A Game of Greed and Betrayal

“Mask”

– Review

The core premise of ‘Mask’ revolves around a massive, multi-crore heist—a staggering Rs  440 crores—that is stolen from an unusual source. Kavin plays Velu, a self-serving, street-smart detective whose main philosophy is that the world runs on money. Velu operates in a moral gray area, often extorting money from his own clients.

On the other side is Bhumi (Andrea Jeremiah), a powerful woman who runs a social service organization as a façade. In reality, she uses her connections to supply politicians with needs and, crucially, acts as a temporary vault for their black money, which is stolen from her supermarket by a masked gang.

Velu gets unwillingly dragged into this high-stakes chase when he discovers that a close acquaintance is involved in the robbery. 

With only seven days to retrieve the vast sum, the film becomes a frantic cat-and-mouse game between Velu and Bhumi, exploring a spiral of greed, betrayal, and unexpected twists as a middle-class man navigates the cutthroat world of the ruthless elite. The second half dedicates itself entirely to this complex game.

As a debut filmmaker, Vikarnan Ashok shows promise, particularly in conceptualizing the genre blend. 

The film aims for a Nelson Dilipkumar-esque dark humour, though the execution is inconsistent. The first half is noticeably slow, spending too much time establishing Velu’s detached, money-minded character and setting up the central conflict.

However, the director finds his footing brilliantly right before the interval, delivering a shocking conflict point that elevates the momentum. The second half is where Ashok’s vision shines, featuring a tauter screenplay, sharp dialogues, and some genuine goosebumps moments.

Mask is, without a doubt, a Kavin show. As Velu, he delivers a highly confident and nuanced performance, convincingly portraying the cunning, morally ambiguous detective. He carries the emotional and comedic weight of the film effortlessly, showing significant growth as an actor who can shoulder a large commercial project.

Andrea Jeremiah, who also produces the film, takes on the role of the antagonist, Bhumi. She looks commanding and projects the necessary ruthless aura.

Ruhani Sharma, playing Rathi, provides solid support as Velu’s love interest, playing a pivotal role in the plot’s development. Among the supporting cast, Charle, playing Sargunam, delivers a good performance. Kalloori Vinoth and other comedy actors like Mohan manage to elicit laughter, providing much-needed relief in the dark narrative.

G. V. Prakash Kumar is the undisputed winner in the technical department. His background score (BGM) is the soul of the thriller, providing a pulse-pounding, edgy rhythm that brilliantly complements the action and elevates the weaker scenes.

R. D. Rajasekhar proves his mastery with striking visuals. The camerawork is stylish, capturing the dark mood of the thriller with excellent lighting, especially in the night sequences and inside the complex sets. Rest of the technical aspects of the movie are adequate to keep the audience engaged. 

Rating: 3.75/5

By Naveen