There’s intrigue the minute Mr X opens on the big screen. The film throws open a fascinating historical tidbit about a 1965 joint India-US operation to install a nuclear-powered surveillance device on the Nanda Devi mountain range. But what starts as a promising spy thriller soon gets weighed down by overlong action sequences and a forgettable second half.
The makers intend to design it as a slick, Hollywood-style spy thriller. The good part is that Mr X has some level of focus, restraining the urge to dive into unnecessary commercial Tamil cinema elements. But halfway, it becomes not just predictable but also too long-winding for its own good.
The Plot
| Protagonist | Goutham (Arya), a secret RAW agent |
| Team | Ordinary people on the surface (businessman, delivery driver) |
| Mission | Protect a nuclear device connected to the 1965 Nanda Devi operation |
| Runtime | 153 minutes |
The film opens with a sequence about a missing missile from the Nanda Devi operation, then cuts to Chennai where we spot a shirtless Goutham (Arya) emerging from an underwater fitness routine. Goutham is a secret RAW agent, as are the other members of his team.
What Works
- Intriguing Premise: The historical Nanda Devi operation hook is fascinating
- Focused Approach: Restrains from unnecessary commercial elements
- Gautham Karthik’s Performance: His character Amaran (“Lone Wolf”) is written much better; his deceiving smile hides something grey
- Sarath Kumar: Aces routine action sequences and appears in a throwback to popular past characters
- Manju Warrier: Has impact, though her role could have been better developed
- Arya’s Physicality: Fits the bill of a RAW agent; shoulders action sequences with ease
What Doesn’t Work
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Overlong Action | Long-drawn action sequences that do not seem to end |
| Unnecessary Twists | Twists that are not entirely necessary |
| Lack of Breathing Room | Too many things happening at breakneck speed; film forgets to breathe |
| Arya’s Performance | Little scope for acting; even in emotional scenes, he stays cold |
| Forgettable Second Half | Crisp editing and music cannot salvage it |
| Post-Credit Scene | Sets the stage for Mr X 2 — not a mission we are looking forward to |
The Verdict
Director Manu Anand’s film begins with a disclaimer stating that it is a “fictional story, woven together by various incidents that reportedly happened over a period of time”. That long passage of time shows.
The characters are in Chennai at one instance, and suddenly, they are in Russia, even as a flashback shows a sequence in Pakistan. There are just too many things happening at breakneck speed that the film forgets to breathe.
If used well, Gautham Karthik might well turn out to be a good choice for future Tamil filmmakers scouting for actors to play young, sophisticated villains. But Mr X itself is a mission that promises much but delivers little.
