‘Boomerang’ review: Atharvaa’s action thriller is not quite thrilling

The film’s story is, in parts, quite unimaginative with underwritten female characters.
‘Boomerang’ review: Atharvaa’s action thriller is not quite thrilling
‘Boomerang’ review: Atharvaa’s action thriller is not quite thrilling
Written by:

Atharvaa’s Boomerang follows a very conventional plot line, is briefly suspenseful and mildly interesting. An action thriller also starring Megha Akash, Indhuja and RJ Balaji, the film’s story comes with a message and a nice punch at the very end that justifies its title.

While the film’s story is, in parts, quite unimaginative, it clings to two medical facts – it is possible to transplant a human face and excessive adrenaline can prove fatal.

The film begins with a young football player (Shiva played by Atharvaa, but with a disfigured face) being rolled into a hospital with severe burn injuries to his face. The rest of his body is untouched, and we learn that two of his other friends involved in the mishap didn’t make it. A news reporter even wonders if the accident was the doing of “evil spirits”. This is all we know and all we will ever get to know about Shiva and his unfortunate freaky tragedy, which is quite disappointing.

Shiva’s only option is to undergo a full facial transplant, a procedure we even get a few gory glimpses of. And it so happens that the hospital has a brain-dead patient, Shakthi (also Atharvaa), who becomes the perfect candidate for the face transplant (no need for blood match, etc., just the family’s approval would do).

The film then jumps right into its story albeit with a few loose ends, logic wise. As soon as Shiva recovers from the surgery, he is trailed by mysterious men who want him killed for reasons unknown. Why he is being followed and what’s the story behind his face donor is told in the rest of the film.

To avoid confusion, Shiva sports a beard to hide the surgery scars and when the flashback rolls, we see Shakthi without a beard.

Megha Akash plays a visual communication student who is scouting for a male lead for her short film. Naturally, she wants Shiva to act in her film and so tries to work her charm, i.e., plead like a school student for extra marks. Megha’s character is more of a filler, an admirer of the hero’s good looks, and adds nothing to the story itself. There’s also a duet in Andaman as a token.

Indhuja plays Shakthi’s colleague who is the only key to Shakthi’s flashback. She makes her appearance only well into the second half of the film. Comedian Sathish plays Shiva’s funny friend who makes terrible jokes in the first half, although the jokes seem to get better after the interval. This could possibly be because he has very little to do in the second half!

RJ Balaji plays Shanmugam, Shakthi’s friend. He gets plenty of 'RJ Balaji style' dialogues, given that he plays an ex-IT employee turned revolutionary and a farming enthusiast. Yes, we hate to break it to you, Boomerang is “dedicated to farmers” (end credits).

You’re probably wondering about the film’s villain. Actor Upen Patel, who made a brief appearance in Shankar’s I, gives the villain a face here. Although not a very imaginative characterisation for a villain, Upen has an ulterior motive that involves duping farmers and crushing their livelihoods.

The film’s music by Radhan blends very well with the story. The stunts in this film, especially Atharva’s bike accident in the first half and the mandatory fight sequence inside the deserted factory towards the end, have been choreographed very well.

The film has an unexpected ending and we quite like the “life is a… (pause, chuckle) boomerang” dialogue that concludes it.

Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither TNM nor any of its reviewers have any sort of business relationship with the film's producers or any other members of its cast and crew.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The News Minute
www.thenewsminute.com