DC

watching an Arun Matheswaran film is simple: get into his world. He doesn’t make conventional commercial entertainers—he creates his own cinematic universe and completely immerses you in it. If you accept his vision, the experience becomes unforgettable. This review is going to be a long one because I genuinely wanted to appreciate what this filmmaker has achieved. Arun Matheswaran has been consistently surprising me ever since Rocky, and he has remained one of my favorite directors from his debut itself. Every film reminds me why he trained under directors like Sudha Kongara and Thiagarajan Kumararaja. You can clearly see those influences, but at the same time, he has developed a signature style that is uniquely his own. One of Arun’s biggest strengths is the way he stages action. His love for raw, grounded visuals is evident in every frame. Unlike many filmmakers who rely on oversaturated digital aesthetics, Arun prefers an earthy, textured look. Even his Instagram posts reflect that artistic preference—his fascination with monochrome photography and raw imagery is unmistakable. That visual philosophy beautifully translates onto the screen. The film is also filled with wonderful metaphors. One moment that particularly stood out to me was the use of “uravugal thodarkadhai” alongside the symbolism of Guns N’ Roses. The “gun” becomes a metaphor for Lokesh Kanagaraj, while the “rose” beautifully represents Wamiqa. That is such clever writing, and moments like these prove how layered Arun’s storytelling can be. I’ll come back to Arun later because, for me, he is the true original star of this film. Before that, I have to thank him for giving Anirudh Ravichander the freedom to deliver one of his finest background scores. This film once again proves that when Anirudh is trusted creatively, magic happens. There is one post-interval sequence (without revealing too much) where “Bloody Valentine” plays against the backdrop of a marriage-related sequence. The contrast is absolutely brilliant. That’s not just music placement—that’s cinematic storytelling. Anirudh is an original when it comes to background scores. Ever since he spoke about taking inspiration from A.R. Rahman’s advice to incorporate ragas into his compositions, Anirudh has continued evolving as a composer. His RR (background score) in this film is nothing short of phenomenal. For me, he remains one of the finest music directors working today. After Coolie, social media suddenly became obsessed with trolling Lokesh Kanagaraj. Honestly, I never understood why. Yes, it may not have been his greatest film, but calling it a failure or a bad film was unfair. It was still an entertaining commercial film that connected with audiences and went on to become a massive box-office success. Interestingly, DC almost feels like an answer to all that unnecessary negativity. It reminds everyone what filmmakers from this generation are truly capable of when they fully realize their vision. Technically, the film shines throughout. The cinematography embraces raw imagery that perfectly suits Arun’s filmmaking style. The editing is crisp, ensuring that the narrative never loses momentum. Every department—from cinematography and editing to production design and sound—deserves appreciation. At its heart, DC is about the collision of ideologies. Arun Matheswaran, much like Lokesh Kanagaraj, draws inspiration from filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino. Their love for stylized violence, eccentric characters, and explosive action is evident, yet Arun gives it his own emotional and philosophical identity. Bringing Anirudh into that world only elevates the experience further. And finally, that interval block… Madness meets madness. The filmmaking is madness. The staging is madness. The writing is madness. And above all… Anirudh is madness. DC is one of the biggest surprise blockbuster entertainers of the year. More than just an action film, it’s a showcase of Arun Matheswaran’s unique cinematic vision. If you enter his world with an open mind, you’ll come out having witnessed one of the most distinctive theatrical experiences of the year. Thank you, Arun Matheswaran, for reminding us that mainstream cinema can still be bold, raw, and artistically fearless.