Kanthaswamy

“Kanthaswamy” (2009) is a vigilante action film written and directed by Susi Ganesan. It featured Vikram, Shriya Saran, and Prabhu. The film follows a masked man who secretly helps the poor while a CBI officer hunts those hiding illegal wealth.

Kanthaswamy is a CBI officer in the Economic Offences Wing who secretly lives a life of crime. By day, he tracks down black money smarties, and by night, he turns into a mystical rooster don vigilante, fulfilling the wishes of the indigents who pray at a neighbourhood shrine. Together with the friends closest to him, he steals from the rich and gives to the poor, the undeserving rich and deserving poor, of course, by redistributing illegal money. In the course of this one major raid, he finds the stash of PP (Ponnuaswamy) a corrupt businessman and his partner in crime, Rajmohan. In order to get out of arrest, PPP pretends to have a stroke. Fateh’s daughter, Subbalakshmi, holds Kanthaswamy responsible and vows to take revenge by feigning affection for him.

Kanthaswamy sees clearly through her plan; he feigns acceptance, under the pretence, of course, of converting their phoney romance into the real thing. Despite Subbalakshmi’s best efforts to woo Kanthaswamy, the old fox gets control of Subbalakshmi’s father’s numbered offshore bank accounts and uses the cash to keep doing his secret philanthropy. At the same time, a local police officer gets increasingly sceptical of the temple miracle tales but is unable to disprove Kanthaswamy’s identity. Rajmohan gets exposed and arrested, and when PPP finds out that she has been bankrupt, she gets an actual stroke. Subbalakshmi finds out the extent of her father’s crimes and has a change of heart. Upon discovering Kanthaswamy’s plan, she confesses her love and marries him, embracing his mission.

Directed by Suseenthiran, “Kanthaswamy” is a colourful, action-packed entertainer laced with a high-octane social awakening. Vikram is exceptional in the dual role, deftly navigating comedy, action and pathos effortlessly. The movie achieves an unlikely balance between being a crowd-pleaser and searing social commentary on corruption and the growing gap between rich and poor.