3 6 9

"3.6.9" is a 2023 Tamil-language science fiction film directed and written by Shiva Madhav. The movie features veteran actor K. Bhagyaraj and PGS, who is also the producer of the movie under the title PGS Productions. The film is shot completely within a church and incorporates the genres of sci-fi, suspense, and drama in a high-intensity, single-location narrative.

The plot starts with Father "Bennett Castro" (K. Bhagyaraj) getting ready to conduct the Sunday mass in a serene lakeside church. As the mass is on, there is complete chaos when a gang headed by "Cyrus" (PGS) enters the church and holds the devotees hostage at gunpoint. Their intent is not loot but to lift the blueprints of a covert teleportation gadget created by Father Bennett. To safeguard the lives of innocent worshippers, the priest unwillingly surrenders the secret to the gangster leader. The movie then shifts attention to whether the priest and devotees will live through this suspenseful ordeal or not.

The plot also has some individual anecdotes of the worshippers who go to the Sunday mass, but these strands are not developed. The whole movie is happening in real time, filmed at one location over 81 minutes with 24 cameras, so it is a technical exercise in filmmaking. The church located by a lake and nature serves as a striking visual backdrop for the tension.

"3.6.9" has a fresh idea and experimental style, it doesn't work as a narrative. However, the film is saved by a strong performance from K. Bhagyaraj, a solid villain role by PGS, and crisp editing by R.K. Nath, which hides the camera placements effectively. In spite of its shortcomings, "3.6.9" is an ambitious sci-fi thriller that is worth watching for its original attempt and concentrated setting.