvan Shankar Raja’s soulful contribution to the film is evident in the captivating background score, demonstrating his complete dedication to the project.

Overall, ‘STAR’ is a film adorned with emotions, and despite its minor flaws, this coming-of-age movie manages to overshadow them with its fantastic performances.