Agent Kannayiram

Agent Kannayiram
Theatrical release poster
Directed byManoj Beedha
Screenplay byManoj Beedha
Ramesh Marabu
Based onAgent Sai Srinivasa Athreya
by Swaroop RSJ
Produced byManoj Beedha
StarringSanthanam
Riya Suman
CinematographyTheni Eswar
Saravanan Ramasamy
Edited byAjay
Music byYuvan Shankar Raja
Production
company
Labyrinth Films
Release date
  • 25 November 2022 (2022-11-25)
Running time
144 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Agent Kannayiram is a 2022 Indian Tamil-language comedy mystery film directed by Manoj Beedha and produced by Labyrinth Films.[1] It is a remake of the 2019 Telugu film Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya.The film stars Santhanam and Riya Suman with a supporting cast including Munishkanth, and Redin Kingsley.[2] The film's music was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, with cinematography handled by duo Theni Eashwar and Saravanan Ramasamy and editing done by Ajay. The film was released in theatres on 25 November 2022 to mixed reviews from critics.[3]

Plot

Kannayiram, a self-proclaimed, unassuming private detective with a sleeplessness issue, grieving for his mother’s death, forcefully stays in his native village for the asset dispute of his family heirloom. Aadhirai, a documentary filmmaker who visits the village for her Project work meets Kannayiram for her interview. Aadhirai gives information about the increasing number of unidentified dead bodies found in and around Coimbatore region. Kannayiram takes up this case to prove his calibre. After solving the case, he finds out that doctor Karthikeyan along with his assistant Punniyam killed so many people and put the dead bodies near the bridge. Kannayiram beats Karthikeyan’s goons and takes him to the police where Karthikeyan is jailed for the rest of his life. Kannayiram gets an award and Aadhirai proposed to him in which he agrees. The film ends with Kannayiram solving another murder case

Cast

Production

Labyrinth Films signed on director Manoj Beedha (who earlier directed Vanjagar Ulagam) to direct the Tamil remake of 2019 Telugu film Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya for their production house with Santhanam to portray the leading role.[4] Riya Suman was cast as the female lead.[5] Principal photography began on 1 February 2021 in Coimbatore with the majority of the portions shot in Coimbatore, Pollachi and Kerala. After 55 days of shoot, the film's final schedule was completed in October 2021.[6] The title and the first look poster of the film were unveiled by director Lokesh Kanagaraj via his Twitter account on 15 October 2021.[7] In January 2022, actors Arya and Jiiva released the teaser of the film on the occasion of Santhanam's birthday.[8][9]

Soundtrack

The music for the film is composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, collaborating with Santhanam for the second time (after Dikkiloona) with Santhanam after the latter's transformation into lead roles.[10]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Oppari Rap"MC Sanna, Kedakuzhi MaariyammaYuvan Shankar Raja, MC Sanna3:26
2."Theme of Kannayiram" (Theme) —Instrumental1:57
3."The Arabic Lullaby" (Theme) —Instrumental2:27
Total length:7:10

Release

Theatrical

The film was scheduled to be released theatrically on 24 November 2022,[11] but later pushed by a day to 25 November.[12]

Home media

The post-theatrical streaming rights were acquired by Sun NXT.[citation needed]

Reception

M. Suganth of The Times of India rated the film 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Throughout the first half, the film seems indecisive on what it wants to be and the jagged editing only leads to what feels like disorienting narrative jumps."[13] Kirubhakar Purushothaman of The Indian Express rated the film 2 out of 5 stars and wrote "Everything is unpronounced and lacks the impact the director has aimed for thus we are left with an underwhelming film that tries too hard. Not just the gun, even the film fails to fire."[14] Srivatsan S of The Hindu wrote "Unfortunately Agent Kannayiram ends up being an exasperating watch lacking a soul, fittingly, for a film about dead bodies and lonely deaths."[15] Vishal Menon of Film Companion wrote "You get a just-about-watchable comedy thriller that you start forgetting as you’re watching it."[16] Soundarya Athimuthu of The Quint gave the film’s rating 3.5 out of 5 and wrote "The Tamil remake is a polished version of the original. A lot of effort has gone into cinematography, which is commendable."[17]

Thinkal Menon of OTT Play gave the film 1.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "A Santhanam-starrer usually is loaded with minimum entertaining elements irrespective of its total outcome. But this time, he tests patience, thanks to his awful decision to remake an engaging movie."[18] Yuva Nandini of ABP Live gave the film 4 out of 5 stars and wrote "Agent Kannayiram is sure to be one of the best in Santhanam's career."[19] Avinash Ramachandran of Cinema Express wrote "Agent Kannayiram is a hyper-stylised version of Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya but misses out on hitting the same highs as the original."[20] Dinamalar rated the film 2 out of 5 stars.[21]

References

  1. ^ "'ஏஜென்ட் கண்ணாயிரம்' படத்தில் துப்பறியும் நிபுணராக சந்தானம்". Dina Thanthi (in Tamil). 28 January 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  2. ^ "தெலுங்கு பட ரீமேக்கில் சந்தானம்... ஃபர்ஸ்ட் லுக் வெளியீடு!". Nakkheeran (in Tamil). 15 October 2021. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Agent Kannayiram gets OTT release date". Cinema Express. 22 December 2022. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Agent Kannayiram: Santhanam stars in Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya Tamil remake". Cinema Express. 15 October 2021. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Like me, Santhanam is also a spiritual person: Riya Suman". The Times of India. 23 January 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Santhanam begins shoot for Tamil remake of 'Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya'". The News Minute. 3 February 2021. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Santhanam's next titled Agent Kannayiram". The Times of India. 15 October 2021. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Santhanam's Agent Kannayiram teaser". The Times of India. 21 January 2022. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Teaser of Santhanam-starrer 'Agent Kannayiram' garners million views". DT Next. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Yuvan Shankar Raja is the backbone of Santhanam's Agent Kannayiram: Manoj Beedha". The Times of India. 15 October 2021. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Santhanam's Agent Kannayiram gets a release date". Cinema Express. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  12. ^ "″Agent Kannayiram is a different film'". News Today. 24 November 2022. Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  13. ^ Suganth, M. (25 November 2022). "Agent Kannayiram Movie Review : A visually distinct, but narratively bland crime film". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Agent Kannayiram movie review: Santhanam's detective drama is another misfire from Manoj Beedha". The Indian Express. 25 November 2022. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  15. ^ "'Agent Kannayiram' movie review: Santhanam's remake of 'Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya' is terrifyingly bad". The Hindu. 25 November 2022. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  16. ^ Menon, Vishal (25 November 2022). "Agent Kannayiram Movie Review: A Bland Comedy Thriller That Leaves You Feeling Nothing But Indifference". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  17. ^ "'Agent Kannayiram' Review: Santhanam-Starrer Doesn't Deliver What It Promises". The Quint. 26 November 2022. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Agent Kannayiram movie review: Even Santhanam's sincere attempt can't save this baffling crime thriller". OTT Play. 25 November 2022. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Agent Kannayiram Review: தொடர் தோல்வியில் சந்தானம்.. டிடெக்டிவ் வியூகம் ஜெயித்ததா..தோற்றதா? - ஏஜென்ட் கண்ணாயிரம் விமர்சனம்!". ABP Nadu (in Tamil). 25 November 2022. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Agent Kannayiram Movie Review: Santhanam powers a stylish but middling remake". Cinema Express. 25 November 2022. Archived from the original on 16 December 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  21. ^ "ஏஜன்ட் கண்ணாயிரம் - விமர்சனம்". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 25 November 2022. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2023.