Director Elan's highly anticipated film, Star, featuring Kavin, Preity Mukhundhan and Aaditi Phankar, takes audiences on a journey through the trials and tribulations of a young individual striving to make it big in the acting world. Set in the backdrop of coming-of-age, the movie delves deep into the protagonist's aspirations, highlighting the challenges and unexpected obstacles he encounters along the way. As Star graces the silver screen on May 10, prospective viewers are encouraged to explore critics' reviews to determine whether the film lives up to its hype and is worth their time and investment. Marivillin Gopurangal Review: Indrajith Sukumaran's 'Decent' Malayalam Flick Garners Positive Response From Critics.

So, before you head to the cinema, delve into the critiques and decide for yourself if Star shines brightly or falls short of expectations.

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The Hindu: Star was marketed as a heartfelt ode to the gruelling journey most aspiring actors take to reach the limelight, and we see Kalai go from a doe-eyed kid enacting a moustache-less Bharathiyar (a stand-out opening scene) to a man who is torn between choosing his passion and the harsh demands of middle-class life. But the realities that upend Kalai’s dreams have nothing to do with the real-world issues that plague most aspiring actors in tinsel town, and more to do with the uncertainties that life throws at you. Unfortunately, even on that end, Star is hardly a novel attempt.. You also suspect a lack of confidence in the writing when the film resorts to gimmicks to feed emotions. There’s a ‘surprise’ soundtrack that arrests you with overwhelming emotions, but only for what it means to Tamil music fans and not how it is used in the film. Murder in Mahim Review: Vijay Raaz, Ashutosh Rana's Thriller Series Is Flawed but Gripping, Claim Critics.

India Today com: However, ‘Star’ remains superficial despite having so much potential. The struggles that Kalai goes through don’t linger. The screenplay feels rushed, and it jumps from one emotional scene to another without giving the audience time to process it. That said, certain moments in ‘Star’ do grab your attention. Be it Kalai and his father’s camaraderie or his banter with his mother (Geetha Kailasam), the emotions are conveyed beautifully. The portions where Kalai goes to an acting school in Mumbai add much-needed gravitas to his struggle.The main grouse with ‘Star’ is that the story meanders to a different tangent in the second half, which gives in to many clichés. While the first half stays true to the genre and Kavin’s dream, the second half lags because of this tonal shift. While it's justified that it is also Kalai’s struggle, it subverts the feeling it created in the first half. After a while, the struggles become superficial. We get to see the Kalai’s problems in familial life and mental health, but not how the cinema industry functions, especially when a newcomer is trying to break in without solid backing.

Firstpost com: The majority of the film feels as if someone is skipping through scenes, fast forwarding through Kalai’s life. The scenes set during Kalai’s school time is to establish that he loves movies, and can go to the extent of making prank calls to get a holiday for Rajinikanth release. The college time-period of Kalai’s life is nothing but him falling in love with a junior student called Meera. It is only when the time for campus interview comes that the film even touches upon Kalai’s passion for acting. It is not enough to just tell the audience that he is passionate about acting. One must show him pursuing it, with obsession, as if his life depended on it. At least, if the film is about the rise of a star, I believe it is necessary to underline accentuate this obsession.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 10, 2024 08:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).