Director Vijay’s latest film, Mission: Chapter 1, revolves around action-packed sequences. However, the story doesn’t begin with intense action scenes. Instead, it focuses on a critical situation involving a sick child named Sana in Tamil Nadu. Sana urgently requires surgery, and the only solution is to seek medical attention at a hospital in London, which adds to the rarity of the situation.
Sana’s father, Gunasekar, also known as Guna (played by Arun Vijay), takes on the responsibility of caring for his daughter. He is willing to go to any lengths to save her life. In order to gather funds, Guna sells his beloved jeep and pawns some of his other possessions. Surprisingly, he receives a Rs 10 note in exchange for these items. This seemingly insignificant note holds a significant value. It is revealed that the bearer of this note will receive Rs 30 lakh in the UK, providing us with a glimpse into the workings of the hawala system.
Vijay’s direction in Mission’s story may be conventional and predictable, but it manages to hold your attention throughout.
Mission: Chapter 1 (Tamil)
Director: Vijay
Cast: Arun Vijay, Amy Jackson, Nimisha Sajayan, Bharath Bopanna, Baby Iyal
Storyline: A father takes his daughter to the UK for treatment, but ends up in prison
However, is that sufficient to deem his current Mission a resounding success? It seems unlikely, as the narrative swiftly shifts its focus towards smaller storylines within the overarching plot. These sub-plots involve a terrorist organization, infiltrators within the police force, and a cunning janitor at the hospital. Meanwhile, Guna is supposed to be spending time with his daughter but is unexpectedly thrust into an unforeseen duel. Furthermore, a character who sustains an injury and is hospitalized only reappears on screen much later, long after we have forgotten about them.
Nevertheless, the primary issue lies in the protagonist’s invincibility. It appears as though Guna possesses the solutions to problems even before they arise.
Arun Vijay portrays Guna with sincerity and focus, particularly in the action sequences, where he gives his all. While Amy Jackson, who is still remembered for her role in Madrassaptinam, gets the opportunity to showcase her skills in stunts and deliver Tamil dialogues, Nimisha Sajayan has limited involvement. The child artiste Iyal delivers an impactful performance, as does Bharat Bopanna, who portrays the antagonist, Omar.
In this thrilling narrative, the hospital and jail, two unexpected settings, take on the role of characters. While the dynamics within these places are somewhat intriguing, there is limited time to fully delve into them due to the higher stakes at hand. One notable scene involves a meticulously choreographed action sequence featuring numerous prisoners, where an unconventional weapon leaves a significant impact.
Viewers who have enjoyed the immensely successful 2023 Tamil film “Jailer” may find themselves drawing comparisons while watching “Mission: Chapter 1.” However, the connection to Rajinikanth doesn’t end there, as there is also a Punjabi character reminiscent of the Superstar’s popular 1995 film “Baasha.”
The action in “Mission: Chapter 1” is heightened by the impressive score composed by GV Prakash, while Sandeep Vijay’s cinematography keeps up with the film’s fast pace. Nevertheless, director Vijay’s latest venture falls into predictability, which is a slight drawback. We can only hope that there are no plans for a sequel, as a “Chapter 2” would be unnecessary.