7 Aum Arivu

"7 Aum Arivu" is a Kollywood science fiction action drama film that was produced, written and directed by A.R. Murugadoss and stars Suriya, Shruti Haasan, and Johnny Trí Nguyễn. Our test story focuses on a nefarious Chinese agent who concocts a biological war against India, only to have his plans thwarted by an FSU genetics student and circus artist who joins forces to awaken the powers of an ancient warrior to defeat him.

The movie starts with the tale of Bodhidharma, a master martial artist and medicine man of the Pallava dynasty, journeying to China to halt a dangerous plague. Though he's initially turned away, he gains the villagers’ trust as he heals their diseases and instructs them in self-defence, hypnosis, and Western-style medicine. Before he can return to India, he is poisoned and interred in China by villagers who think that keeping him will protect them from harm eternally. In the story set in the present day, Dong Lee, a Chinese agent, comes to India to kickstart Operation Red, a biological war. Meanwhile, Subha, an aspirant genetic engineer, discovers that Bodhidharma’s DNA can be restored via his modern descendant, Aravind, a circus artist. She persuades Aravind to cooperate in her investigation, all the while not knowing that Lee is following their every movement.

While Subha and Aravind try to re-establish Bodhidharma’s knowledge, they are pursued at every turn by Lee, determined to destroy them. Subha and Kiran plot to find out what’s really going on and eventually learn that Subha’s professor is selling information to the enemy for cash. After narrowly avoiding several attacks and seeing other friends killed by Lee, Subha and Aravind take refuge in an isolated research facility. As Lee bears down on him, Aravind learns to tap into the original magic of Bodhidharma that lies buried in his own heart. Orchestrating a labyrinthine counterstrategy within the bounds of those powers, he vanquishes Lee and prevents the virus from spreading. He then works bastardising traditional Indian medicine to heal the afflicted and wins Subha’s hand in marriage.

“7 Aum Arivu” creates an unusual narrative. Though he impresses in both avatars, he really shines in the historical flashback. Blowback is a cinematic journey through lost Indian knowledge and the abuse of science for war. While the screenplay drags in spots, the idea and overall theme are powerful and very patriotic.