Name: Michael (2023)
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Released: 2023-02-03
Rating: 6.0
Cast: Sundeep Kishan, Vijay Sethupathi, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Divyansha Kaushik, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar

Michael is the story of an orphan named Michael and his friends who started with nothing and became one of the most powerful people. It stars Sai Charan Tej, Aditya Siva and is directed by Mandapati Kiran.

Michael (2023)

Times of India

Right from the get-go director Ranjit Jeyakodi immerses you into the world of Michael. Hues of red with hints of gold take over the screen and more than dialogues, some of the characters use their eyes or body to relay what they’re feeling. Is the film a classic tale of revenge? Yes. Does it play out like every other gangster drama? Sure. However, Ranjit does enough to ensure you invest in these characters.
A man called Swamy (Ayyappa Sharma) is beaten bloody by goons in search of Michael (Sundeep Kishan). Instead of begging for his life, the man begins narrating the tale of the titular character. Michael has always been a loner since childhood – choosing to listen to music or use his fists instead of holding an actual conversation. Gangster Guru (Gautham Vasudev Menon) rules Mumbai but one fine day, his life is saved by a 13-year-old Michael. Brought into the fold, he grows up surrounded by guns, politics and Guru’s wife Charulatha (Anasuya Bharadwaj) and son Amar (Varun Sandesh). When he’s tasked with killing Theera (Divyansha Kaushik), instead, he falls for her. What follows needs to be seen on-screen.
Without revealing much, the story that Ranjit charts out is a classic and cliché one – and he knows it. Which is why he seems to have fun when it comes to the way his characters are fleshed out, the detailing, the way the film is shot or even the way music is used in the film. He takes his own sweet time, lingering in certain scenes when he wants a feeling to sink in. And there are times when he’ll explain away key plot points in dialogues even before you catch up with what’s happening. The film’s pacing will either sit right with you or won’t, there’s no two ways about it.
Coming to the characters, Michael might have walls set up so high they can be seen from space, but he’s a soft romantic at heart with a tragic past he can’t seem to get over. You never really know what he’s thinking, with him often choosing to hide behind anger or music, and that’s a conscious choice that works in the film’s favour. It’s a bonus that he’s also respectful to women. Guru has a fondness for reading books like The Godfather, Macbeth and The Old Man and The Sea – very telling. There’s a spider motif in the scene Theera is introduced, but the shape of her earrings give away something else entirely. As for Amar…well, he’s just a spoilt brat who always wants his way.
Later in a film, which is already filled with numerous characters, we’re also introduced to Vijay Sethupathi and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar. Their scenes show off a different kind of romance and bring some light-heartedness to an otherwise serious film. Essentially Michael has a lot going on for it, but the pacing (which many might mistake for lag) makes it seem like nothing much is happening. But if you pay close attention, you see how Michael is inching closer to his target. Special shoutout to the music by Sam CS and cinematography by Kiran Koushik that truly add to the edgy vibe of it all.
Sundeep Kishan gets a role that’s not easy to pull off, he hardly talks in the film. When Michael gets angry, he goes absolutely ballistic but at other times, he hides a lot behind those deep dark eyes. Sundeep grabs the opportunity and just runs with it, stealing the show. He also plays well with the characters played by Varun Sandesh and Gautham Vasudev Menon. Divyansha’s character required someone who’s a better dance, for sure, and maybe someone who’s a little more emotive. The impact her character could’ve had is somewhat lost in some scenes even if the romance works. Varun, Gautham, Anasuya, Ayyappa, RK Mama and others play their parts well.
Michael is a genre film that achieves what it sets out to do – tell a dark coming-of-age tale of a young man who knows what it means to be human for better or worse. Watch it if that’s your kind of cinema.

Michael - Official Trailer (Telugu) | Sundeep Kishan, Vijay Sethupathi | Ranjit Jeyakodi | Sam CS

Michael - Official Trailer (Hindi) | Sundeep Kishan, Vijay Sethupathi | Ranjit Jeyakodi | Sam CS

Michael - Official Trailer (Kannada) | Sundeep Kishan, Vijay Sethupathi | Ranjit Jeyakodi |Sam CS

Michael - Official Trailer (Malayalam) | Sundeep Kishan,Vijay Sethupathi |Ranjit Jeyakodi |Sam CS

Michael - Official Trailer (Tamil) | Sundeep Kishan, Vijay Sethupathi | Ranjit Jeyakodi | Sam CS

Sundeep Kishan is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Telugu and Tamil films. 

Sundeep Kishan

Vijaya Gurunatha Sethupathi Kalimuthu, known professionally as Vijay Sethupathi, is an Indian actor and producer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema, in addition to few Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi films

Vijay Sethupathi

Divyansha Kaushik is an Indian actress and model who appears in Telugu films.Divyansha made a acting debut through Naga Chaitanya's Majili

Divyansha Kaushik

Best known as a TV presenter, Anasuya Bharadwaj is an Indian film and TV actress, mainly working in Telugu film industry. Anasuya started her career as a TV presenter in a comedy show titled Jabardasth, which brought her into the limelight. After which she appeared as a host in TV shows like Bindass, Modern Mahalakshmi, Jabardasth, One - No More Silly Games, A Date with Anasuya, Star Maa Pariwar Awards, Jackpot-2 and as a judge in shows like Drama Juniors season 1 & season 2. She has also hosted and performed at events of several films such as Fitting Master, Rakta Charitra, Wanted, Endukante... Premanta!, Kevvu Keka, Current Theega, Kumari 21F, Dynamite and Jai Lava Kusa.

Anasuya Bharadwaj

Gautham Vasudev Menon is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer and actor who predominantly works in Tamil film industry. He has also directed Telugu and Hindi films that either simultaneously shot with or remakes of his own Tamil films.

Gautham Vasudev Menon

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar is an actress who is recognized for her work in South Indian cinema. She made her debut with the 2012 Tamil film Podaa Podi. She has won several awards for her performances in films like Tharai Thappattai, Kasaba and Vikram Vedha.

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar

Kishore Kumar G. is an actor who works in the South Indian film industry. He made his debut with the Kannada film Kanti and continued to appear in films like Happy, Polladhavan, Yudha Kanda and Nisabdham among others.

Michael (2023)(2023)