‘Tamil Rockerz’ series review: Potential storytelling potential that ruins

There is no doubt that the infamous movie piracy website TamilRockers holds a low position in the history of South Indian cinema. The gang behind the infamous website was notorious for brazenly announcing their big leaks. Such was his reputation that every time he successfully leaked a high quality print of a new release, ‘fans’ would come up with memes, some even celebrating them. Many also saw him as a Robinhood-like figure. The group’s anonymity gave way to many conspiracy stories, some even linking them to an international syndicate. All things considered, this is a soulful story that has the potential to make for an engaging timepiece. sony liv web series tamil rockerzyDirector Arivazhagan, as written in the disclaimer, has taken artistic liberty to create a semi-fictional story about TamilRockers.

We are introduced to this world through a 4am show of a big star release. The film gets leaked online within minutes of the show, leading to the suicide of the producer of the film. The Producers Council is now facing immense pressure, especially since the 300 crore film of ‘Adhiradi Star’ Aditya is also under threat. EagleWhich is going to release in 10 days. The threat becomes real when Tamil Rockers announces that they will leak the film a day before the scheduled release. Facing enormous pressure from all the parties concerned, DIG Sandeep Menon deputes ACP Rudra (Arun Vijay) to lead a special team comprising Cyber ​​Forensic Officer Sandhya (Vani Bhojan), Cyber ​​Crime SI Bhanu (Vinodhini Vaidyanathan). ) and Inspector Nelson (Vinod Sagar). ), to find and stop tamil rockers Eagle leaked online

First things first, to watch this series in peace, one has to consciously drop the need for lip-sync. Throughout its eight-episode long run, the series features terrifying lip-syncs and campy sound effects that sabotage the viewing experience.

Now, the teleplay of tamil rockerzy Set in such a way that a day before the release of the film, when it is set to leak, is a ‘ticking time bomb’. However, there rarely comes a moment where we really feel suspense or urgency, while the story shows a great deal of potential for the same. In a shocking move, the makers also exposed the culprits – members of the mysterious group – in the second episode and so it didn’t even become a felony. In fact, the background of how and why Tamil rockers came about can also be guessed.

However, the biggest issue with the series is how the protagonist Rudra is written and how the series weaves its arc. Rudra’s introduction scene itself is a wreck. The purpose of this scene is to show how cruel Rudra is that he goes out of line to get justice. A heartbroken badass leading a mission isn’t new to cinema and the thing that created him is usually reserved for the emotional payoff later. Not inside tamil rockerzy, unfortunately. Rudra suffers a terrible loss and makes no effort to withhold any information from the audience.

Having shown all this, the series takes the investigative narrative forward with scenes from Rudra’s backstory despite having already told us about its fate. This apparent tool for the police to make us feel, and the way it is employed here, begs the question whether the path of the police needs to be concerned with the central conflict. Why can’t a cop – just a cop – lead the case? Isn’t the plight of the victims for whom this series is enough to inspire a cop to work for it?

The series also impresses with how some scenes, even if well written, are laid out. For example, MS Bhaskar appears in one of the most poignant, heart-wrenching scenes in the entire series. As always, Bhaskar brings out his A-game, but the manner in which the idea is brought in, the placement and convenience compel its noble intentions as well.

All of the above would have mattered less if the central narrative of the series, the investigation of the Tamil rockers group, was engaging. Blame all the assumptions and theories that exist in the public consciousness about the group, the version of the story that Arivazhagan chooses to tell is rather dull for the screen. Of course, one can’t really help if the reality of an event doesn’t make for a great cinematic story. However, if given this benefit of the doubt, nothing can save the terrible writing of Rudra’s investigation which lacks the high points. In fact, it’s an assistant commissioner of police who never asks for backup even when chasing a big criminal. And as for the story of a group that claims to have international links, the technically deepest one has to say about how to recover deleted files in pen drives.

It is unfortunate that the series offers little return for Arun Vijay, who has given his best. Also, even though the intentions of the makers come from the right place, how do you take a series seriously when, in its world, a filmmaker, director and even the actor’s father would call the star ‘adhirdi’? Star Aditya’ says? With the series tipping for a second season, one can only hope that he manages to redeem himself.

Tamil Rockers is currently on Sony LIV. streaming on