suresh kavirayani
sureshkavirayani@gmail.com
Vijay Sethupathi is known for his versatility and powerful performances. His previous film, Maharaja, performed well in both Tamil and Telugu, reinforcing his appeal across language barriers. With his latest outing Ace, directed by Arumuga Kumar, expectations were understandably high. Rukmini Vasanth stars as the female lead. Here’s how the film unfolds.
Story
Bolt Kasi (Vijay Sethupathi) is released from jail after serving time for a petty crime. He heads to Malaysia for a job facilitated by Jnananandam (Yogi Babu) and ends up working at a restaurant run by Kalpana (Divya Pillai). There, he meets and falls in love with Rukmini, aka Rukku (Rukmini Vasanth), a waitress dealing with problems at home due to her stepfather, Raja Dorai (Babloo Prithviraj).
Determined to help her, Kasi enters a poker game to earn quick money. While he initially wins, he ultimately loses to goon Dharma (BS Avinash) and falls into heavy debt. To repay it, Kasi plans to rob a bank. What is Raja Dorai’s connection to Kasi and Rukmini? What are Dharma’s next moves? The rest of the film explores how these threads unravel, leading to a dramatic climax.
Analysis
When a Vijay Sethupathi film hits the screens, audiences expect something fresh or compelling. Unfortunately, Ace turns out to be a major disappointment. Marketed as a crime comedy, the film falters on all fronts — lacking effective comedy, thrilling crime elements, or compelling romance.
The narrative is slow, predictable and lacks surprise. The direction by Arumuga Kumar fails to utilise Sethupathi’s immense acting talent, offering a flat and unengaging protagonist. The chemistry between Vijay Sethupathi and Rukmini Vasanth feels forced and underwhelming.
Although the film was shot in Malaysia and features a few heist sequences, even those moments fail to impress due to poor execution. The poker scenes drag unnecessarily and disrupt the pace. Yogi Babu’s comedy is uncharacteristically ineffective, and the film lacks any real emotional depth.
Despite having strong lead actors, the characters lack development. The story remains stagnant until the climax, which shows some promise but arrives far too late to salvage the experience. Overall, Ace ends up being a missed opportunity.
Performances
Vijay Sethupathi brings a sense of calm sincerity to his role, but the weak characterisation holds him back. Rukmini Vasanth looks elegant on screen but isn’t given much scope. Divya Pillai is convincing in her part. Yogi Babu delivers occasional laughs, though his humour mostly misses the mark. Babloo Prithviraj and BS Avinash are adequate but not memorable.
Technical Aspects
The music by Justin Prabhakaran and Sam CS is forgettable, with uninspired songs and an average background score. The action scenes offer some relief and the visuals of Malaysia, captured well by Karan B Rawat, are technically the film’s only high point.
Verdict
Ace fails to deliver on all fronts. Despite the presence of Vijay Sethupathi, the film suffers from outdated storytelling, weak writing, and poor direction. It’s a letdown for fans and will likely make an early OTT appearance. You can skip this one.
Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Rukmini Vasanth, Yogi Babu, Babloo Prithviraj, BS Avinash, Divya Pillai, and others
Cinematographer: Karan B Rawat
Music Directors: Justin Prabhakaran, Sam CS
Producer: Arumuga Kumar
Writer and Director: Arumuga Kumar
Rating: 2/5
