The ticking sound of a pocket-watch, dim-lit interiors of a palatial mansion, an old train snaking through a valley, sepia tones, eerie lighting, and Suriya in three avatars. These are the first few moments of 24‘s trailer. Touted as a time-travel drama, the film is directed by Vikram Kumar, who has critical and commercial hits like Ishq, Manam and 13 B to his credit. 24 seems to have some high-octane action sequences, and top-notch CG works.
24 features Suriya in a completely different avatar: as a menacing villain named Athreya. He also plays a scientist who has just developed a peculiar watch. The watch seems to be the movie’s centrepiece. Nithya Menen appears to be the scientist’s spouse. Suriya has a third avatar, one the audience is familiar with: a cheerful and romantic young man. Samantha is paired opposite this Suriya version as, what appears to be, a run-of-the-mill lover-girl. The two will probably have a song-and-dance duet together.
AR Rahman’s background score for the trailer sets the mood perfectly. Thiru’s camera work looks smooth. Produced by Suriya’s 2D Entertainment, 24 has veteran actors Girish Karnad and Sharanya Ponvannan playing pivotal roles.