Kireedam

"Kireedam", directed by A. L. Vijay, is a Tamil action drama film featuring Ajith Kumar and Trisha in the lead roles. A remake of the 1989 Malayalam classic, it’s the tale of a father’s dream to get his son a police officer uniform and the emotional toll on that aspiration.

In Trichy district, constable Rajarajan is living an idyllic life with his wife and children, fantasising about seeing his only son, Sakthivel, follow in his father’s footsteps and enter the constabulary as a police sub-inspector. Sakthi, an earnest and dutiful son with a happy, affectionate rapport with his father, is in love with Divya, a free-spirited daughter of parents whose home is equal to the opposite of Sakthi’s. When Sakthi passes his exams and goes to Chennai for a final interview, the whole family is hopeful. Everything changes when Rajarajan is moved to a notorious high-crime area after he refuses to issue an apology on behalf of a colleague to a corrupt MLA. There, he gets into conflict with Varadan, a volatile local gangster. When Rajarajan is assaulted, Sakthi intervenes and protects his father, earning the public’s admiration but compromising his otherwise spotless reputation.

Things only get worse when Sakthi's brother-in-law exploits his power, and his exploitation tarnishes Rajarajan’s honour. Divya’s parents are sceptical of the match, and Sakthi’s dream starts to disintegrate. Meanwhile, Varadan is imprisoned but subsequently breaks free and seeks vengeance on Sakthi’s family. Even after being encouraged to escape, Sakthi remains behind and discovers Divya nevertheless by his facet. Sakthi must go on the offensive and kill Varadan in self-defence. While Sakthi is subject to wrongful arrest, the court rules him innocent, and in a bittersweet twist, Rajarajan’s dream for his son comes true. Sakthi is appointed as a police officer.

"Kireedam", with its heavy theme of justice vs. vigilanteism, is an affecting tale of love, aspiration and the cost of righteousness. Ajith Kumar emotionally anchors the film, embodying the torment of a son forced to choose between duty and destiny. The film balances action and emotion marvellously, aided by a sweeping score and fierce direction.