Master (2021)

Master is the kind of mass entertainer that also has a pulse: Lokesh Kanagaraj stages a propulsive action-thriller inside a juvenile school and makes the stakes feel uncomfortably human, not just heroic. Vijay plays JD with a scruffy charm and lived-in vulnerability, while Vijay Sethupathi’s Bhavani is the rare villain who radiates menace without needing theatrics—every scene between them crackles with tension and dark humor. The vibe is gritty and charged, with punchy set pieces, a strong sense of place, and an undercurrent of anger at a system that chews up kids and calls it justice. It isn’t for viewers who want clean, comforting action—there’s violence, intimidation, and a bleak edge—but if you’re on the fence, it’s exactly the sort of high-voltage crowd-pleaser that still has something to say.

Master is aiming to be a massy face-off with a social conscience, pitting a flawed, alcoholic teacher against a gangster exploiting kids in a juvenile facility, and it does deliver that big-star energy. The catch is it’s long and often feels like two movies stitched together: a gritty, unsettling institutional-crime thread and a hero-centric action showcase that can dilute the emotional punch. The violence around children and the bleakness of the setting may be a dealbreaker if you’re after a clean, escapist thriller. Still, Vijay Sethupathi is genuinely menacing, the central clash has bite, and when the film focuses on the kids and the power dynamics, it’s far more compelling than the detours.