MASK movie Review: A Bold Crime Drama With Sharp Characters, Fierce Conflicts & A Roaring Climax
Kavin has built a reputation for choosing offbeat scripts, and MASK continues that streak with a morally twisted crime drama driven by flawed protagonists, selfish motives, and a Heist narrative inspired in form — but not spirit — by Money Heist. Debut director Vikarnan ashok delivers a gritty, character-driven story where no one is innocent, everyone is self-serving, and morality is a luxury nobody can afford. With Andrea not only starring but also co-producing the film, MASK arrives with solid expectations. The question is — does it deliver?
The answer: mostly yes, but not without rough edges.
STORY
Velu (Kavin) is a detective with a razor-sharp brain and a morally grey core. His philosophy is simple: “Money is the only need in this world.” He serves his clients, manipulates the guilty, and squeezes money out of anyone who falls into his net. A broken marriage and a child he rarely sees add emotional baggage, but Velu is too busy surviving to slow down.
His life changes when he meets Rathi (Ruhani Sharma), a woman trapped in a marriage she doesn’t want. Their connection deepens, hinting at romance but complicated by guilt, secrecy, and timing.
Parallelly, Bhoomi (Andrea), a fierce activist who rescues abused women, educates them, and rebuilds their lives. But behind this noble face lies a darker identity — she also uses the same women to fulfil political demands, recording everything as leverage. When politician Bhavan hands her ₹440 crore to discreetly distribute across his constituency, Bhoomi hides the cash inside her supermarket.
A masked gang steals the money, wearing M.R. Radha masks.
Velu unknowingly gets entangled in the heist, only to later discover an M.R. Radha mask inside Rathi’s husband’s bag — forcing him to confront a shocking possibility.
Who stole the ₹440 crore? Why are people risking everything? And can Velu escape the web he’s caught in?
MASK unravels these answers through high-stakes confrontations, shifting loyalties, and one hell of a climax.
PERFORMANCES
Kavin is exceptional as Velu — unapologetic, cunning, manipulative, yet strangely endearing. He plays the anti-hero with conviction, and his dialogue, especially “I’m not a good man, but I’m not ashamed of it,” suits the character perfectly.
Andrea is powerful and layered. Her dual-faced role — saviour on one side, mastermind on the other — is one of the film’s major strengths. She matches Kavin’s intensity frame for frame, and their confrontations crackle with tension.
Ruhani Sharma is effective in her limited romantic arc, while charlie and the ensemble cast deliver solid support. Most characters are selfish, flawed, and morally ambiguous — a refreshing departure from typical “good guy vs. bad guy” tropes.
TECHNICALITIES
The cinematography is a major highlight. The visuals are stylish, atmospheric, and elevate the film’s tension, especially in heist and confrontation scenes.
GV Prakash’s background score is a mixed bag. While the climax track is outstanding and lifts the final act to another level, much of the BGM elsewhere lacks punch. The songs, however, are strong.
Editing is where the film stumbles. The extremely fast cuts create confusion in portions where the narrative needed clarity. A more measured rhythm could have strengthened the emotional and investigative beats.
ANALYSIS
director Vikarnan ashok deserves applause for crafting a world where no one is pure, no one is a victim, and everyone is driven by self-interest. This moral greyness is the film’s biggest strength.
The heist angle — though visually reminiscent of Money Heist — is backed by a solid motive, making it feel purposeful rather than derivative. The film’s world-building, character design, and the conflicts between Kavin and Andrea are gripping and well-written.
But the screenplay sometimes loses clarity, especially in the first half. A few scenes feel confusing, and the editing choices unnecessarily speed up sequences that would have benefited from breathing space.
Still, the second half and especially the climax redeem the film. The final act is explosive, satisfying, and emotionally charged, tying together the themes of greed, survival, and moral compromise.
MASK thrives not through its plot, but through its characters — flawed humans trapped between desperation and desire.
WHAT WORKS
• Kavin’s bold, ruthless performance
• Andrea’s powerful dual-shaded role
• Strong character design
• A compelling, motive-driven heist angle
• Engaging second half
• Massive, high-impact climax
• Stylish cinematography
• Interesting exploration of human selfishness
WHAT DOESN’T
• Overly fast editing that causes confusion
• A few scenes lack clarity
• Inconsistent background score outside the climax
• Some narrative jumps feel abrupt
click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel