The Netflix Original Tamil film Test struggles with an identity crisis. Trim nearly 45 minutes, and it could stand as a tight thriller. Stretch it to 90 minutes longer, and it feels like a sprawling drama focused on layered characters. In its current form, the movie suffers from uneven pacing and includes extraneous material that feels disconnected from the characters’ motivations.
Plot Overview
At the center is Arjun (Siddharth), a professional cricketer facing the end of his career. Despite pressure from the national team to retire before a key Chennai-Pakistan match, Arjun uses his star status to delay retirement, though he knows it’s likely his last game. At home, his wife Padma (Meera Jasmine) and young son Adi (Lirish Rahav) await him, with Adi seeking his father’s attention.
Adi’s struggling at school and finds comfort not from his parents but his dedicated teacher Kumudha (Nayanthara), who battles her own fertility issues. Kumudha’s husband Saravanan (R Madhavan) is hiding his failures, chasing a dream of a hydrogen fuel cell invention while entangled with loan sharks. Their personal challenges unfold slowly, with the film’s thriller elements emerging only halfway through.
Acting and Performances
Despite a star-studded cast, performances mostly feel muted. Siddharth’s Arjun comes off as self-focused, distancing the audience. Nayanthara’s Kumudha largely remains one-dimensional, except for a rare emotional scene. R Madhavan has moments to shine but only much later. Meera Jasmine stands out as Padma, portraying the family’s steady pillar with quiet strength. Young Lirish Rahav convincingly captures Adi’s bratty yet relatable nature.
Narrative and Pacing
The film’s pacing falters due to a delayed inciting incident and an abrupt tone shift from intimate drama to thriller. Characters’ decisions often don’t align with their setup, weakening the story’s impact. Thematically, the film wrestles with choices and opportunities but struggles to convincingly answer these questions through the characters’ actions.
What Could Have Helped?
Test might have thrived as a series, allowing more space for character development and subplot integration such as the police-loan shark angle. Alternatively, trimming its length could have heightened urgency and clarified stakes earlier. As it stands, it is a watchable but forgettable film.
Also Read: Review: Mahavatar Narsimha
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