Movie Review: Captain Miller (Telugu)

Captain Miller, directed by Arun Matheswaran and produced by Sathya Jyothi Films, is an Indian Tamil-language epic action-adventure film released in Tamil and Telugu. Serving as the inaugural instalment in a planned trilogy, the movie features Dhanush in the lead role, supported by a cast that includes Shiva Rajkumar, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Aditi Balan, Sundeep Kishan, Edward Sonnenblick, and John Kokken. It is now being released in Telugu after its initial release in Tamil.

Story

Eesa (Dhanush) and his mother, along with fellow villagers, suffer under the weight of oppression. The local king enforces stringent rules on them, influenced by directives from the British authorities. Despite constructing their village temple, the residents are barred from entering it. The tragic death of Eesa’s mother occurs during the visit of his brother Sengolan (Shiva Rajkumar) for a local festival. Eesa, believing in the perceived respect offered by the Britishers, decides to serve them and adopts the name Miller at the British camp.

Unaware of the true nature of his new allegiance, Miller soon faces a moral crisis during his initial assignment, that is, charging at non-violent freedom fighters. Confronted with the blood on his hands, a disheartened Miller returns to his village only to face rejection. Discovering that his brother Sengolan was part of the freedom fighters, Miller is devastated and embarks on a nomadic existence. Months later, he encounters a dacoit gang led by Kannaya (Elango Kumaravel). It is through these experiences that Miller comes to comprehend the greater purpose of his life and resolves to stand against oppression, shaping the narrative.

Screenplay and Analysis

Breaking the film into chapters, a common technique by director Arun Matheswaran, starts to feel like a forced restructuring. This makes the movie seem longer as the challenges keep escalating, but eventually, the impact of the villain weakens. A peculiar beauty at the core of relentless violence persists in “Captain Miller,” where Matheswaran continues to find beauty in the midst of things that seem to contradict it, like gore.

Acting

Dhanush, evolving from his earlier roles, showcases his versatile acting in ‘Captain Miller.’ The film tells the tale of a small-town man aspiring to join the British military, only to discover the need to stand against his own people. Shiva Rajkumar delivers another captivating performance, following his memorable cameo in ‘Jailer.’ Priyanka Arulmohan impresses in her role as a freedom fighter-doctor, despite limited screen time. Elango Kumaravel, Sundeep Kishan, and the supporting cast contribute effectively to the director’s vision.

Technical Departments

‘Captain Miller’ stands out as a technically proficient film. Arun Matheswaran and Dhanush demonstrate their talents, while composer GV Prakash excels with impactful background music, particularly in the ‘Killer Killer’ sequence, evoking strong support for the character. Cinematographer Siddhartha Nuni has captured the world of ‘Captain Miller’ with immersive colour grading complimenting the art design and costumes. Especially the stylization in the shots and edits impresses the audience. The editing by Nagooran Ramachandran further enhances the film’s overall impact.

Plus Points

• Epic climax scene 
• Dhanush’s Performance

Minus Points

• Slow-paced narration
• Violence

Bottom line: Dhanush is brilliant in this partially engaging historical fiction.