Gangers movie review: A chaotic heist comedy that steals some laughs with Vadivelu, and classic Sundar C shenanigans

Gangers Movie Story:

In a small town, a school girl goes missing, and teacher Sujitha (Catherine Tresa) lodges complaint to find her. A police officer is assigned to go undercover. Meanwhile, we see Singaram, the school's PT teacher pining after Sujitha, as he gets a rival in form of a new PT teacher, Saravanan (Sundar C). But this soon transcends into a heist comedy, where a group of characters team up to loot wads of cash that are stocked by three goon brothers who rule the town.

Gangers Movie Review:

There goes a phrase, ‘The whole is greater than the sum of its parts’. And that perfectly fits for Sundar C’s films that are no short of being commercial potboilers. His films might not stand out as proficient examples of exemplary filmmaking (not including Anbe Sivam here), but it cannot be ignored either. Sundar C quiet understands what a gripping narrative and interesting screenplay can do to a film, even if it can be weaker on the story side. And that is exactly what makes Sundar C’s film a crowd favourite. There is something to take home; it might not be the story or any specificity in parts, but the whole feeling of what the film made you feel. Gangers too is no different. It is a film that you shouldn’t be analysing for the brain rot, but one that you should just take for the laughs it gives in portions.

The filmmaker, who is fresh off the success of his last two films Aranmanai 4 and Madha Gaja Raja, knows the right times to please the audience. If it was Santhanam in Madha Gaja Raja, it now Vadivelu, who is back to playing is classic comedian role. No prizes for guessing he plays teacher Singaram who lusts after a female school teacher and sees Saravanan as his romantic rival. You may begin to lose the count of being politically correct in this film, right at the start when Singaram warns Saravanan that Sujitha is his ‘property’. But moving past that, Gangers takes it sweet time of first half to get into the mission of how the titular group come together for a mission. And with the start of second half, Sundar C makes sure his screenplay is on top gear, hitting the right notes.

In the era of films that ride on nostalgic value and creators capitalising on old films as highpoints, it is almost forgivable when Sundar C makes a tribute to self with the interiors of a movie theatre adored with posters of his filmography; from Anbe Sivam, Coffee with Kadhal to Kalakalappu . In fact, the movie screening is that of Madha Gaja Raja, and there is a dialogue which gives you a satisfactory reason, helping the plot. And if not for all these, a surprise cameo and unexpected name dropping, are there too but subtle and organic to the story.

In Gangers, there is no doubt that Sundar C has refreshing bits. But it isn’t a film that is wholesome either. There are portions where the comedy seems to be old school and outdated. Vadivelu, who returns as comedian after a long gap, gives you some quips here and there. You do see the old comedian in him, for the style has not changed much. It is the same old pining after a fair-skinned heroine, getting caught amid goons, and being the sacrificial goat of the lot, and sometimes the master of clowns. But is he as good as he was in Winner or London , the very same Sundar C films? That is a topic for another day.

Gangers Movie Verdict:

Gangers is no different from Sundar C films. It rides on commercial factors, has a high ending climatic note, and a comedy of errors that elevate it. But the film still is messy in parts and it takes a while to set the stage ready. There is a definite Sundar C touch, one that cannot be ignored but also one that do not pass with distinction either.