Movie Name : Ace
Release Date : May 23, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 2/5
Starring : Vijay Sethupathi, Rukmini Vasanth, Yogi Babu, Babloo Prithveeraj, B. S. Avinash, Divya Pillai and others
Director : Arumuga Kumar
Producer : Arumuga Kumar
Music Director : Justin Prabhakaran & Sam C. S
Cinematographer : Karan B. Rawat
Editor : Fenny Oliver
Related Links : Trailer
Makkal Selvan Vijay Sethupathi’s latest film Ace has hit the screens in both Tamil and Telugu. It also marks the Tamil debut of actress Rukmini Vasanth. Let’s see how this crime-comedy fares.
Story:
Bolt Kashi (Vijay Sethupathi) lands in Malaysia in search of work and meets Jyanam (Yogi Babu), who helps him find a job. During this time, Kashi crosses paths with Rukmini (Rukmini Vasanth), a woman struggling with financial issues. Hoping to help her, Kashi turns to poker for quick money. However, his opponent Dharma (BS Avinash), a ruthless gangster, cheats him, and Kashi ends up owing him a significant amount, which he promises to repay within a week. Out of options, Kashi plans a bank robbery. What follows is a sequence of events that reveal whether he pulls off the heist, whether Rukmini knows about the plan, and what role Raja Dorai (Babloo Prithveeraj) plays in his life.
Plus Points:
Vijay Sethupathi brings his signature calmness and expressive subtlety to the role. He handles few scenes and even action moments with his usual understated ease.
Yogi Babu tries to bring in some comic relief. A few of his one-liners land well, especially early on. Rukmini Vasanth looks convincing in her role, though her character doesn’t offer her much emotional or dramatic range.
Supporting actors like Divya Pillai, Babloo Prithveeraj, and BS Avinash do their part without making much of an impact, but they fit their roles fine.
Minus Points:
The biggest problem with Ace lies in its predictable story and sluggish execution. The pacing is slow from the beginning and remains that way throughout, draining the film of any tension or excitement.
Although the film aims to mix crime, romance, and comedy, none of these elements is explored deeply enough. The transitions between tones feel uneven and the script lacks focus.
Vijay Sethupathi’s character, while performed sincerely, is underwritten and lacks memorable moments. Rukmini’s character, too, doesn’t evolve meaningfully. By the second half, even Yogi Babu’s comedy feels ineffective – more a result of the dull screenplay than his effort.
Songs fail to leave any impression, and there are no strong emotional or narrative hooks in either half to engage the viewer.
Technical Aspects:
Arumuga Kumar’s writing and direction fail to elevate a simple story into something watchable. The screenplay lacks energy and the storytelling feels outdated.
Karan B Rawat’s cinematography is decent, and Sam CS’s background score doesn’t do much to enhance the mood. While production values are adequate, the editing is noticeably weak – several scenes could have been trimmed to improve pace. Dubbing is satisfactory.
Verdict:
On the whole, Ace is a bland and forgettable film that falls short on both story and execution. Vijay Sethupathi puts in a sincere effort, but it’s not nearly enough to rescue the film from its sluggish pace and underwhelming writing. While there are a few scattered moments that try to lighten the mood, they aren’t enough to make this a satisfying watch. It’s best to explore other entertainment options instead.
123telugu.com Rating: 2/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team
