An in-form Sundar C finds the sweet spot between humour and horror

SOME ideas are par for the course in the Aranmanai franchise, like the nightly ghost routine, the not-so-novel use of heroines, the hit-or-miss comedy.

- AKSHAY KUMAR

.. Despite all of this, Aranmanai 4 doesn't succumb to franchise fatigue, mainly due to refreshing plot twists and Sundar C's mastery of commercial filmmaking.

Truth be told, the film doesn't get off to a good start. Advocate Saravanan (Sundar C) fights bad guys who are against a love marriage, with the scene serving as a mere exposition of his love for his sister Selvi (Tamannaah), who, we learn, eloped with her lover (Santhosh Pratap) 10 years ago. Having not heard from her for a very long time, the news of his sister and brother-in-law's sudden deaths shatter Saravanan, who leaves for the village where they reside to learn that their deaths aren't as straightforward as being reported by the police. In fact, the veracity of their deaths comes under question. Things get murkier when Saravanan goes out on an investigation. And all of this is what Aranmanai 4 is all about.