Master

 

Master is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, who also wrote the screenplay with Rathna Kumar and Pon Parthiban. The film was produced by Xavier Britto, under his maiden production house XB Film Creators, and was distributed by S. S. Lait Kumar of Seven Screen Studios. The film stars Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi, with Malavika Mohanan, Arjun Das, Andrea Jeremiah and Shanthanu Bhagyaraj in supporting roles, which revolves around an alcoholic professor, J. D. (Vijay), who takes a three-month teaching job in a juvenile home, which is controlled by the nefarious Bhavani (Sethupathi).

Lokesh Kanagaraj narrated the script to Vijay in May 2019, and after his acceptance, the film was launched under in August 2019, whereas the principal photography commenced in October 2019 and ended in February 2020. Filming took place at Delhi, Chennai and Karnataka. Originally launched under the tentative title Thalapathy 64, the official title Master was announced on 31 December 2019. The music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, while cinematography and editing are performed by Sathyan Sooryan and Philomin Raj respectively.

Master was initially planned for theatrical release on 9 April 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The makers of the film preferred to wait for a theatrical release, rather than releasing it on any over-the-top media service. After being delayed for several months, the film was released in theatres on 13 January 2021, a day before Pongal in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages, whereas the Hindi version titled Vijay The Master released on 14 January 2021. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who appreciated Vijay and Sethupathi's performance, characterisations, score and soundtrack, but criticised for its screenplay, narration and story line. It was a commercial success collecting ₹300 crore theatrically in its complete run. It was the first Indian film to have occupied No 1 in the global box office at the time of release.

 

Plot

In Nagercoil, 2003, teenaged Bhavani, witnesses his family get murdered by his father's rivals. He is forced to take the blame and is incarcerated in a juvenile detention facility, where he is tortured mercilessly. As a consequence, he develops a ruthless and brash persona. Years later, Bhavani escapes from the facility and becomes a criminal in the lorry and trade business. Gradually, he becomes a feared gangster, and remains immune from punishment by coercing the inmates of the detention facility to take the blame. Grooming an enormous empire for himself, he grows on par with his father's former rivals and eventually kills them.

In Chennai, 2019, John "J.D." Durairaj, a popular college lecturer beloved by his students for his student-friendly approach, is struggling with alcoholism and bitter dislike from fellow staff. Only Charu, a newly hired lecturer at his college, sympathizes with him. After he organizes a college election that goes awry, he is assigned to the juvenile detention facility for a three-month assignment. The staff tells him that he volunteered for the job, but he does not recall doing so. He reluctantly assumes his new position, and is warned by the prison authorities of the rampant drug abuse and violence there, but J.D. pays no heed.

The next day, J.D discovers that two young inmates, brothers Sabari and Manikandan, were murdered. He is interrogated by police. A grief-stricken Charu admonishes him for his reckless and negligent behaviour, revealing that she was the one who had signed him up for the job, believing him to be the only teacher capable of understanding the needs of the inmates. She reveals herself as an non-governmental organisation volunteer investigating the crimes occurring in the facility; the brothers had desperately contacted her for help. While in detention, J.D. discovers a letter written by the brothers to him, detailing the horrific activities taking place inside the centre. Heartbroken, he thrashes Bhavani's goons who had been dispatched to kill him and calls him, promising to end his reign of terror and crime. He redeems himself and quits his tryst with alcohol.

Now reformed, J.D. slowly gains control over the institution and begins to reform the inmates, with the help of Charu and the facility's authorities. His actions are opposed by Das, an older inmate responsible for the illegal drugs and alcohol. With the support of a young inmate, Undiyal, J.D. uncovers the various crimes and gets the inmates to record confessions. J.D. discovers that Bhavani regularly makes the inmates take the blame for his crimes. Bhavani's goons target Charu and retrieves the video from her, sparing her only because of Undiyal's timely intervention.

