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When the Hindi film Andhadhun premiered in 2018, it was celebrated for its intricate screenplay and standout performances by Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, and Radhika Apte. The Tamil remake, Andhagan, directed by Thiagarajan, who is Tamil actor Prashanth’s father, acquired the remake rights and completed production in 2022. However, it has only recently made its way to theatres, and unfortunately, it falls short of replicating the original’s success.
The plot of Andhagan closely mirrors that of Andhadhun. Prashanth stars as Krish, a blind piano player living alone with his cat. By day, Krish performs at a resto-bar, where he meets and befriends Julie (Priya Anand). Yesteryear actor Karthick, a frequent bar patron who loves Krish’s music, invites him to perform a private concert for his wedding anniversary as a surprise for his wife, Simi (Simran). Upon arriving at Karthick’s home for the event, Krish is shocked to discover that Karthick is missing and instead witnesses a murder. The story unfolds from there, leading Krish into a dangerous situation.
Despite being a faithful remake of Andhadhun, Andhagan struggles to live up to its predecessor. Thiagarajan’s direction sticks closely to the original script, but the Tamil version fails to capture the same magic due to issues with casting and music.
Prashanth, making a comeback to Tamil cinema after a six-year hiatus, is miscast as Krish. At 51, Prashanth appears jaded and lacks the youthful charm required for the role of a charismatic piano player. Although the script has potential, Prashanth’s performance feels out of place and fails to revitalize his career as hoped.
Simran delivers a commendable performance as Simi, a role originally portrayed by Tabu in the Hindi version. Priya Anand is also decent as Julie, adding some value to the film. However, other actors like Urvashi, Yogi Babu, Manobala, Leela Samson, and Vanitha Vijayakumar, while adding some comedic elements, do little to enhance the film’s overall impact. Yesteryear Tamil star Karthick, playing Simi’s husband, is poorly cast, and his mismatched dubbing is distracting. Samuthirakani, in yet another role as a cop, adds little new to his recurring typecast role.
Santhosh Narayanan, known for his exceptional music and background scores, disappoints with his contribution to Andhagan. The songs, intended to reflect Krish’s talent, come across as lackluster and uninspired, a surprising turn for a composer who previously delivered the impressive soundtrack for Kalki 2898 AD.
Director Thiagarajan faced the challenge of helming Andhagan after two previous directors left the project. Despite having a successful template, the film fails to captivate. The Tamil adaptation lacks excitement, and the plot twists appear flat rather than engaging. A more dynamic approach to the script could have made a significant difference. The dialogues by Pattukotai Prabhakar also miss the mark, failing to evoke the emotional depth needed to convey Krish’s turbulent journey from joy to shock and fear.
While Andhadhun was a cleverly crafted black comedy thriller by Sriram Raghavan that kept audiences guessing, Andhagan struggles to match its predecessor’s brilliance. The remake, despite its potential, falls short of delivering the same level of suspense and engagement.
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