Introduction
Sundar C’s latest Tamil film Gangers, released on April 24, 2025, promised a wild blend of comedy, vigilante justice, and heist thrills. Featuring veteran comedian Vadivelu and Catherine Tresa in key roles, the film had all the ingredients of a masala entertainer. But somewhere along the tracks, the film loses its steam, weighed down by outdated tropes and half-baked writing.
A Formula That No Longer Works
For years, Sundar C has thrived on a predictable but once-successful formula—loud comedy, masala-packed narratives, and glamour-driven storytelling. Gangers doesn’t deviate from that formula; if anything, it overloads it. What begins as a small-town mystery spirals into a vigilante saga and then swerves sharply into a heist movie—without ever really earning any of those shifts.
Storyline: Too Much, Too Soon
The plot kicks off with a missing schoolgirl, introducing Catherine Tresa as a teacher in pursuit of answers. Sundar C’s Saravanan joins the mix, initially as an investigator but ultimately revealed to be on a larger mission. As the film lurches into a Rs 100 crore heist involving corrupt local goons, it tries to do too much with too little depth.
Vadivelu’s Comic Timing: The Lone Bright Spot
If there’s one thing that salvages parts of the viewing experience, it’s Vadivelu. His performance as a PT master chasing romance and justice evokes moments of vintage hilarity. Disguises, punchlines, and callbacks to older roles inject some energy into the second half, but the first half remains sluggish and uninspired.
Misplaced Comedy and Problematic Tropes
The film’s humor often feels forced, relying on sound effects and slapstick rather than clever dialogue. Some comedic setups involving Catherine Tresa feel regressive and tone-deaf, detracting from whatever seriousness the film attempts to offer in its central mystery or vigilante arcs.
Production Value and Direction
Technically, the film is a mixed bag. While the action choreography in vigilante scenes is commendable, the background score attempts to manufacture laughs rather than complement them. Direction-wise, Sundar C plays it safe—but that safety results in predictability and mediocrity.
Character Arcs That Go Nowhere
Catherine’s character transitions without explanation from a dedicated schoolteacher to performing a club number. Sundar C’s hero character lacks emotional vulnerability, rendering the plot hollow. Supporting characters come and go without purpose or payoff.
The Heist: A Glimmer of Hope
It’s only after the interval that the film begins to feel structured. The heist plot offers glimpses of clever planning, complete with disguises and callbacks to Sundar C’s long-delayed Madha Gaja Raja. But by then, the film has lost narrative momentum.
Final Verdict: A Relic of the Past
Gangers feels like a throwback to an era that Tamil cinema has largely evolved beyond. While Vadivelu does his best to inject humor and Sundar C delivers in action, the outdated storytelling and underwhelming execution drag the film down.
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of Vadivelu or die-hard Tamil masala films, Gangers might offer momentary amusement. But for most viewers, it will feel like a missed opportunity wrapped in recycled ideas. With a tighter script and updated sensibilities, this could’ve been a fun ride. Sadly, it’s more of a bump-filled journey.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Watch it on: Theatrical release from April 24, 2025
