Sivalinga review: Too convoluted to hold audience's interest

Director P Vasu has delivered several enjoyable blockbusters in Tamil cinema. From Chinna Thambi (1991) to superstar Rajinikanth's Chandramukhi (2005), Vasu has made several good entertainers that have left Tamil audiences satisfied. Unfortunately, the same can't be said of his latest film, Sivalinga, which only entertains in parts.

The horror-comedy-action film begins with a murder on a train. Rahim (Sakthivel Vasu), a cook who has a pigeon called Sara for a pet, is pushed out of a running train and killed on a cold night. Initially, his death is pronounced a suicide. But his girlfriend, Sangeetha (Sarah), daughter of Rahim's father's friend (Radha Ravi), requests the police to reopen the case as she suspects the death to be a murder. The file is reopened and the case is entrusted to Sivalingesh (Raghava Lawrence), an officer from the CB-CID who has just got married to Sathya (Ritika Singh).

Sivalingesh begins to inquire into the incident and soon realizes that Rahim's death is indeed a murder as suspected by Sangeetha. Taking Sathya with him, Sivalingesh chooses to move to the town from where Rahim hailed. He stays at a desolate house near a graveyard on the outskirts of the town and begins to investigate the murder.

As Sivalingesh attempts to crack the case, both he and wife Sathya begin to sense the presence of supernatural elements in the house. As time goes by, Sivalingesh realises that a spirit has possessed his wife. The spirit is that of Rahim. Meanwhile, the detective receives help from Rahim's pet Sara, which leads him to evidence that is crucial to identify its master's killer.

As Sivalingesh begins putting the jigsaw pieces together, he finds that the case is not as simple as he had thought and many people are involved in Rahim's death. As he tracks each person down and tries to ascertain the extent of his/her involvement, Sivalingesh reaches a stage where he finds himself questioning his wife, Sathya.

What is Sathya's involvement in Rahim's murder? Why has Rahim's spirit possessed her? These and some other questions are answered by the film.

Vasu, who usually has neat and simple plots for his films, seems to have opted for a cumbersome plot this time and that is where the problem lies. Also, he introduces quite a number of characters towards the end. Probably his motive was to ensure that there are adequate twists and turns and to make it difficult for audiences to predict what happens next. Unfortunately, what it does is erodes the credibility of the plot and so the audience's interest in it.

Nevertheless, the film is enjoyable in parts. Raghava Lawrence excels in the dance and song sequences. He does a decent job as Sivalingesh. Ritika Singh, who impressed audiences in Irudhi Suttru (2016, Sala Khadoos in Hindi) is found wanting in several portions of this film. However, she is good in certain sequences. For instance, in a scene in which Rahim's spirit possesses Sathya's body, Singh does a good job. But there are other sequences where her face is almost expressionless.

Sakthivel Vasu comes up with a sterling performance. A neat, precise job, Sakthi's performance is easily one of the best in the film. The same can be said for the performances of Jayaprakash, Pradeep Rawat, Bhanupriya and Sarah. Vadivel manages to make one laugh in some sequences. But in most other parts, he, too, is unimpressive.

Thaman's music is, as always, a plus for the film. Sarvesh Murari's camera work is commendable. Simply put, parts of Sivalinga are funny and interesting and parts of it are dull and boring.