Thalapathy Vijay makes a grand entry into the Lokesh Kanagaraj Cinematic Universe (LCU) with the highly-anticipated film, Leo. Building on the director’s multi-starrer blockbusters, Kaithi and Vikram, this latest cinematic offering features Vijay in the role of a contented family man concealing a shadowy past. When his loved ones are in danger, he unleashes his inner protector self, becoming an unstoppable force.
The story introduces us to Parthiban (Thalapathy Vijay), who now runs a cafe in Theog, Himachal Pradesh, with his wife Sathya (Trisha Krishnan) and children (a girl and a boy). Parthiban is not just a family man but also an animal rescuer, which is showcased in an exhilarating sequence involving a hyena and some school kids. This sets the tone for the film.
Parthiban’s idyllic life is shattered when some gangsters enter his cafe, putting his family in danger. The ensuing cat-and-mouse chase unleashes Parthiban’s badass side. Meanwhile, Anthony Das (Sanjay Dutt) and Harold (Arjun Sarja), two brothers involved in illegal drug trade, target Parthiban’s family believing him to be Leo Das, Anthony’s son presumed dead over 20 years ago. Are Leo and Parthiban the same person? You’ll have to find out.
The film takes some serious liberties with logic — case in point: a 20-year age gap bridged by the mere change in hairstyle — but these are minor bumps on an otherwise thrilling ride.
Leo thrives on its high-octane action sequences, with the use of staccato, slow-motion shots and drone cinematography intensifying the big-screen experience. Anirudh Ravichander’s background music adds another layer of excitement, especially to the introductory and action scenes.
Lokesh’s previous films in the LCU, Kaithi and Vikram, were predominantly action-packed, with only a slight touch of family sentiment in Vikram. However, in Leo, Lokesh delves deeper into familial emotions and relationships, which somewhat slow things down (over 164 minutes, no less). But at the end of the day, Leo is a quintessential Lokesh Kanagaraj film – an unapologetic entertainer with twists and turns.
Vijay’s charisma makes Leo Das work – rough-tough and ruthless, a marked departure from his usual light-hearted and whimsical roles. As Parthiban, he impresses as a father and husband grappling with inner demons, all the while keeping a watchful eye out to ensure his family’s safety. And thankfully, Trisha’s character goes beyond being mere eye candy. The film could’ve done with a more formidable antagonist to take on our one-man army, with Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Sarja’s screen time too little to leave a mark.
One serious point of concern is the level of violence, especially with children as witnesses, raising questions about the normalisation of blood-and-gore in the presence of minors. When will our filmmakers ever start addressing such issues?
