After a successful outing with 'Idharakudhaane Aasaipattai Balakumara', director Gokul and Makkal Selvan Vijay Sethupathi reunite for the dark comedy action film, Junga. It also stars Sayyeshaa, Madonna Sebastian, Yogi Babu and Suresh Menon appearing in other lead roles.
Grandson of Don Linga and Son of Don Ranga, Don Junga (Vijay Sethupathi) sets out to retrieve their family's most prized possession, from a man who cheats them to take control of it. But the problem is, he is very stringent in terms of budget. The crux of the film lies in whether Junga is able to manage his expenses and finish his work successfully.
With regards to the handling of the plot, Gokul takes a long time to establish the characters who will be driving the story forward. The portions involving Madonna Sebastian may seem to be laggy as they don't have a significant impact on the story. The reasoning behind the characterization of the quirky protagonist is well defined. There are dull moments in the lengthy screenplay, and that is where Yogi Babu acts as a saving grace. His one-liners work in favor of the genre and get the theater bursting into laughter. Towards the end of the first half, the story moves to Paris and from thereon, you are required to ignore the logic loopholes to enjoy the dark comedy.
While trying to be quirky and unconventional, Gokul eventually falls into the regular commercial template. This point is strongly supported by a couple of songs that find their place in a screenplay that may not require them. An advantage is that he has designed almost every character with a comical shade, which makes it easier for them to fit into the dark humor genre.
No matter how 'Kanjan' his character may be, Vijay Sethupathi has been the complete opposite as a producer. The investment seems to be of good standards and that reflects in the technical and visual output of the product. The cinematographer Dudley has done a commendable job, especially in the action sequences that take place in Paris. VJ Sabu Joseph's edit is precise in terms of cuts, but the length could be a debatable factor as a section of the audience might feel that the second half is a tad bit longer and draggy. Siddharth Vipin's songs are passable, and the background score is functional.
Sayyeshaa is cute, and her character holds primary importance throughout the second half. Yet again, she proves her prowess in dance and her introductory dance sequence requires a special mention. Saranya Ponvannan as Don Amma has played an exciting character as a cribbing mother, contrary to what we have seen her all these years. However, the show-stealer is Don Paati. Junga's grandmother has a really interesting character, and she is full of energy! Finally, Vijay Sethupathi's screen presence is a major positive, though one might feel that his style is getting repetitive in comparison to the recent past. However, he is convincing as the budget don.
All inclusive, Junga is a watchable entertainer that could work better for those who enjoy Vijay Sethupathi's unorthodox Orthodox-ness!