‘Blast’ movie review: An unlikely family packs a punch in this fairly entertaining but intriguing film

A karate master father, a housewife mother and a pharmacist uncle. The life of IT professional Neela (a brilliant Preeti Mukundan) seems quite simple and altruistic – she goes to her office, plays video games on her mobile, and spends time in her uncle’s medical shop, reluctantly looking at an old television set that he refuses to let go of. To an ordinary viewer, Neela’s life may seem nothing extraordinary. Still, one important detail suggests that perhaps it should be the kind of ‘family life’ backdrop that makes a superhero origin story the most convincing. Neela is not an ordinary person, nor is she a karate master, housewife or pharmacist. blastDirected by Subhash K Raj, is a very powerful martial arts action film Drishyam-Like idea – What if a family of martial arts professionals are forced to step out of their normal lives to fight against injustice when nefarious people arrive at their doorstep? And director Subhash does a brilliant job using this idea by conceiving a brilliant set-up.

The heartbeat of the story is Preeti Mukundan’s Neela, who just avoids being a gender-swapping routine action hero. There is genuine moral and emotional support as to why Preeti is the way she is and Subhash gives her time to present her side. Neela’s search began when she was a child. When she is filled with anger due to the ragging incident, her father, Rajaram (Arjun) tells her, “Fight if you are right” and “Fight against injustice, even if the victims are strangers.”

And the introductory scene of Neela’s bravery now grown up is naturally entertaining. A goon is sent flying into the rioters’ lair, and a shocked henchman rushes out to find his co-worker “the one who killed that guy”, and urges Neela to step aside, because it can’t be a woman, right? Neela enters, and chaos ensues. In fact, one of the smartest choices Subhash makes is how he perpetuates this implicit, normalized sexism in how men view Neela. In the latter example, a villain looks at Rajaram and Neela because they seem like an ordinary father and daughter. Where Subhash takes a wrong step is in how he deals with the sexual harassment case featuring Neela and her abusive manager; This makes way for a nice masala cinema moment, but Subhash laces it with humour, and it neither reveals anything new nor cares to expand on the idea that the world Neela lives in is already conditioned to look down on women and feast on their weaknesses. Plus, you start to get a little impatient as the film continues to revel in the idea that a woman is driving all the action – when will the conflict arise?

Neela constantly gets into trouble as she refuses to bow to injustice, not only to her father’s pride but also to the dismay of her mother, Neelaveni (Abhirami, too, who can kick some ass). And it doesn’t take much to guess where the setting is headed. We begin to follow the buildup to the Black Opal mining scam, which is led by a rogue businessman, Varun Dhaylan (John Kokken). The project, which endangers the hill village of Keelakadu, will bring minerals worth ₹7000 crore, of which one minister (PL Thenappan) takes ₹1000 crore. This entire cycle operates like a complex cycle of villainy – helping Varun in raising the money needed to bribe the minister is a dreaded killer named Abraham (Arjun Chidambaram), and helping Abraham is a gangster named Kirubhakaran (Pawan), and working under him is a henchman whose friend is a low-life chain snatcher, Toby (Vinod Sagar), and Toby Is caught in a station where Inspector Arunagiri (Dilipan) is investigating Abraham’s identity, and works under Arunagiri. Corrupt policeman who seeks Kirubha’s help to save his job. I think you can already see where blast Might have gone off the track.

A large chunk of screentime is given to explaining each step in this often yawn-inducing villain saga, while you patiently wait to see the tip of the whirlpool knock on Neela’s door and see her martial arts family. When it happens, it’s as explosive as you’d expect, at least until the intermission mark. While these one-dimensional villains test your patience – written and presented only by Arjun Chidambaram – you are left waiting for the next high moment, especially since Subhash seems to have a habit of staging such group scenes. But then, how much can Preeti and Arjun do when the writing starts sinking into clichés and conveniences? After a point, blast The final stages become quite tiresome, making you wonder how a thinner, clearer and more streamlined script could have been done.

However, all that aside, what really attracts someone is how, despite blast Directed by a male director and starring an action star like Arjun, it revolves around its female protagonist, Neela, and every major decision is taken keeping the two central women as opposing but balancing poles – Neelaveni’s moral anchor prioritises the family’s peaceful life above all else, and Neela’s moral anchor inspires him to become a knight of justice. In fact, even in one of the most crucial moments of the film, the authority to decide a villain’s fate is placed on Neela’s shoulders. It’s great to see Arjun taking a step back to let Abhiram and Preeti shine, while Vivek Prasanna as Neela’s pharmacist uncle has to take a step back. water-A moment that will definitely become a highlight in his career. Supporting all this are capable technicians, be it the sharp, spectacular cinematography, the innovative and adrenaline-pumping action choreography, and Ravi Basrur’s assured music choices.

said that, blast It’s always been a Preeti Mukundan show, and star-The actor knows how to punch, okay! In a separate film, where more simple ideas for mass regeneration are covered, blast This really would have been the big bang that defined his career.

Blast is currently running in theaters

published – May 29, 2026 02:50 PM IST