Undiyal reveals that selected inmates of the facility are tattooed with the Tamil letter "Pa", a symbol that allows them unrestricted access to free food and drugs from Bhavani's associates. J.D. targets and raids the respective establishments and cuts off the drug supply to the detention facility, much to Bhavani's frustration. He also sneaks into Bhavani's place and warns Bhavani's men to stand down, threatening them of dire consequences (while unknowingly holding Bhavani himself at knifepoint).

Bhavani retaliates by killing J.D.'s associates. With J.D. distracted, Das drags most of the inmates out of the facility, including Undiyal, to transport them out of Tamil Nadu. J.D., with the help of his friend Vaanathi, who is an expert in archery, manages to subdue Das' men and rescues the children. J.D. then confronts Das and makes him realize that Bhavani only intends to use the latter^{[clarification needed]} as a pawn for his crimes. Das reforms himself and transports J.D. to Bhavani's headquarters. Bhavani attempts to have J.D. and Das killed. The duo subdue Bhavani's men and fights him. He attempts to form a truce and escape, but J.D. overpowers and kills him. With the children safe, J.D. and Das surrender to the police.

The detention facility is shut down by the government, with the inmates being sent to other detention facilities and state prisons, on the basis of their age. J.D. and Das are imprisoned together, indicating the duo's intention to reform the prison's inmates as well.

 

Cast

·         Vijay as John "J.D." Durairaj, a college professor popular for his friendly approach towards students. He soon embarks on a mission to reform the inmates of the juvenile detention facility.

·         Vijay Sethupathi as Bhavani, a notorious gangster known for his ruthless actions and criminal activities. He uses the inmates of the juvenile detention facility to surrender on his behalf, in order to escape from the law.

·         Malavika Mohanan as Charulatha "Charu" Prasad, an NGO-volunteer and newly-hired lecturer at J.D.'s college, who investigates and fights against the criminal activities of the juvenile detention facility. She later develops feelings for J.D. (Voice dubbed by Raveena Ravi).

·         Arjun Das as Das, an ally of Bhavani responsible for the illegal drug and alcoholic activities in the juvenile detention facility. He later reforms himself and joins J.D. in his fight against Bhavani.

·         Shanthanu Bhagyaraj as Bhargav, a students' welfare leader at J.D.'s college.

·         Gouri G. Kishan as Savitha, a students' welfare leaders who cooperates with Bhargav. She is also shown to be one of J.D.'s favourite pupils.

·         Andrea Jeremiah as Vaanathi, J.D.'s friend and an expert in archery.

·         Nassar as the college's founder. (guest appearance)

·         Azhagam Perumal as Principal Ambaiya Samuel

·         Ciby Bhuvana Chandran as Sri

·         Master Akshay Kumar

·         Master Mahendran as the young Bhavani (Voice dubbed by Vijay Sethupathi)

·         Kulappulli Leela as the juvenile school cook

·         Ramya Subramanian as Ramya

·         Rajesh

·         Mahanadi Shankar as the jail warden

·         Arun Alexander as Bhavani's enemy

·         Raja Rani Pandian

·         Sai Dheena as Dheena, juvenile school warden

·         Ramesh Thilak as juvenile school warden

·         Chetan as College Teacher

·         Mathew Varghese as a professor

·         Sathish

·         Kalyani Natarajan as a professor

·         Mona

·         Vishalini

·         Surekha Vani

·         Soundarya Bala Nandakumar

·         Lintu Rony as a college professor

·         Dheena as Sheena

·         Lallu

·         Udayaraj

·         Vikkie Baskarraj

·         Master Poovaiyar as Undiyal

·         Dhilip

·         Sriman as JD's friend

·         Sanjeev as JD's friend

·         Srinath as JD's friend

·         Prem Kumar as Prem

·         Nagendra Prasad as JD's friend

·         Shankar Dass

Director Lokesh Kanagaraj and co-writer Rathna Kumar make cameo appearances as prisoners during the end credits.