Diesel movie review: Harish Kalyan film with lackluster writing is like a seized engine with no returns

Diesel movie plot:

Diesel Vasu (Harish Kalyan) from the fishermen community indulge in the diesel mafia network that his adopted father Manohar (Sai Kumar) started. Their operation is smuggling crude oil from the pipes that were laid by government along the shoreline rendering the fishermen community from doing their occupation. But when posed with certain challenges from the government, Vasu begins to play their game to them, leading to a cat-and-mouse chase.

Diesel movie review:

In Diesel, a film which aims to talk about lesser-known crime syndicate revolving around crude oil, we are told that a mermaid is visiting the dreams of a young woman (Athulya Ravi) and saving her from drowning. It is a dream that keeps recurring to her, and we are given no context whatsoever why it is a mermaid, and what that mythical creature has to do in a film that talks about starkly contrasting issue. Much like this, Diesel too is cut off from making any connections with audience, that the film becomes a disappointing watch despite some noble intentions.

With a voiceover by Vetrimaaran who serves as a narrator, taking the audience through every cog in the syndicate wheel, Diesel becomes a verbose heavy film. When Tiger Thangavelu who plays an associate and Vasu’s sidekick tells all he knows is that they are doing something big but cannot understand any of it, the feelings are mutual. When every action is repeated in form of words, the storytelling takes a back seat. The story no more seems to be driving forward. Diesel is a take on the system that has exploited a certain community for long, that a few of them begin to convert what oppressed them into their livelihood. But the problem with the film is that it wants to spell out every action that it leaves no space for visual exploration and storytelling.

Also read: National Film Awards 2025: Why Tamil film Parking ft MS Bhaskar and Harish Kalyan is a must watch on OTT

Another element that stands as a sore thumb in Diesel is its forced romance track. The film forces the track, as if almost the film was released decades ago when a mandatory presence of a female lead, is the only option to impress audience. Even still, the love portions do not contribute anything effective to make the film appear wholesome. Harish Kalyan, who is returning after smash hits Parking and Lubber Pandhu, too cannot help save Diesel, which refuses to kickstart when needed.

A major drawback with Diesel is that it also wants to combine two big issues into one narrative, when it barely makes room for one of them to explained. With weak villains, and sub-par performances already weighing down it, Diesel introduces bigger motives towards the latter half. In turn, the film becomes a diluted story with aimless motives, resulting in meandering results.

Diesel movie verdict:

Diesel unfortunately becomes a disappointing watch. With too many elements, and deviations in form of unwanted romance and comedy, the focus for Diesel is lost in translation. As a result, neither does it become a film which is engaging nor easily consumable.