Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum

Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum is a gripping 2013 Tamil neo-noir crime thriller film written, directed, and co-starred by Mysskin. Alongside him, it also stars actors like Sri and Adithya Menon in primary roles. Every frame of this film is filled with suspense, drama, and vast emotional depth. It pulls the audience into the gritty world the characters inhabit, leaving them on the edge of their seats as the complex story unfolds.

The movie begins with a dangerous scenario, a wounded man, Chandru, played by director Mysskin, is lying on the streets of Chennai at night. He's desperate and on the run and needs help quickly. He's found by a medical college student, Sri, who, despite not knowing the mysterious man's background, decides to help him. From there, the narrative plunges into a series of unexpected twists and turns.

The portrayal of Sri as an innocent, kind-hearted man who finds himself entwined in a web of chaos, crime, and evil is commendable. Equally compelling is Mysskin's portrayal of the mysterious, complex antagonist, Chandru, on the run from his past. Their intense, intertwined journey forms the backbone of the film. Adithya Menon, who plays a highly efficient police officer, delivers an equally brilliant performance with his no-nonsense approach to the escalating criminal situation.

One of the most impressive aspects of Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum is its raw and realistic storytelling. The film eschews commercial elements and stays true to its genre, focusing on narrating a gripping story without glossed-over romantic interludes or high-octane fights. Attention to detail, from the grimy city streets to the characters' body language and expressions, helps in maintaining the grim realism that's critical to the storyline.

The director's choice of not using songs in the film enhances the mood, allowing the audience to focus more on the story. Instead, the background music, composed by Ilaiyaraaja, acts as a potent character in itself. The haunting, melancholic score perfectly complements the emotional depths the movie reaches and serves to heighten the underlying tension, making the viewers' experience exceptionally immersive.

Mysskin masterfully uses sound and silence to build suspense, and the cinematography deserves special mention. Balaji V Rangha’s black-and-white visual rendering of the bleak, desolate world in which the characters maneuver adds another layer of depth to the story. The focussed shots on the eyes of the characters, the chase scenes, and the tranquil absolute darkness in the night scenes contribute enormously to the film's visceral, captivating ambiance.

The dialogues are terse and effective, puppeteering the non-linear storyline skillfully along as each character's history and motives are unveiled. Each character’s journey is meticulously outlined, showcasing every human emotion from loyalty, betrayal, friendship, compassion to the desperate struggle for survival.

Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum takes us on an emotional roller coaster ride and plays around expertly with the underlying themes of darkness and light, redemption, morality, the randomness of life, and the instinctual urge of survival. The film is intense and gritty, with a heart-thumping story. Mysskin does justice to the crime thriller genre, framing each scene with precision and true to his fashion, leaves no stone unturned in etching a memorable narrative in the viewer’s mind.

Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum demands your attention and holds onto it fiercely. It's one of those uncompromising films that thrive in the terrain of moral ambiguity. Taking a break from the usual commercial tropes, it challenges its viewers with a complicated, intricately knit story of survival, leaving them to figure out the rights and wrongs, the truths and the lies, reinforcing the message that not everything is as it seems. Hence, the film is a must-watch for every film enthusiast who enjoys thought-provoking cinema.

Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum is a tour de force of crime noir that underscores why Mysskin is considered one of Tamil cinema's contemporary auteurs. This film isn't merely watched; it is experienced, as it takes the viewers on a journey through a side of humanity that is at once thrilling and terrifying. Every element of this film, from the stunning performances to the powerful narrative, is directed towards a single goal - to leave an indelible mark on the viewer and redefine their perceptions of the crime thriller genre.