It needs to be said that director Sarjun K.M., has strictly followed the template of a horror movie in Airaa. The opening shots of a grey and gloomy bungalow manage to bring in ghostly vibes before the title of the movie is revealed. Airaa, however, keeps jump scares to a minimum, and sets its focus on the emotional background story that dominates the second half.
Sarjun, best known for his much-appreciated short films Lakshmi and Maa—stories focusing on the lives of women—has presented yet another powerful woman through his lead Yamuna (Nayanthara). Yamuna’s statement against stereotyping a modern woman's professional life seems like an apt response to the recent sexist comment made by a senior actor against Nayanthara.
Nayanthara's portrayal of emotions, however, seems repetitive after a point. Bhavani, played by Nayanthara again, showcases revenge, deep emotions and longingness to live with her loved ones. Nayanthara has adapted a very different body language to slip into the skin of Bhavani, which is in contrast to the recent characters done by the lady superstar. Amuthan, aptly played by Kalaiyarasan, is a well-maintained suspense until the intermission. Yamuna and Amuthan's journey to unravel the strange ongoings is neatly synced, and manages to keep the audience on the edge in anticipation. Kulappulli Leela needs special mention for her performance in the film. Yogi Babu's attempts at comedy fall flat most of the time.
Airaa also focuses on social stigma and ingrained superstitions. To be more precise, it talks about the Indian myth ‘Porantha neram seriyilla’, which roughly translates into being born at a bad time, hence bringing bad luck. The film concentrates more on the emotional part of the issue, not doing justice to its genre. The story is told through flashbacks, effectively conveyed through black and white shots. Certain events are unjustified till the climax, which makes us question the logic. The story misses out on logic multiple times.
The pulsating background score by K.S. Sundaramurthy feels out of sync with the visuals in some scenes. Sudarshan Srinivasan has given beautiful aerial shots detailing the major landscapes used in the movie. Watching butterflies and a few ghost appearances on the big screen will literally make you cringe, courtesy poorly executed CGI.
Airaa does not live up to the expectations of a horror flick.
Film: Airaa
Director: Sarjun K.M.
Cast: Nayanthara, Kalaiyarasan
Rating: 2/5