09/06/2026

LYFE TUESDAY | JUNE 9, 2026

21

MOVIE REVIEW

Suriya goes full God Mode in Karuppu

o RJ Balaji blends courtroom drama, folklore, commercial spectacle into high-energy theatrical experience powered by career-best performance of veteran actor

Ű BY SHIVANI SUPRAMANI

enough grounded realism to make audiences genuinely despise him. You know a villain is working when every appearance makes your blood boil – and Baby Kannan absolutely achieves that. At the same time, Balaji balances the darker shades of the character with bits of humour that stop the film from becoming emotionally overwhelming. The tonal balancing act works far better than expected. Emotion and spectacle blend surprisingly well The first half of Karuppu is particularly effective because of how emotionally grounded it feels. The suffering endured by the elderly father and daughter at the hands of a corrupt legal system creates a deep sense of helplessness and frustration. Veteran actor Indrans delivers one of the film’s most emotionally affecting performances, bringing heartbreaking vulnerability to the role. That emotional setup is crucial because it makes the divine intervention later in the film feel earned rather than gimmicky. Once Karuppusamy fully enters the narrative, the movie shifts gears completely. The interval block especially is a spectacular crowd-pleasing moment elevated by stunning cinematography from G.K. Vishnu and a thunderous background score by Sai Abhyankkar. The God Mode track alone feels designed to shake cinema halls. Sai Abhyankkar’s soundtrack deserves special praise for blending folk influences with modern electronic beats, creating a soundscape that feels rooted and contemporary. Every major action sequence becomes even more impactful because of the music. A few stumbles, but never enough to derail the film While Karuppu is highly entertaining, the screenplay does occasionally wobble in the second half. The transition between courtroom drama, spiritual mythology and commercial action can feel slightly uneven at times. There are moments where the film stretches its logic thin trying to balance its supernatural elements with grounded social commentary.

T AMIL cinema has never shied away from larger-than-life heroes, but Karuppu takes things one step further by transforming its hero into something divine. Directed by RJ Balaji and produced by Dream Warrior Pictures, Karuppu is a gripping action-drama that combines social commentary, courtroom corruption and rooted spiritual folklore into one thoroughly entertaining package. It is dramatic, emotional, unapologetically “mass” (big) and exactly the kind of theatrical experience that reminds audiences why commercial Tamil cinema works so well on the big screen. At the heart of it all is Suriya, who delivers what genuinely feels like one of the strongest performances of his career. Suriya completely owns the film From the moment Suriya steps onscreen as Saravanan, there is an undeniable intensity to his performance. Whether he is portraying a grounded rural lawyer fighting for justice or fully embracing the divine fury of Karuppusamy, he commands every frame with effortless charisma. The transformation between Saravanan and Karuppu never feels forced or cartoonish. Instead, Suriya manages to make both sides of the character emotionally believable. His quieter scenes carry genuine emotional weight, especially during moments tied to the suffering of the elderly father trapped within a corrupt judicial system. But when the film unleashes him in full “God Mode”, the energy becomes electric. The whistle-worthy action moments, powerful stares and commanding screen presence are pure mass-hero cinema at its finest. Most importantly, Suriya carries the emotional core of the story just as strongly as he carries the spectacle. A villain worthy of the hero One of the movie’s biggest strengths is that it gives its hero a genuinely formidable antagonist. RJ Balaji surprises with a strong performance as the manipulative and ruthless lawyer Baby Kannan. Rather than playing him as a generic loud villain, Balaji injects the character with arrogance, intelligence and

Karuppu may follow familiar saami padam beats, but with Suriya operating at full power, this divine action-drama becomes an unforgettable theatrical ride. – PIC FROM IMDB

Some viewers may also feel the storytelling occasionally resembles devotional commercial dramas that came before it. However, the film’s sincerity and sheer

momentum make it easy to forgive many of those familiar beats. As for Trisha Krishnan, while her chemistry with Suriya carries nostalgic charm, her character feels somewhat underwritten compared with the emotional depth given to the other central players. Still, these flaws never overpower the film’s strengths. Final verdict Karuppu succeeds because it embraces everything that makes commercial Tamil cinema exciting while still anchoring itself in emotional storytelling. It is stylish, emotionally charged, visually striking and packed with crowd-pleasing moments that feel tailor-made for the theatrical experience. Suriya is phenomenal throughout, effortlessly balancing emotional vulnerability with divine rage in a performance that reminds audiences exactly why he remains one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars. Backed by strong supporting performances, electrifying music and whistle-worthy action sequences, Karuppu delivers a powerful blend of justice, folklore and mass entertainment. Karuppu may follow familiar saami padam (God movies) beats, but with Suriya operating at full power, this divine action-drama becomes an unforgettable theatrical ride.

0 Cast: Suriya Sivakumar, Trisha Krishnan, RJ Balaji, Indrans, Anagha Maya Ravi and Natarajan Subramaniam (Natty) 0 Director: RJ Balaji E-VALUE 8 ACTING 9 PLOT 7

Trisha’s Preethi (right) goes toe-to-toe with RJ Balaji’s Baby Kannan. – PIC FROM INSTAGRAM @IRJBALAJI