Captain Miller is yet another superbly executed triumph-of-the-underdog story from director Arun Matheswaran — like his previous films Rocky and Saani Kaayidham — and a winning addition to Dhanush’s repertoire of character-oriented roles. Though set in the pre-Independence era, the film casts light on issues of caste discrimination and oppression that are as relevant today as they were back then.

The film revolves around Easan (Dhanush) and his fellow villagers sometime in the 1930s who become victims of oppression under a local king acting on British orders. Tragedy strikes when Easan’s brother Sengolan (Shiva Rajkumar), a freedom fighter, visits the village for a festival. In a bid to capture Sengolan, the British forces descend on the village, leading to the death of their mother. Thinking that serving the British will earn him respect, Easan joins the British camp and adopts the name ‘Miller’ but soon realises his mistake.

Miller’s first task involves gunning down a group of nonviolent freedom fighters, an experience that shakes him to the core. Heartbroken, he returns to his village only to be branded a traitor. Learning that his brother Sengolan was among the freedom fighters who died because of him, Miller leaves home without any plan. After months of roaming aimlessly in the hinterlands, he runs into a dacoit gang led by Kannaya (Elango Kumaravel). It is then that Miller takes a stand against oppression and discovers the purpose of his life.

Dhanush delivers a knockout performance as Miller, wearing three distinct looks that also mark the gradual change in his personality. Dhanush and Shiva Rajkumar have an electrifying chemistry as two brothers divided by their leanings towards the oppressor and the oppressed. The ensemble cast including Sudeep Kishan, Priyanka Mohan, Aditi Balan, John Kokken, Edward Sonnenblick and Vinoth Kishan impress in their small-yet-effective acts.

The non-linear narrative style of the film, broken into six chapters, adds a unique touch, with the hint of a sequel in the sixth chapter. The pace may feel a tad slow given the genre but Captain Miller becomes a riveting action film before long. The synergy between the background score — by A.R. Rahman’s nephew GV Prakash Kumar — and Siddhartha Nuni’s cinematography creates a cinematic atmosphere reminiscent of Hollywood westerns.