Custody Review

Custody, Naga Chaitanya's debut in Tamil cinema, tells the story of a brave police officer who risks everything to ensure that a criminal faces the consequences of his actions. The task at hand is daunting: transport the criminal across state lines and present him at a court hearing within a mere 30 hours. Unfortunately, the mission is complicated by a corrupt Chief Minister (Priyamani) and her coterie of dirty cops, who are threatened by the prospect of the criminal's testimony and will stop at nothing to derail justice.

The movie has all the makings of a tight thriller, including a ticking clock and several perilous encounters. There are car chases and watery fights. Some key people die or sacrifice themselves for the greater good. However, writer-director Venkat Prabhu dilutes the tension by introducing ill-timed comedy, half-baked characters, and an excessive number of songs that turn the movie into an interminable chase sequence that you beg to be released from.

You are often left unsure about whether a particular scene is meant to be serious or humourous. The screenplay frequently sets up serious situations, only to undercut them with jokes. For example, one of the film's central themes is the love story between the protagonist Constable Shiva (Naga Chaitanya) and childhood lover Revathi (Krithi Shetty). The couple plans to elope, but Shiva gets caught up in a hairy situation at the police station and cannot rescue Revathi from the house arrest imposed by her parents. The tension builds as the screenplay cuts back and forth between Shiva's predicament and Revathi's dwindling time - will Shiva arrive in time to rescue Revathi before her parents force her into marriage? The dilemma is however quickly reduced to a joke when Revathi outwits her would-be husband, played by comedian Vennela Kishore, and escapes to join Shiva. It feels as though writer-director Venkat Prabhu appends a "just kidding" sign to the film's dramatic beats.

One character, though, stands out as an example of the balance of comedy and graveness that writer-director Venkat Prabhu is aiming for. And that character is Razuu, the criminal being transported by Shiva, played with an eccentric flair by Aravind Swamy. Razuu's quest for a light for his cigarette, even when he's been shot and is bleeding, is a running gag throughout the movie. He also gets irritated when people call him by the wrong name, and has a light-hearted moment when he admits to having a crush on the Chief Minister. These humourous touches add the right kind of lightness to the film.

However, the script's attempt to create a sibling-like relationship between Razuu and Revathi, who joins Shiva on his mission, falls flat. It ranges from cringeworthy to very cringeworthy, and contributes to the movie feeling a bit too clownish at times.

Naga Chaitanya's presence is largely drowned out by more accomplished and magnetic actors that he shares space with?—?and there are many. There is Sarathkumar who plays a corrupt police officer, who pops up again and again like a menacing figure intent on killing Shiva and Razuu. There are Sampath Kumar and Ramki who get a fair chance at throwing a few punches. There is Priyamani who, despite being the underdeveloped antagonist of the movie, makes a mark as the stern and ambitious head of the State.

Krithi Shetty and Vennela Kishore are given roles that are unnecessary to the plot. Their characters exist solely to fulfill the tired tropes of the heroine and comedian, without contributing much to the story.

Custody has some real standout moments that show its potential, like the opening scene where a single matchstick sets off a chain reaction of accidents that turns a town centre into a killing field. Another highlight is the fast-paced fight scene in the police station when Shiva goes up against his superiors.

However, the story ultimately loses its way in, um, more than one way. It's a shame that all the missteps weaken what could have been a really gripping thriller.