VIKRAM

Cert 15

171 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong bloody violence, language, drug misuse

While, Hollywood is obsessing over what its heroes might or might not be doing in parallel universes, Indian cinema is gearing up for movie storylines which cross right here on earth.

Vikram is the second in the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) - made up of action films - and it has already made a mint.

This is much more my bag than the head-scratching Marvel pictures which seem to demand a degree in continuity.

Background knowledge might be handy in the LCU but, at least for now, they can stand on their own.

This is certainly the case in Vikram (Kamal Haasan), a violent thriller centred on two black ops cop teams who live by their own rules.

It stars the ever-watchable Fahadh Faasil whose squad have been brought in to track down the murderers of a police officer (Kalidas Jayaram) and his adopted father (Hassan).

The latter is a mysterious figure who turns out to be a long-off-the-radar leader of 1980s undercover team.

Vikram is also a follow-up to a 1986 movie of the same name but, fear not, I hadn't seen that or the previous LCU movie but still enjoyed the power of this one.

Haasan is unstoppable in the title role - eluding bloody death numerous times while offering no mercy to the bad guys.

Meanwhile, we see Vikram's other side through his dedication to his baby grandson who he protects at all costs.

In parallel, Faasil's character also targeting the ruthless and more than slightly mad leader of a drug syndicate, played with gusto by Vijay Sethupathi .

Lokesh Kanagaraj's movie is nerve-shredding and relentless with its pace maintained for nearly three hours and gory deaths from start until finish.

Its body count is mind-boggling and I rarely go for films which are as violent and have such superficial character exploration as this.

But, in common with those whose cash has helped make it one of the biggest Tamil box office hits of all time, I was engrossed.