On 23rd August, Friday; the Tamil cinema industry will release several movies. The most anticipated of them being Vaazhai, which is one of the most anticipated Indian movies right now. Amidst the ocean of movies, is a small wave called Amigo. The movie too will release on the same day. But when the day will be flooded with the big sharks and already existing whales, will this small fish be able to survive in the box office?
Amigo is a fantasy horror film that discusses a very common issue, but in a quite eerie and singular way, which is cyber-crime, and digital privacy. The movie explores the dangers of internet and digital devices through the use of the obvious element- a hacker. In the trailer, we are shown several characters who are being affected by a hacker who can almost control their lives, showcasing how our lives are controlled by digital devices. It also showcases a thin boundary between virtual and real, evident through the scene where the characters are trapped inside a place which looks like an IC circuit, but virtual.
The movie has a unique approach to the issue of cyber-security and can be potentially good. But considering the current scenario for the Tamil film industry, where we are witnessing brilliant films every week, it loses the edge. Also, the dominance of Demonte Colony 2 and Thangalaan; with a new addition of Vaazhai and Footage makes the battle even more challenging. Had the time been easier with only one big film around, Amigo could have expected a good reception from the audience. But, now the case becomes completely different with already two movies not a week old still dominating the box office, Vaazhai coming up on the floor and several other movies to compete against. This makes the condition for Amigo further challenging.
The movie, at most, can cross its budget and turn some profits, but apart from that, one can’t see the movie even making a decent amount of money or creating a buzz with conditions like above. The movie has a good theme, but is releasing at a bad time.