Buckle up for thrills: Ajith Kumar's road trip takes a hair-raising turn in 'Vidaamuyarchi'

Who here doesn’t love a gripping thriller where a road trip takes a terrifying turn?

Seriously, it has all the hallmarks of leaving viewers on tenterhooks, especially when underpinned by a solid script with plenty of red herrings and a fabulous cast. 

That’s why I thoroughly recommend “Vidaamuyarchi”, which is written and directed by Magizh Thirumeni. The Tamil film with English subtitles on Netflix also boasts the star pairing of Ajith Kumar as Arjun M and Trisha Krishnan as Kayal Arjun.

After twelve years of marriage, Kayal wants a divorce as she has fallen in love with someone else. For a while, they were happily married until Kayal’s miscarriage, which left her infertile. 

The strain of the loss left the couple living very emotionally distant lives. 

However, Arjun hasn’t stopped loving his wife despite the communication breakdown and her infidelity.

So when she says she wants out and that she’s moving to her parents' home in Tbilisi, Georgia, Arjun asks to drive her from Baku, Azerbaijan, as their final farewell. 

While all starts well with the road trip, a road rage encounter with three young men takes a dark turn close to a gas station. 

Shortly thereafter, Arjun’s car breaks down. Fortunately, Rakshith, a truck driver, and his wife Deepika, a couple Kayal befriended at a fuel stop, stop to assist him.

They offer to drop Kayal at a nearby cafe to call for a tow truck as there is no cellphone signal in the area. 

However, what starts as a kind gesture turns into a nightmare when Arjun is unable to locate Kayal. After managing to restart his car, he goes on a cat-and-mouse chase trying to track his wife.

During his investigation, he realises that he can’t depend on the corrupt local law enforcement and that the good Samaritans are ruthless criminals with an ulterior motive. 

Flashbacks allow the audience to grasp Arjun's deep affection for his wife, alongside the disturbing romantic history of the Bonnie and Clyde-esque couple he met.

The script is exceptional with plenty of clever plot twists. And the character storylines are layered for emotional depth. 

Also, the desolate background reflects the protagonist's despair. This slow-burning psychological thriller deserves an audience. 

Rating: 4/5 **** a standout film with exceptional qualities.