Chennai, Tamil Nadu – The Telugu version of Dhanush’s latest film, “Captain Miller,” has been released today. Directed by Arun Matheshwaran, the film features Priyanka Arul Mohan as the female lead and has GV Prakash Kumar composing the music. The film is set in the pre-Independence era and revolves around the protagonist, Agnee (played by Dhanush), a lower caste man who joins the British Army to earn respect but eventually turns against the British after witnessing their oppression of fellow Indians. The story follows Agnee’s journey to save his village’s 600-year-old idol from the British general with the help of Bhanumathi (Priyanka Arul Mohan) and lead a revolution.
Dhanush delivers a remarkable performance in “Captain Miller,” effortlessly portraying the transformation of a rural man into the titular character. He excels in the action sequences and displays strong emotional outbursts in the second half. Priyanka Arul Mohan, although providing support to Dhanush, doesn’t have a well-etched role and tends to blend in with the rest of the cast. Kannada superstar Shivraj Kumar also makes a noteworthy cameo appearance, leaving an impact in the climax. Sundeep Kishan, despite having limited screen presence, manages to make an impact with his entry in the climax and impressive action scenes.
The music score by GV Prakash Kumar elevates the film to another level, blending seamlessly with the cinematography by Siddhartha Nuni. While the editing is generally satisfactory, the film could benefit from trimming certain unnecessary scenes. The production values are impressive, particularly in the action sequences where the thrills and gun-fires are executed effectively.
“Captain Miller” falls into the category of a routine revolutionary period drama, with its main highlight being the action sequences. However, the narration is slow-paced and takes a while to establish the main conflict. The transformation of Dhanush’s character is also portrayed at a leisurely pace, and the emotional turmoil faced by the village could have been presented in a more gripping manner. The film picks up in the second half, with the action sequences, although bordering on the cinematic, managing to captivate the audience. Some characters, such as Priyanka Arul Mohan’s and Jayaprakash’s, contribute minimally to the overall plot.
In conclusion, “Captain Miller,” directed by Arun Matheshwaran, is an ambitious undertaking that has its moments. While Dhanush’s performance shines bright, the film suffers from a slow pace and an overdose of action in the second half. The story, though set in a different backdrop, follows a conventional path. Trimming the film by 20 minutes could have enhanced the overall impact. Ultimately, “Captain Miller” manages to deliver moments of emotional depth but ends up falling short in certain aspects.
Rating: 2.25/5