24 (Tamil) (2016)

"24" (2016) is a Tamil science fiction action movie directed and scripted by Vikram Kumar. It features Suriya in three different roles, with Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Nithya Menen. The plot follows a genius scientist who invents a watch that can travel through time while his malevolent twin brother attempts to swipe it for his benefit. In the year 1990, a scientist by the name of Dr Sethuraman (Suriya) developed a watch that has the capability to control time. His joy is short-lived as his twin brother, Athreya (Suriya), who is dangerous, murders Sethuraman's wife, Priya (Nithya Menen), to steal the invention. Sethuraman flees with his infant, Manikandan (Suriya), and conceals the watch in the infant's cradle before he is killed in a fight on a train by Athreya. The wounded Athreya lives but goes into a coma. Years after that, in 2016, the infant, now as mature as Mani, grows up to be a skilled watch mechanic under the care of a woman named Sathyabhama (Saranya Ponvannan). Mani inadvertently finds the time-travel watch. In the meantime, Athreya wakes up after 26 years and starts searching for the gadget to become youthful and powerful again. Athreya manipulates Mani into believing he is their father, Sethuraman, and requests assistance in refurbishing the watch to travel even. When Mani finds out Athreya's real identity and that he murdered his parents, he risks his life to go back to 1990 and warn them. Another time-travel twist transports Athreya and Mani to the past, where the actual Sethuraman learns what is going on. Using the watch, Sethuraman stops time, stops Athreya, and saves his family from their disastrous fate. "24" is a smart and engaging time-travel mystery with an emotional core. Suriya's triple role is the heart of the film: every character seems different yet firm. The visuals are polished, the storyline is creative, and the time-travelling concept is done successfully without getting confusing. With performances and stylish direction, 24 is Tamil cinema's best sci-fi story.