Good Bad Ugly: Ajith’s Stylish Comeback Fails to Deliver the Full Punch

Director - Adhik Ravichandran

Starring - Ajith Kumar, Trisha Krishnan, Arjun Das, Jackie Shroff, Prasanna, Karthikrya Dev, Redin Kingsley, Yogi Babu, Simran, 

Rating - 3

Duration – 139 Minute

 

Ajith Kumar is back, and he’s not here to sip tea and chat — he’s here to burn the screen (and a few bad guys) in Good Bad Ugly, the latest Tamil action flick from director Adhik Ravichandran. And if you're wondering what this movie is really about, it’s simple: imagine a vintage Ajith with slick suits, raging eyes, and a past soaked in blood — now add a son, a drug bust, and some seriously stylish slow-mo shots. Boom. You’ve got the recipe.

 

Ajith plays AK, aka “Red Dragon” — because just calling him "sir" would clearly be too basic. He’s a former gangster with 18 years of prison workouts under his belt and a mysterious past that screams “Don't ask questions unless you’re ready for violence.” When he finally steps out of jail, he's ready to reunite with his now-grown son Vihaan — but fate throws a spicy curveball. Vihaan’s in jail, tangled in a drug case, and daddy dearest has no choice but to un-retire his inner gangster. What follows is a whirlwind of fists, fury, and fabulous flashbacks, including a photoshoot sequence that’s pure Ajith-core fan service.

 

Ajith, naturally, steals the spotlight. His swagger’s on point, his silences speak volumes, and his action sequences are soaked in that unmistakable star power. You don’t watch Good Bad Ugly for a nuanced drama — you watch it to see Ajith walk in slow motion while explosions conveniently happen behind him. Director Adhik Ravichandran clearly understands this, crafting every frame like it’s part of a hero-worship music video. Trisha graces the screen with elegance but has less screen time than a mid-credits ad. Arjun Das tries to bring menace as the villain(s), but against Ajith’s Red Dragon energy, he ends up more bark than bite.

There are moments that genuinely land — the flashback narration, the stylish visuals, and a nostalgic cameo by Simran. These are the scenes where the film flexes its cinematic muscles. Unfortunately, those muscles get tired by the second half, where the story flattens like an overcooked dosa. Emotional scenes between Ajith and his son could’ve hit hard but instead feel like they were written during a coffee break. The rest of the cast, from Jackie Shroff to Redin Kingsley, largely orbit around Ajith’s star power without much to do. And the dubbing? Let’s just say it’s not winning any awards.

 

Technically, the film looks polished — Abinandhan Ramanujam’s cinematography keeps things visually engaging, and the production design is solid. GV Prakash’s music, however, doesn’t bring the thunder you'd expect, aside from a few decent elevation cues. By the end, the movie feels more like a stylish tribute reel than a fully-formed gangster drama.

 

Good Bad Ugly is exactly what the title suggests — a mixed bag. It’s Good when Ajith is doing Ajith things, Bad when the story tries to dig deep (and barely scratches the surface), and Ugly when logic takes a nosedive. But for die-hard fans of the star, that might be more than enough. Just don’t walk in expecting The Godfather. This one's more like The Godfather: Now With More Sunglasses.

Final Verdict: Watch it for Ajith, worship the swagger, ignore the rest. A stylized snack, but far from a full-course gangster feast.

 

Facebook Comments